At the height of the dot-com boom partnering was considered the way to go. However, for some companies disaster struck because they had not followed some fundamental rules. As we clear the debris of the tech wreck, executives are reassessing their partnership arrangements and finding there is still value in teaming up with the right people.
A recent report by IDC found that leading consumer e-commerce companies share a few basic characteristics including prudence in management, a disciplined approach to achieving strategic goals, and a flexible and fluid organisational strategy.
Lisa Shishido, Senior Analyst, Internet & eCommerce, says the consumer e-commerce market has entered a new phase of development, marked by financial reality and the emerging dominance of multi-channel strategies.
-We are seeing pure play online retailers forming partnerships and alliances with bricks-and-mortar businesses and established retailers rapidly gaining market share online," Shishido says. -The businesses to watch are those mixing bricks and clicks, with partnerships being formed between new and old."
