Implementation of B2B e-Business systems : An Empirical Study in a Manufacturing environment

This Master research presents an analytical and practical framework for the design of Supply Chain, e-Business, and Organisational Change Management. To achieve this, the study establishes an inter-relationship between these three areas. Furthermore, the work draws on research conducted at the University of Manchester and Bombardier Transportation (Switzerland) SA, providing a practical approach and its implications for implementing B2B e-Business systems.

Why this B2B e-Business systems study has been important

Organisations have implemented e-Business portals for many years. Nevertheless, academic research has largely overlooked practical implementations in the global business world, leaving a significant empirical gap. As a result, this study addresses that gap directly.

Literature overview

This Master thesis draws on various fundamental concepts across Supply Chain Management, e-Business, and Organisational Management. Specifically, the research integrates the following frameworks:

• Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) Model -> Supply Chain Management

• Critical Success Factors (CSFs) -> eBusiness

• DeLone and McLean IS success model -> Evaluation of an e-Business / SCM implementation

Case Study presentations

The research team conducted the study at Bombardier Transportation’s site in Villeneuve (VD), Switzerland. The primary goal was to compare two supplier portals that different production sites use and that feature distinct communication approaches:

• First, the study examines the old Supplier Web Portal, “SupRailNet,” which Bombardier deployed at four production sites in France.

• In addition, the study covers the new Supplier Web Portal, “SupplyOn,” which Bombardier rolled out at the Swiss production site and plans to adopt as the sole global solution across all Bombardier Transportation sites worldwide.

The comparison of the B2B e-Business systems:

• Internal connectivity: Connectivity with internal information systems

• External connectivity: Connectivity with external information systems / Data exchange formats

• Communication ways: Information flow to / from web portal

About – Sanjoy Biswas

Mr Sanjoy Biswas holds a MSc in Management and Information Systems (UK) and a MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (UK), and has nearly two decades of global logistics and supply chain experience in the automotive, manufacturing, rail and retail industry focussing and addressing topics such as sustainability and artificial intelligence.

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