The implications of electronic B2B intermediaries for the buyer-supplier interface

This paper examines the implications of electronic business-to-business intermediaries for the buyer-supplier interface. Innovations in electronic commerce have a key role to play in managing inter-organisational networks of supply chain members. The evidence presented in this paper illustrates that the Internet represents a powerful technology for commerce and communication at the buyer-supplier interface. An overview is provided of the evolution of electronic commerce at the buyer-supplier interface and the typical business models that have been developed. A theoretical framework is proposed, based on the inter-organisational relationships paradigm. A number of case studies are presented which examine the role of electronic intermediaries at the buyer-supplier interface. It is shown how the inter-organisational relationships paradigm is an effective means of evaluating the buyer-supplier interface in an electronic B2B environment. The application of the framework is discussed in relation to the three case studies and the implications for practitioners are highlighted.