by Trina L. Grant

Created on: September 25, 2009   Last Updated: May 13, 2010

B2B or 'business-to-business' is a coined term referencing the cooperative exchange of data, products and services from one business to another. It is the interchange of goods and resources antecedent to the business-to-customer interaction. There are three general types of commerce falling within this realm. B2G is business-to-government commerce which generally focuses on private contracts with government agencies. B2C or business-to-customer is the type of trade most of the public is aware of. This type of business includes retail sales and services, everything from jewelry sales to car repair. Basically, it is any business that provides a product or service directly to the consumer. The business-to consumer transaction is usually the last in a succession of business-to-business commerce.

The business-to-business model has its origins in EDI, or Electronic Data Interchange. EDI protocol was primarily used to define the transfer of data between businesses or industries. Unlike the business-to-business model which often utilizes human intellect and mechanical ability, Electronic Data Interchange effectively negated the need for the human element, its intent to facilitate transfer of electronic data that allowed business transactions through the use of code. Human intervention was needed only in the event of technical deviation or for quality control purposes. Business-to-business came in to play with the dawn of the popularity of the internet for industry use and marketing. B2B not only facilitates cross-industry communication and production, but effectuates arguably the most dynamic marketing techniques ever used.

The B2B model has produced drastic and surprising improvements in fiscal efficiency and time management. Ironically, B2B transactions are projected to far exceed those of B2C, or business-to-consumer, even though the B2C relationship is the culmination of precursory corporate and industrial interchange. Despite the phenomenon having elicited both intrigued perplexity and judiciously cautious excitement in the corporate and industrial worlds, the ever-changing face of the burgeoning technological landscape virtually guarantees a perpetual stream of riveting, challenging opportunities for scholarship and agglomeration of commerce. Those in industry and commerce would be remiss to ignore the implications of the sybilline signs of the forthcoming neo-industrial revolution.

Follow these links for further information, news and resources about B2B:

http://www.b2bnews.org/

http://www.b2bstudios.com/news/

http://b2bnewz.com/business-mainmenu-35.html

http://www.btobonline.com/#seenit

Follow these links for informative and thought-provoking white papers and industry reports on B2B:

End-to-End Business-to-Partner Integration: A Strategy for Revenue Growth and Cost-Reduction in Uncertain Times

White Papers from Bitpipe

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