based infrastructure areas within the Internet sector. According to
estimates by Forrester Research, the e-commerce software market was
worth $1.7 billion in 1999, but is projected to increase to as much as
$13.2 billion by 2003. E-commerce software firms develop customizable
software modules designed to help client firms organize e-commerce.
The business model here involves the creation and updating of a kernel
of e-commerce applications—inventory tracking, accounting, order
completion, as well as the creation of visible web-interfaces used by
customers—which are typically installed and customized by third-party
software consultancies trained and accredited by the e-commerce software
producer.