ECOmmerce

ECOmmerce: Leveraging Electronic Commerce for Global Ecological Benefit

Leveraging the “Tools” of Technology
The foundation for leveraging e-commerce is today’s technology infrastructure. This infrastructure is in place, to different levels of sophistication worldwide, and continues to evolve at warp speed [Scotty is a busy guy these days – maybe a bit of dated humor here]. To get a sense of this rapid development, one might ask the question: “Today, is the computer the computer or is the network the computer and all you need is access?”

With today’s foundation infrastructure in place, what might be a high growth technology of global proportion and how might this technology be used to enable communication and e-commerce in the near future?

So, let us take a look at what is in place, explore what is rapidly emerging, and consider how this will make a difference for the benefit of e-commerce and a more sustainable environment.

Today’s Technology Infrastructure
Let me start by describing the core components of the technology infrastructure for e-commerce. These core components are: hardware - servers, workstations, printers, and routers to name a few, software applications - database, web server, operating system, and browser to name a few, and communication network(s) - telecommunication companies, private corporations, wireless, and satellite - that serve as the backbone of the internet. These core components form the foundation of the technology infrastructure that serves as the vehicle for driving e-commerce.

To facilitate e-commerce, and drive efficiency and effectiveness, business, industry, and governments have embraced the use of the internet and web technologies for enterprise wide information system application – from Elisa M. Awad in Electronic Commerce: From Vision to Fulfillment. Now familiar uses include the internet, intranet, and extranet. The bottom-line of the deployment of these technologies is, simply put, better, faster, and cheaper. I would also like to add, with a positive impact on minimizing the impact of our eco footprint.

Moving forward, let us now explore a more interesting and timely aspect of how technology is evolving in the marketplace. I will also touch on how this evolution will benefit e-commerce, and how this shift has the potential to make a hugely positive impact on the environment.

Leveraging Wireless Technology for Tomorrow’s Mobile Commerce
While wireless technology has been with us for quite some time now, the potential benefit for mobile commerce is first beginning to be fully realized, particularly on a global scale. The internet has given us anytime availability of information and wireless technology gives us anywhere access.

The anywhere access of mobile commerce now further extends the functionality of e-commerce, and further enhances the business benefits of better, faster, and cheaper. A personal example of the power of mobile commerce is in business travel. I find it relatively easy to travel to most places in the world, until you have to navigate the last mile.
Utilizing a mobile phone to obtain final, detailed local directions for the last mile provides a huge benefit in saving time, minimizing frustration, and adding a degree of safety for traveling in today’s world.

Now, let us take a look at what is already happening in mobile commerce and, also, take a peek over the horizon to get a glimpse of what potential lies ahead. Much of this information is featured in a recent issue of the magazine, The Economist, dated September 6th – 12th, 2008, and can be found in the Technology Quarterly section on pages three and four. The Economist can be found online at http://www.economist.com/.

To help set the context, here are a few eye opening facts with respect to the current trend in mobile commerce: China currently has some 600m mobile phone subscribers with 73m using their mobile phone to get online. China now has over 250m internet users and, this year, has now overtaken America as the country with the largest number of internet users. These numbers work out to 29% of all internet users in China connecting to the internet via their mobile phone. Although this is a substantial percentage, it still offers a huge opportunity for people in China and elsewhere around the world to join the worldwide community online via mobile access. This phenomenon is not only occurring in China, rapid growth is also expanding in Russia, Indonesia, India, and South Africa. One last bit of information. Opera Software – a firm that makes web-browser software for mobile phones - reports rapid growth in mobile-web browsing in developing countries. The number of web pages viewed in June, by the 14m users of its software, was over 3 billion, a 300% increase from a year ago. Wow!

For business, this offers enormous potential to reach a worldwide market that does not have personal computers. Yes, many companies recognize this opportunity and are working diligently to meet the technical challenges of bringing the internet to the small screen – the mobile phone of course.

This type of mobile access on the internet can also have an enormous impact on the environment. Of course, one can quickly think of many examples of minimizing our eco footprint through engaging in mobile commerce. One example might be the energy saved by researching products online for people living in remote areas. Another example might be more expansive in scope, and more beneficial for the environment. Mobile access to the internet can now give voice to millions of people around the world who have been, in reality, talking to themselves and shouting in silence. With respect to the environment, people will be able to create awareness of environmental abuses, conduct research, reach out to a broader community, gain support, and help raise funds where needed. Soon, the earth can grumble, the rivers can whisper, and the trees can speak through an expanding community of advocates. As Supreme Court Justice Brandeis sagely said, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.”

Going Forward
Once again, I am most interested in hearing your thoughts on how we can create a future that furthers commerce in innovative ways and is environmentally sustainable.


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