The development of the information society influences changes in the functioning of the economy, fostering the creation of electronic markets and transforming the structure and operation of enterprises. The result of these changes is the emerging electronic economy, which is considered the most promising concept for economic development and an opportunity to increase competitiveness, innovation, and efficiency. Many reasons encourage companies to use electronic communication. The Internet enables companies to better exchange essential information, improve communication with customers, and access sources of information, often gathered in various databases. Companies are increasingly using the Internet as a medium to search for potential contractors. The ability to reach out with commercial information in a fast, inexpensive, and time- and space-unlimited manner is a value increasingly appreciated by companies. For this purpose, among others, various types of offer systems are used, an excellent example of which is the Trade Point Poznań system.
Trade Point Poznań is one of the points of the Global Trade Point Network, affiliated with the World Trade Point Federation and built on the initiative of the UN, located all over the world and focused on the needs of the SME sector. It is a global, fully integrated online trade information exchange system authenticated by an international organization of recognized authority. In Poland, the initiative was undertaken by the Institute of Logistics and Warehousing, which, upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Poland, established the Polish node of the network. More than 90 countries are already participating in this system, having created over 120 Trade Points.
Trade Point Poznań is a “non-profit” venture, and any profits from its activities are allocated to the development of the program.
Trade Point Poznań, together with the World Trade Point Federation, provides system participants with intranet IT infrastructure for communication, develops information services, and launches services supporting trade exchange.
The primary product offered to registered TPP participants is the national and international offer and information system (www.tpp.com.pl). The national system is dedicated to the needs of the Polish market and is intended to support Polish companies, especially from the SME sector, in trade exchange between domestic contractors. The international system is aimed at companies conducting or wishing to start business activities outside of Poland.
The article comes from the magazine “e-Fakty” 6/2005.