Improving efficiency in business-to-business information transfers: a Web-based solution in the beef sector

Internet usage is growing rapidly among agricultural producers and processors, but little attention has been paid to the advantages of agribusiness firms using the Internet as an information exchange with other firms, such as input suppliers. A case study of a beef processor using the Internet to deliver information to input suppliers is presented to illustrate possible information transfer efficiency gains. The prototype information delivery system is a three-tier, Web-based product consisting of data, business logic, and presentation layers. Compared to a traditional client-server design, the Web-based system is more easily scalable as system demand increases, more easily managed whenever software is updated, more flexible, less costly. and more reliable. An overview of the system's design is provided to facilitate information professionals developing a similar system, which is specific to their business model. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.