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Digital business defined

Digital business

 is broader in its scope than e-commerce. It is similar to the 

term e-business (which was first coined by IBM), who described it in 1997 as:

e‑business (e’biz’nis) – the transformation of key business processes 

through the use of Internet technologies.

In the sixth edition of this book we have changed from using the term 

e-business to using digital business since it reflects the current usage in 

industry and research on the impact of digital technologies on business.

 Buy‑  side 

e‑commerce

E‑commerce transactions 

between a purchasing 

organisation and its 

suppliers.

 Sell‑  side 

e‑commerce

E‑commerce  trans actions 

between a supplier 

organisation and its 

customers.

Figure 1.4

The  distinction  between   buy‑  side  and   sell‑  side  e‑commerce

Intranet

Digital business

Internet and

extranet

Suppliers

Key

Suppliers’ suppliers

Organisational processes

and functional units

Intermediaries

Customers

Customers’ customers