The document discusses electronic business and e-business applications. It describes key areas of e-business like merchandise planning, fulfillment, inventory management, and customer relationship management. Emerging applications discussed include portals, trading exchanges, order management, and virtual fulfillment networks. The document also outlines e-business architecture, benefits, and a multi-tiered architecture for e-business sites. It analyzes challenges, categories of B2B marketplaces, and top business reasons for adopting e-business.