The Evolution of B2B E-Services from First Generation E-Commerce Solutions to Multichannel Architectures

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_9D5BF2DF39C4
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
The Evolution of B2B E-Services from First Generation E-Commerce Solutions to Multichannel Architectures
Journal
Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations
Author(s)
Legner C.
ISSN
1539-2937
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2008
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
6
Number
2
Pages
58-77
Language
english
Abstract
Although e-services have been recognized for their contribution to strengthening customer relationships and fostering customer loyalty, prior research is heavily skewed toward the field of business-to-consumer interactions and online retail channels. This article explores the evolution of e-services in the business-to-business domain. Based on the case study of ETA SA, a Swiss manufacturer of watch movements and components, it identifies three stages of increasing electronic interaction with customers. The company pioneered online ordering of watch spare parts based on a first generation e-commerce solution and subsequently introduced a comprehensive customer service portal. Our research suggests that moving from the e-commerce solution to the customer process portal involved a significant extension of the e-service portfolio (service innovation), whereas the subsequent stage introduced an additional electronic channel (channel innovation). Every stage in this evolution path forces companies to substantially re-architect their interorganizational process and system linkages. From the experiences of ETA SA, we conclude that a service-oriented multichannel architecture makes it easier to cope with the growing number of e-services and the complexity of serving multiple electronic channels.
Keywords
Business-to-business (B2B) case study, customer process portal, customer service, e-services, e-shop, electronic business, electronic commerce, multichannel architecture, Web-based systems
Create date
05/02/2011 0:30
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:03
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