4.4 ONLINE SALES AND THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
In this section, we use ideas discussed earlier in the chapter to see how the Internet has affected the structure and performance of various distribution networks. The goal is to understand what drove the successful introduction of online sales in some networks and not others, and how these networks are likely to evolve.
Similar to our consideration with distribution networks, we build a scorecard based on how online sales affect a supply chain’s ability to meet customer needs and the cost of meeting those needs. We now detail the contents of each scorecard category.