The Internet has fundamentally changed the way that business is
             carried out. But do the changes brought about by the Internet constitute a
             sea change' When considering this question, it's important to define the
             concepts that we are discussing. A sea change is a complete shift, a
             fundamental change that brings with it entirely new circumstances. It is
             more than a series of advances that move business forward, it a change in
             the business itself. In this regard, the Internet is more than just a
             facilitating tool, it represents a sea change in the way business is
             One major way in which the Internet has brought about a sea change in
             the way a business conducts its affairs has to do with the relationship
             between customer and business. The Internet is as much a tool for today's
             consumer as it is for today's business, and this fact has to be considered
             by any business that hopes to remain competitive in today's commercial
             Internet and the World Wide Web have engendered a more informed
             customer than at any other time in history. A few minutes of surfing and
             the customer can gather a host of information on products, pricing,
             delivery and company history. Similarly, they can also research your
             competitors and make a comparison on a variety of factors before they
             purchase. This access to information and ease of comparison shopping is
             forcing today's businesses to remain competitive instead of resting on
             Much of a business' marketing efforts have focused on relationship
             marketing, recognizing that the cost of retaining a customer is a fraction
             of what it is to gain a new customer. Nowhere is this more true than in a
             business environment facilitated by the Internet. When customers have the
             tools at their disposal to research your competition across the globe it is
             incumbent upon the business to maintain a positive relationship. Before
             the Internet became a corner...