Walk through a Virtual Marketplace

The modern world has evolved to the point that most things needed in life are available for delivery. Websites allow consumers to get anything and everything delivered right to their door: pizza, groceries, medicine, laundry, and epoxies and related products. Many people, however, still have the common misapprehension that all websites are floundering economically and nearing extinction, when that is far from the truth. While many websites have failed, there are still those that are not only surviving, but thriving.

What separates the successful dot-coms from the dot bombs? We have found that success in the virtual marketplace is not achieved by replacing the traditional procurement methods, but rather by supplementing those existing procurement channels and adding a new level of service beyond the traditional venues. The businesspeople we work with are learning from past failures, and realizing that a winning website may just be the edge their company needs to succeed in today's global economy. These new e-commerce initiatives, however, must complement - not compete with - a company's existing business.