Electronic Commerce A New Challenge for ERCIM
by Christine Vanoirbeek
The globalisation of the market place, started in the last decade
and in full expansion due to the explosion of new Information and Communication
Technology (ICT), is the source of a major change in our society. In particular,
the domain of electronic commerce is at the centre of innovative developments,
which though still in infancy will play an important role in the creation
of the information society of tomorrow.
Thanks to the advent of the World Wide Web, the use of Internet, formerly
the privilege of a restricted community of researchers, became the vehicle
of a new digital information society. The 'Global Information Infrastructure'
is a reality. It is progressively and incontestably transforming the everyday
life of people over the planet, fundamentally affecting the traditional
concepts of political, social and economic relations.
The dramatic growth of the World Wide Web is due in a large part to
the increasing presence of Web commerce. Under worldwide governmental pressure,
an enticing picture has been painted of the advantages to be taken from
new Information and Communication Technologies in the realization of the
emerging concept of electronic commerce.
A large variety of initiatives and R&D projects have been undertaken
dealing with the multiple and non-independent components of electronic
commerce. The first two papers of this issue give an overview of research
activities and current trends at a European level. Other ones provide descriptions
of running projects that bear ERCIM member institutes' involvement and
active participation in this strategic domain. Those examples, though not
exhaustive, address most of the key aspects of electronic commerce, such
as secure communications, transactions and banking, development of electronic
payment systems, definition of new business models to improve interactions
and collaborative work between actors on the market place and, legal issues.
Despite all the efforts and the bold predictions, a recent survey published
in The Economist (http://www.economist.com/surveys/elcom/index.html)
reports that the current situation of global electronic market appears
to be still far from the electronic commerce dream.
However, such an appraisal is not a failure report; it simply relates
the results of early experimentation of a very innovative concept whose
predictable effectiveness was very hazardous. Several factors explain this
situation. The obligation, for trading partners, to be present on the cyberspace
has rapidly became a kind of 'obligation' more for marketing skilled competences
and not for taking advantage of new communication capabilities. Consumer
shopping, even predicted as an appealing market is only partially living
up to these expectations, contrary to business-to-business activities who
already work in a decentralized way, largely using fax, phone, post or
private electronic links. Another underestimated phenomena concerns the
presence of outsiders on the market place, taking profit from the World
Wide Web opportunity to benefit from their work and skills and providing
tough competition to the giant corporations already established in the
traditional market place.
In summary, industry's definition of electronic commerce has been revealed
to be too narrow, assuming that electronic business works like the real
word. The potential use of new ICT has not yet been really exploited and
requires time to be realized.
Further developments in electronic commerce depend on many factors:
innovation in the fields of technology especially computer software,
computer hardware and telecommunication recognition and acceptance
of a legal framework supporting international commercial transactions over
the Internet, and elaboration and use of standards for various purposes
such as electronic payment and information reuse.
The business revolution is happening. More than ever, conducting business
on the Internet remains a fascinating and challenging task to be addressed.
ERCIM intends to participate actively in the movement and, to this end,
is currently starting a new working group dedicated to various aspects
of Electronic Commerce.
Please contact:
Christine Vanoirbeek Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Tel: +41 21 693 25 75
E-mail: vanoirbeek@di.epfl.ch
