"B2B or not B2B" – that is no longer the question, and neither is B2C for that matter. E-commerce has arrived, and it is dramatically altering the traditional manufacturing and distribution chain. B2B (business to business) and B2C (business to consumer) are thriving as technology makes it possible to instantly order and quickly receive everything from books and CDs to huge containers of goods, supplies or merchandise.

This paradigm shift is forcing retailers to realize that their e-business capabilities are only as effective as the warehouse management systems and operations that support them. For distributors, the pressure is on to make their facilities e-commerce ready.

Don’t believe it is a big issue? Consider this: While the numbers are still being tallied, Business 2.0 projected that B2C e-business alone would generate more than $26 billion in revenue in 2000. And, with more than 200 million Internet subscribers worldwide, that figure will only increase.

B2B, on the other hand, will not only eclipse B2C, it will dwarf it in terms of revenue once it’s fully established. But, every revolution must have a solid foundation – a firm footing on which to build those kinds of numbers. For e-commerce, that means state-of-the-art distribution centers and warehouse management systems (WMSs).