T3.6 - E-business and how it is transforming industries

I will explore the roles of e-business in transforming industries including mining and real estate, and how it can be used to cater to an often ignored market, disabled consumers.

E-Business can best be described as business that is conducted over the Internet between companies, consumers, or consumers and companies [1]. It has become vastly popular since its beginnings with the Internet, has helped create jobs, made vast changes and increase in profit for businesses, and is very convenient for consumers; it has created many opportunities for businesses and consumers that did not exist before.

One problem that e-business has run into, is its accessibility to the disabled. Retailer, Target received complaints that its website was not accessible to customers with disabilities; the retailer had not considered that being accessible to customers did not just include in-store, but on their website also. Target has now ended up spending more money fixing this issue, than if they had addressed it before launching the e-business [2]. E-businesses are a great way for disabled consumers to shop because shopping on a website can be much more inviting than shopping in a store for a customer that is blind or deaf, when the website is set up properly [2].

Another area where e-business has made a tremendous change is the world of real estate. Many real estate e-businesses, including Realtor.com, have changed the way consumers buy and rent -- potential buyers or renters can look at homes across the country and the world, all while having their credit checked, and getting a mortgage estimate [3]. Craigslist.com even has it's own section for homes and apartments are up for sale or rent. While it is up for debate how well the American real estate market is for buying, renting and selling, it cannot be denied that with nearly 80% of home buyers admitting they searched for their home on the Internet, that e-business has transformed the real estate world [3].

An unlikely industry joining the e-business world is mining. In the article "E-business in Mining," e-business is addressed as a difficult transition for any company to make, let alone companies that must send huge quantities of raw materials. Between creating calling centers and restructuring the overall processes of the company, the mining industry has seen how difficult the transition can be, and unlike most of the other industries to join e-business, mining has not benefited significantly from the switch. This lack of success can be attributed to the level of knowledge and expertise that goes into mining, which experts say may be too complicated to translate into e-business, this is most likely why mining companies have not seen a return on investment through e-business. Possible solutions include creating a way for buyers and sellers to work on pricing agreements, insuring both sides have some mining expertise [4].

In conclusion, e-business has transformed some industries, while others remain unsure of their future with e-business. It is also essential for e-businesses to work with disabled consumers in order to reach that often disregarded market.

Sources

[1] Stair, Ralph M., and George Walter Reynolds. Fundamentals of Information Systems. Boston: Thomson/Course Technology, 2003. Print.
[2] http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-target30-2008aug30,0,6725045.story
[3] http://www.inetprofessional.com/e-business.html
[4] http://www.lexisnexis.com.library2.ramapo.edu:2048/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?oc=00240&hl=t&hns=t&hnsd=f&perma=true&lni=43SV-JKK0-0000-B4FS&hv=t&csi=8015&hgn=t&secondRedirectIndicator=true