There are two types of commonly used Web-based networks:

1. The Internet is a public network accessible to anyone with a computer and modem. It is expanding at a rapid rate with millions of people coming on-line every year.
   
   
2. An Intranet is a private network developed by a company for its own in-house use. Organizations have Intranets to communicate more quickly with their employees.

B2B , which stands for "business to business," is a new on-line industry. Here’s an example. A truck manufacturer buys its parts from Supply Company A. The truck manufacturer decides it needs more supplies of a particular part.

• Before B2B , an employee would have called an order clerk at Supply Company A who, in turn, would fill out a supply form and send copies to the billing, production and distribution departments.

• With B2B , the employee goes on-line to Supply Company’s special Web site (called an Extranet) and orders the part. Information is automatically sent to the right departments.

Growth of Internet/Intranet use is affecting the way companies do business. Organizations can now:

• know more about their competition in Canada and around the world.
  
  
• advertise to global audiences through Web sites.
  
  
• sell their products/services to global customers. This is called e-commerce.
  
  
• use e-mail as a way to communicate with employees, suppliers and buyers.
  
  
• use B2B to help their business grow.

What does this mean for you? Expect to:

• Be able to handle increasing amounts of information.
  
  
• Need excellent communication skills.
  
  
• Be able to use the Internet and/or an Intranet effectively.
  
  
• Be continuously upgrading your technology skills.
  
  
• Find types of work that never existed before.