Integration of web-based procurement and fulfillment: A comparison of case studies

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and in particular the Internet, have played a fundamental role in helping companies reach the goals of "supply chain integration". The Internet can change the role and type of relationships between the various players, creating new value networks and developing new business models. This work studies the impact of the Internet on company business, in particular on procurement and fulfilment processes. The analysis is carried out by considering and comparing four case studies regarding four large Italian companies. An evolutionary model for e-business strategy is proposed. This model shows how ICT can evolve from being merely a means of communication to being an instrument which coordinates company processes through five stages: traditional communication tools, internal integration, Web-based communication tools, XML Web-based platform, and integrated enterprise. Even if the companies studied are geared towards different markets, the strategies they have used are quite similar. In particular, they have adopted the XML Web-based platforms model. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.