Challenges of Measuring the Direct Effects of E-Business in SMEs

Development of fast Internet and constant growth of new information and communication technology brought to expansion of interconnections between modern companies and their business partners through new kind of business integration so called electronic business (ebusiness). As the new kind of business connection paradigm has been implemented and started expansion, justification of its use came into the scientific focus. Significant direct and tangible effects of the e-business application have been found and proven in large companies, but in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) these effects have still been the area of exploration. According to latest researches in this field this paper, as a part of dissertation proposal, deals with the issues in the existing methods for e-business direct effects measurement in business processes. This research shows lack of appropriate methods specifically oriented to SMEs. Dissertation proposal is focused on four main problems in measuring future effects of e-business implementation in business processes. The paper emphasizes these issues, whose solution will further lead to new methodology for measuring and assessing direct effects of e-business implementation in SMEs as part of business to business (B2B) communication and the exchange of structured electronic documents in business process cycle, from order to payment.