The explosive growth of Internet and the use of its enabling technologies have revolutionized computing and telecommunications. The internet has become the key platform for a rapidly expanding list of information and entertainment services and business applications, including enterprise collaboration, ecommerce and other e-business systems. More and more companies are using strategic capabilities of the internet technologies to overcome geographic, time, cost and structural barriers for marketing, sales and customer relationship management, as well as cross functional business applications, and applications in engineering, research, manufacturing, human resources and accounting. Internet enables these companies to disseminate information globally, communicate and trade interactively with customized information and services for customers. These capabilities allow them to generate cost savings, revenue increases and better customer service and relationships through better CRM and SCM.

The internet provides a synthesis of computing and communication capabilities that adds value to every part of business cycle. A website is the first step towards setting up an effective online presence for a business which can be upgraded to include other business specific functionalities. True potential of a website lies in harnessing the competitive advantage of the company while tapping the business value of the Internet.