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E-Marketplace: A Generic Electronic Catalogue Framework for SMEs

E-Marketplace: A Generic Electronic Catalogue Framework for SMEs
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Author(s): Yin Leng Tan (University of Manchester, UK)and Linda A. Macaulay (University of Manchester, UK)
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 3
Source title: Emerging Trends and Challenges in Information Technology Management
Source Editor(s): Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A. (Information Resources Management Association, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-019-6.ch273
ISBN13: 9781616921286
EISBN13: 9781466665361

Abstract

Statistics show that over 95% of businesses in the UK are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), whilst in Europe, over 90% of SMEs are micro enterprises, employing fewer than 10 persons [6]. The Internet and World Wide Web have been with us for over a decade, and electronic business is neither a new topic nor a new concept. However, studies reveal that the SME take-up rates of Internet Communication Technologies (ICT) and e-business are still very low. The purpose of this study is therefore to propose an e-business framework and additionally, to design a generic e-catalogue framework that would enable a sizable number of small businesses (heterogeneous in nature) to participate in e-business. The structure of this e-catalogue contains five levels - domain, resource, catalogue, product category and product, and it is designed to support both commercial (B2B) and domestic (B2C) markets.

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