The impact of e-business on supply chain management - An empirical study of key developments

Purpose - E-business systems and processes that use ubiquitous platforms such as web browser and internet have a profound impact on the management of inter-organisational processes. Consequently, a major implication of e-business is its impact on supply chain management. This paper focuses on the developments in e-business system adoption and deployment in support of supply chain management. Design/methodology/approach - The research conducted for this paper was empirical in nature, involving an interview study with a large sample of organisations and selected case study visits. Analysis of the impact of e-business on supply chain strategy also examines three representative areas of supply chain management - procurement, customer relationship management, and fulfilment process. Findings - E-business systems deployment was also seen to act as a significant catalyst for each of the three areas examined, although this paper presents only the findings from the exploratory study. Originality/value - From the research analysis it was possible to develop a normative, five-stage, model classifying the evolution of e-business systems deployment for supply chain management. Finally proposes the need for longitudinal research to surface the underlying dynamics of e-business adoption and deployment.