Within two years, today's business-to-business internet marketplaces will be old hat, set to be replaced by broader inter-connected offerings that add up to one-stop shops for buyers.

According to market specialists Forrester Research, increasingly sophisticated buyers will be looking for more value from the sites they visit. This may come in the form of integration, bringing together access to products or services from a multi-disciplined group, or from alliances built between suppliers that will enable a tailored "bundle" to be offered.

The suppliers have a choice: either develop a system with sufficient capability in-house, or rely on one of the e-commerce systems operators that are rapidly emerging. In any case, an essential ingredient will be consistently effective capture of customer data to improve the operation of the site and what it offers.

With rapid development sure to continue, buyers should be looking for better service now.

Elliott Chase