Are You E-Commerce Ready? (Author: Annonymous)

Companies that have decided on how to portray their business online must assess whether they have the most efficient information technology (IT) solutions to execute their online transaction programs. IT embodies a range of computer systems and software applications for managing a firm's web site, as well as personnel records, backend databases.

An IT assessment should answer the following questions:
- What is the firm’s current IT usage? Is it at capacity? What are the plans for additional ITinvestment to upgrade existing   systems?
- What business applications are best suited to move on line for B2B or B2C electronic?
- What does the cost/benefit analysis of all possible projects involving IT show?
- What are possible current and future security issues and what is the action plan for correcting problems?
- There are, of course, many other factors to consider in doing e-commerce, such as executing orders and payment issues   that have a special e-commerce perspective.