B2B Internet Trading Platforms - EDIS

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CONCLUSIONS This working paper analyses the current state of B2B Internet platforms and the potential opportunities from, and barriers to, SMEs participating in them. Part I focused on the assessment of B2B Internet platforms, starting from the original concept of B2B e-marketplaces, including their development over time and their current form and functionality. The main conclusion of this analysis is that the position of B2B e-marketplaces has shifted over time such that e-marketplaces are now only one, but not necessarily the only, way to conduct on-line transactions. However, experience has shown that participation in e-marketplaces may result in important reductions in transactional costs, through electronic processing of purchases and sales. In part II, potential barriers for the participation of SMEs in B2B Internet platforms have been identified and further described, considering different ways in which SMEs use the Internet for buying and selling goods and services. The main conclusions of this analysis can be summarised as follows. Firstly, despite the potential benefits of Internet platforms, their actual use is still relatively limited. In particular, rightly or wrongly, many SMEs remain sceptical about actively using them. Thus there is a potential need for better awareness by SMEs on the possible benefits and risks, based on real experience and documented cases. Secondly, SMEs are likely to need reliable and neutral information and guidance to decide which Internet platforms to use and how to search for business partners, products and services. And thirdly, trust and confidence matters for B2B electronic transactions at least as much as for sales to consumers. All market players need to be reassured that the transaction will be completed in a fair and transparent manner. Thus, this working document raises many important questions. Most of them are addressed to the private sector, though the Commission’s services may assist in defining the problems and in bringing stakeholders together. Therefore, to follow-up this working paper, Enterprise Directorate-General has established an expert group, representing the different interests at stake in the field of B2B electronic exchanges. This group brings together industrial and other interested associations, mainly at European level, e-marketplace operators, as well as companies participating in e-marketplaces. The objective of this group will be: – To discuss the barriers to the participation of SMEs in B2B Internet platforms, starting from, though not being restricted to, the barriers identified by this working paper. – To propose possible solutions to address the needs of SMEs and in particular the need for better awareness, better information and advice on the appropriate Internet platforms, reliable information tools to search for Internet platforms, business partners, products and services. – To identify best practice in building business trust and confidence in B2B electronic transactions and to discuss how to leverage them at European level. The working group will develop a report, by June 2003, analysing the different issues at stake and issuing recommendations for specific actions at European level, notably in support of self-regulation, to facilitate the use of electronic transactions as a tool to promote the internal market and to better integrate SMEs into e-business. All documents related to the work of the expert group are published in the following website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/ict/policy/b2b/index.htm 26
ANNEX I Table A – Estimated numbers of active B2B marketplaces by region of activity ACTIVE IN BERLECON RESEARCH (4/02) EMARKETSERVICES (8/02) World 1060 966 North America 669 497 Europe 381 496 Source: B2B e-marketplace databases from Berlecon Research [www.Berlecon.de] as of April 26, 2002 and of eMarketServices [www.emarketservices.com] as of August 19, 2002. Table B – Estimated numbers of active B2B marketplaces in Europe by sector TYPE OF MARKETPLACE NUMBER General Horizontals 77 Industrial Equipment & Services 60 Transportation & Logistics 44 Food & Beverage 39 Building & Construction 37 Agriculture 32 IT Products & Services 32 Services & Education 22 Metal & Mining 20 Textiles & Leather 20 Chemicals 19 Healthcare & Pharmaceutical 19 Electronics & Electrical products 18 Finance & Insurance 18 Automotive 17 Plastics & Rubber 17 Telecommunication & Bandwidth 17 Energy & Fuels 15 Office Equipment 15 Packaging, Paper & Pulp 14 Marine 13 Retail & Consumer Goods 13 Science & Engineering 13 Printing 11 Forestry & Wood 10 Government 10 27
Page 1 and 2: B2B Internet trading platforms: Opp
Page 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ....
Page 6 and 7: As a follow up to the e-Economy com
Page 8 and 9: e-marketplaces are geared to the ne
Page 10 and 11: Since an e-marketplace needs both s
Page 12 and 13: Currently, around one thousand B2B
Page 14 and 15: are one aspect. Potentially higher
Page 16 and 17: much slower than expected and seems
Page 18 and 19: should use Internet platforms. Ther
Page 20 and 21: and comprehensive set of standards
Page 22 and 23: The main trust challenges for B2B e
Page 24 and 25: As acknowledged by the e-Economy co
Page 28 and 29: TYPE OF MARKETPLACE NUMBER Environm
Page 30 and 31: ACTIVITY ON E-MARKETPLACES Table C
Page 32 and 33: 2.1. General comments In general, t
Page 34 and 35: (7,1 %), hotels, restaurants, touri
Page 36: launched without having the intenti

B2B Internet Trading Platforms - EDIS

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