Different Types of eCommerce
Business-to-Administration



B2A is the least developed area of eCommerce and it relates to the way that public sector organisations, at both a central and local level, are providing their services on-line. Also known as eGovernment, it has the potential to increase the domestic and business use of eCommerce as traditional services are increasingly being delivered over the Internet.

The UK government is committed to ensuring this country is at the forefront of eCommerce and it is essential that eGovernment plays a significant part in achieving this objective.

Four guiding principles underly the UK strategy for eGovernment. These are:

• Building services around citizens' choices;
• Making government and its services more accessible;
• Ensuring that new technology does not create a digital divide between those with ready access to electronic media and those without;
• Using information more effectively.

Central government is leading the way with the overall aim of having 100% of services on-line by 2005. 80% of councils in England now have public eMail and Internet access, with 33% of authorities having at least three services accessible in this form. Many councils are now developing their own eCommerce strategies, but few have a fully integrated approach expected of corresponding-sized organisations in the business world. Andrew Davies, e-Minister for Wales, is developing a strategy for eGovernment, but few Welsh Authorities appear at the forefront of developments.

At the present time, eCommerce, in either a B2C or a B2B form, is not applicable to every small business in Wales, because there is no particular reason why the business should make use of eCommerce. However, as growing numbers of public sector services, from tax returns to planning applications, from request for housing repairs to renewing your passport, can be carried out on-line, so the pressure for change will grow and increasing numbers of SMEs will have a reason to consider moving to modern trading practices.