The advent of eBusiness and the introduction of Application Service Provider (ASP) models for delivering technology solutions are introducing dramatic changes to most small to medium size enterprises. In this climate, some organizations are pursuing an eBusiness strategy simply because industry messaging tells them that they ought to be doing so. Meanwhile, the intelligent enterprise is actively engaged in its eBusiness strategy because of powerful business drivers that inform that engagement. These drivers can be expressed in terms of enterprise needs - the need to improve marketing effectiveness, increase revenues, expand market opportunities, streamline workflow processes and reduce transaction costs. Because these drivers are unique to each organization, the eBusiness strategy - as well as the solutions deployed to fulfill that strategy - must be uniquely applied.

In short, both eBusiness and the ASP model simply represent greater advantages and fewer disadvantages than other traditional technology offerings. eBusiness, for example, offers platform independent access to corporate applications within the universally accepted medium of the Internet. It also offers this medium as a conduit for information sharing among companies with common goals or information demands. ASP models further enhance the benefits by shifting the technology burden from the corporate enterprise to its technology partners, thereby reducing IT staff requirements. At the same time, the cost of this technology is distributed over time, as well as shared with other clients of the same provider.