From e-Marketplace to e-Supply Chain: Re-conceptualizing the Relationship Between Virtual and Physical Processes

In this research in progress paper, we seek to understand how pervasive use of ICT based platform such as electronic marketplaces influences the evolution of novel inter-organizational relationship. We focus on selling and distribution processes in fashion industry analysing the emerging phenomena from the perspective of the services provider. We chose two Internet platforms specialized in outsourcing the e-commerce related processes in the fashion industry, as exemplary cases. Our preliminary results suggest that such as platforms are deeply changing the system of relationships between clients and suppliers, affecting the processes performances, requiring a new conceptualization of the main attributes of the traditional supply chain.