Back during the tech boom, dozens of companies tried to create online B2B exchanges (imagine Ebay for used office equipment), but most of them failed miserably. Why is that? Well, after researching dozens of failed startups, it seems that most of these exchanges failed to realize that business all have their own internal processes and use ERP systems that could range in anything from SAP to NetSuite to Quickbooks. All of these systems couldn't talk to each other... so, some poor chap sitting in a cubicle had to key in data from a website into a spreadsheet (which we all know is how big business are really still run today anyway).
Well, since 1999 something has changed... welcome API. An application programming interface allows not only Facebook users to connect with Twitter, it also allows small businesses to connect with FedEx, banks, and suppliers, etc.
My theory... there is now a whole spank of opportunity in creating B2B exchanges. In fact, I'm going to let everyone else keep trying to give away free media content to lazy consumers while me and my buddies go make some real doughnut money.
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