Buying and selling on the Internet (e-business and e-commerce) has been met by the Cast Metals Industry with both accolades and skepticism. Many specialists have claimed high expectations and revolutionary ways business would be conducted in the future. To better identify this new technology and how it can benefit the Cast Metals Industry we need to know exactly what it is and how it will affect us in our day-to-day business. Today e-business represents a way foundries can leverage the Internet to gain not only a competitive advantage but an economic one too. Foundries can gain advantages in sales and purchasing by utilizing the Internet not only for the primary exchange of information, but also to conduct business transactions. Traditionally, purchasing can be time consuming and expensive for foundries, especially the smaller companies. In addition, considerable time and effort can be expended on information exchanges prior to a quote being received and an order being issued. Buyers not only spend considerable time in screening and qualifying vendors, additionally they perform various administrative tasks associated with a traditional system. Within the confines of the traditional system access to a large cross section of suppliers is constrained by time and resources. Another important factor of e-business with respect to the foundries will be the effect on not only the cost of goods, also the cost of sales. Reducing sales cost is not only important to foundries, it's important to their suppliers. Selling can be expensive and time consuming with sales professionals expending valuable time and resources locating and contacting new customers along with servicing existing accounts.
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