E-commerce is here to stay, and B2B and B2C channels will increase in
importance once established standards for data transfer across the supply
chain are realized. Already, the information revolution has been the
catalyst for improving supply chain efficiency and for fostering stronger
relationships between supply chain partners. Private Internet exchanges
developed by leading retailers, such as Wal-Mart with its Retail Link
network, have enabled them to respond quickly to consumer choice at
store level. Indeed, much of the focus of this chapter has been on how
competitive advantage can be achieved through companies co-operating
and thus responding flexibly and quickly to market needs; hence the
acronyms of JIT for lean supply chains and QR and ECR for agile supply
chains.