Technology and World Commerce

Technology and World Commerce

GEO 150

Vince Johnson

June 20, 2005

Technology and World Commerce

Technology has changed global commerce. The question is to what extent has it changed commerce, and how has it changed commerce. What are the repercussions of global commerce and commercial patterns on the natural environment? This paper will strive to answer some of these questions, as well as, delve into other areas of global commerce.

When referring to global commerce, the word globalization is often used. The word globalization is used to “describe the changes in societies and the world economy that are the result of dramatically increased trade and cultural exchange” (Wikipedia, 2005). In economic contexts, it refers almost exclusively to the effects of trade and particularly to “free trade”. Since the travels of Marco Polo seven centuries ago, global economic integration, through trade, factor movements, and communication of economically useful knowledge and technology, has been on a generally rising trend (Mussa, 2000). During the past half century, the pace of economic globalization has been particularly rapid. This includes the reversal of the interwar decline. Globalization is not new, it has only changed.

One of the fundamental factors that has affected the process of economic globalization is the improvements in the technology of transportation and communications. This has reduced the costs of transporting goods, services, and factors of production and of communicating economically useful knowledge and technology. There is no doubt that advances in information and communications technology are the most important technological advances of the past quarter century (Mussa, 2000). By far, the most important and business altering advancement is the internet. There is evidence everywhere that the internet has greatly affected international trade. The internet has opened up the world, and brought it right into everyone’s home and business. In addition, technology and the internet have greatly reduced the costs of doing business. Even the smallest operation can now go global via the internet at almost no cost. However, there are still some problems that face these e-commerce activities. These problems are shot-term challenges and can be met. The key issues center around two areas:

Global Data Standards and Data Synchronization

Trading Exchanges

“The long-term challenge is to accelerate the development of next-generation technologies in a way that avoids repeating the mistakes of the past” (Global Technology Initiative, 2003). Even with these challenges, e-commerce is changing the face of business worldwide every day. In mid 1999, General Motors announced a development, which simultaneously accelerated the process of globalization and e-business (Reynolds, 2000). GM merged all its e-commerce and electronic trading activities into one coherent and logical entity: E-GM (Reynolds, 2000). The function of E-GM is to provide a focal point for all the e-business activities of General Motors. This is a major step for GM that will streamline it much faceted business, which will mean greater profits in the end.

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