E-Business, E-Government and E-Commerce Advance Information Technology for IRAQ By Eng.

Salah Al-Rubaie

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

C
ONTENTS

Contents

About this paper....................................................................................................3 What is E-Business?.............................................................................................4 How does it work?.................................................................................................6 E-Business architecture ........................................................................................7 Business Process approach .................................................................................9 E-Business in IRAQ ............................................................................................10 IRAQI Government .............................................................................................11 Banking, Finance & E-Payment ..........................................................................13 Transport & Ports................................................................................................15 Trade, Retail and Manufacturing.........................................................................16 Other fields .........................................................................................................17 Bringing E-Business to IRAQ..............................................................................18 E-Business software vendors..............................................................................19 Summary ............................................................................................................20 About the author .................................................................................................21

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

About this paper

After years of technological isolation, it is now time to bring to Iraq state of the art information technology systems. This paper focuses on E-Business technologies and the huge advantages they could bring to the Iraqi economy. E-Business technologies are still very new or even not existent in most of the Arab & Middle Eastern countries. Potentially Iraq could be in a leading technological position if the Iraqi government adopts E-Business across all government and non-government sectors. E-Business is very widely used in the developed countries to enhance productivity, efficiency, accuracy and security. E-Business can be applied in all industry verticals including: Government, all sectors e.g. Health, Finance, Defense, Industrial.. etc Banking, investment and finance Manufacturing Retail Logistics Telecommunication Transport And many more. E-Business is a field involving any electronic transaction over communication channels. E-Business could be any transaction including business to business (B2B), within the organization (EAI, Enterprise Application Integration) or Business to Consumer (B2C).

E-Business solutions will: Enhance accuracy of data Improve data security Improve productivity Improve customer service Improve data accuracy and validation Automate business processes

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

What is E-Business?
E-Business (electronic business) is using technology to improve business processes. This includes managing internal processes such as human resources, financial and administration systems as well as external processes such as sales and marketing, supply of goods and services and customer relationships. The way in which an organization manages business relationships has not changed, but the way they are referred to when using E-Business tools has. They are becoming more often known as:

Business to Business (B2B) Business to Consumer (B2C) (also known as E-Commerce) Government to Consumer (G2C) Government to Business (G2B). Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)

Activities using E-Business tools include:

Trading of goods or services online, such as E-Procurement. Electronic retailing. Use of the Internet, Intranets or Extranets to conduct research and manage business activities. Web site marketing. Online communications, such as Web, HTTP, FTP. Online training (E-Learning).

E-Business tools include:

PCs Mobile phones Personal digital assistants (PDA) Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) File transfer Facsimile Internet\intranets.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

E-Business and Your Business E-Business is more than having a Website for your business. Using E-Business tools can make administrative and operational activities more efficient through:

Streamlining your 'traditionally' physical transactions into electronic transactions, for example online banking, financial management, stock control and compliance reporting to regulatory bodies such as the Tax office. Purchasing and selling without a Web presence by using eMail or eFax; Human resources management, through the development of an Intranet for news, policies, staff movements and enabling staff to apply for leave and access their personnel information online; Customer relationship management, which integrates front and back office functions of an organization through electronic capabilities; and Using appropriate project management software.

Advantages The benefits of implementing E-Business tools are not so much in the use of technology, but in the streamlining of business processes and the ease in finding new markets. Some of the advantages are:

Quicker and easier communications. Strengthened marketing capabilities and reach. Increased hours of operation (provides 24hr 7 day information). Access to broader information through research. Reducing the cost of doing business by lowering transaction costs and increasing efficient methods for payment, such as using online banking and reducing stationery and postage costs. The opportunities to adopt new business models and develop tailored customer support.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

How does it work?

E-Business is made possible through the use of many areas of Information Technology. Recently Information Technology areas became very advanced which made EBusiness solutions very efficient. Some of those areas are: Database Systems Application Server & Web Servers Internet Technologies Security Databases Systems E-Business solutions are usually deployed based on standard relational database, for example Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle or DB2. Application and Web Servers E-Business solutions are usually deployed based on Application Servers and Web Servers. A Web server is needed to handle internet protocols and to host web applications. Application Servers provide J2EE container for the applications. Not all B2B solutions require an application server; some solutions are application server independent, and some run on Microsoft .Net. Application servers can perform data integrity, load-balancing, backups, and monitoring. Internet Technologies Interactions between originations are usually done through the internet. E-Business solutions depend on Internet technologies to support these interactions, for example web, http, ftp and others. In addition to internet some organizations use VPN (Virtual-PrivateNetwork) and\or VAN (Value-Added-Network) Security Data security is critical as all business data need to be secure. E-Business adopts best security practices to guarantee the security and integrity of data. For example, data encryption, user authentication and digital certificate.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

E-Business architecture
E-Business architecture consists of activities that occur within the organization and activities that occur outside the organization. The following is a typical E-Business architecture diagram:

Diagram explanation: Organizations e.g. Government, Banks, can deploy Middleware solutions to manage internal and external business processes. Business Process Management is a term used for automated processes. In the above diagram, the Middleware is installed in the secure LAN to manage operations such as: Business to Business communication Data Security Data storage (mailbox) Translation of data. Data visibility Reports.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

The Middleware solution is the integration engine that integrates internal applications, for example financial applications, database systems and others. To interact with external organizations and businesses a robust security layer is installed to protect internal systems. External organizations and business can send any files over any protocol. Some of the supported standards are: Files: Excel CSV (Comma Separated Values) XML (eXtended Markup Language) Comma delimited Positional EDI (Electronic Data Exchange) And others

Protocols: HTTP or Secure HTTP FTP or Secure FTP SOAP messages AS2 message And others

All incoming and outgoing data\files can be automatically validated and integrated with backend systems. This will ensure data quality and efficiency.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

Business Process approach

A business process is a collection of related, structured activities that produce a service or product that meets the needs of a business. These processes are critical to any organization as they generate revenue and improve data quality and efficiency. Business process management (BPM) is a method of efficiently aligning an organization with the wants and needs of clients. It is a complete management approach that promotes business effectiveness and efficiency while striving for innovation, flexibility and integration with technology. A business process is usually created using a graphical modeling tool; this tool will assist organizations to create and manage business processes (e.g. banking workflow). Sample business process flow: A Business Process (BP) will have a start and end Several steps in the business process will make a business flow Some of those steps might perform tasks like check data (data validation). If an error occurs, an email can be sent to a user to correct the error. Some of those steps can interact with external or internal systems.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

E-Business in IRAQ
Iraq is now building its economy and infrastructure and has the potential to build a very robust infrastructure based on a solid foundation. E-Business can be applied in all business sectors. Iraqi government and businesses can achieve tremendous advantages by adopting E-Business. Some of the advantages that E-Business will bring to Iraq are:

Ability to electronically deal with international customers e.g. suppliers, manufacturers, distrusters, banks ..etc Advanced Web and E-Commerce solutions e.g. yellow pages, white pages, online airline booking etc Improved speed of response Cost savings Improved communications, information and knowledge sharing. Reductions in inventory Improved efficiency and productivity Harmonization and standardization of procedures. Better transfer of best practices. Acquisition of new customers and increased sales Improved customer service.

E-Business can be implemented in all Iraqi business verticals, including: Iraqi Government; all Government ministries Iraqi Banking; financial and insurance sectors, e.g. Iraqi Central Bank Iraqi Communication Iraqi Transport e.g. Iraqi Airline, Iraqi Railways etc Iraqi Logistics e.g. Iraqi Ports Iraqi Retailers; importers, exporters, distributers, warehouses.. etc Iraqi Manufacturing And others

The following pages will cover how and what benefits E-Business will bring to various Iraqi sectors.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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IRAQI Government
E-Business can improve Iraqi government operations and services. Several countries around the world have implemented E-Government systems. In a nutshell, E-Government refers to the use of internet technology as a platform for exchanging information, providing services and transacting with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. E-Government can be used to: Improve internal efficiency, the delivery of public services, or processes. Government-to-Citizen\Consumer services (G2C). Government-to-Business services (B2B) Government-to- Government services (G2G)

Iraqi government can use E-Business to:

Push information over the Internet, e.g. regulatory services and public information and services. Two-way communications between the agency and the citizen, a business, or another government agency. In this model, users can engage in dialogue with agencies and post problems, comments, or requests to the agency. Conducting transactions, e.g.: lodging tax returns, applying for services and grants. Governance, e.g. online polling, voting, and campaigning.

The most important anticipated benefits of E-Government include improved efficiency, convenience, and better accessibility of public services. While E-Government is often thought of as "online government" or "Internetbased government," many non-Internet "electronic government" technologies can be used in this context. Some non-internet forms include telephone, fax, SMS text messaging, PDA, GIS/GPS and others. The diagram below explains how the Iraqi government could use the internet to improve services to citizens, Business and other government agencies.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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Some of the services that can be offered through this platform are: Submit businesses TAX data to TAX office, e.g. direct integration or via online secure Web portal. Health services, hospital supplies website, pharmaceutical services, e.g. direct integration or via Web Portal Moving of critical government data e.g. defense and army information securely using Managed File Transfer. Suppliers, buyers, warehouses services for Ministry of trade e.g. Web Portals for exchange information. Telecommunication services, e.g. sell telecom services online (Phone, Internet, Mobile Phone, Digital Media ...etc), Yellow Pages site, White Pages sites etc Road and traffic services, e.g. Car registration services. Public information e.g. council services, booking venues ..etc Election and polling registrations And many more

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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Banking, Finance & E-Payment

Banking and financial services are the most IT-intensive segment of the global economy. Around the world banking remains the largest consumer of IT services and the largest spender in IT systems. Rebuilding and automating Iraqi banking and the financial sector will have a huge impact on the economy. Most banks around the world have implemented E-Business solutions to automate internal and external banking processes. Some of the benefits that E-Business will bring to Iraqi banks and financial companies include: Realize significant reduction in costs Revenue growth Consolidate payment channel infrastructures using Financial Gateway Improve customer service Data validation & Security of Data Automation of data, messages and processes.

E-Payment is one area that is becoming widely used in the developed countries e.g. payment of water, electricity, phone, etc bills online. According to global leading industry analyst: The back offices of payment providers contain a variety of redundant processing routines isolated by payment type. The market demands an environment that can support any payment type, regardless of device, format or channel. Gartner Serve Customers Better
Corporate Customers

Bank

Improve IT Efficiency and Flexibility Manage Partners Effectively

Business Partners

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Sample E-Business Banking Gateway:

Some E-Business gateway services: Automate movement of critical data securely within the bank, branches and with other banks & partners Internet Banking Services E-Payment Data validation and integration Web & Email notification Support any transaction type over any protocol Integration with other banking backend systems.

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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Transport & Ports

Moving data, integration and automation can be applied in all sections. In this section we will touch on how we can apply this to Iraqi Transport and Ports management. Transport can be very complex, as it involves moving goods by road, air and sea. Transport companies usually receive an order to transport goods from A to B. This process could be very complex, due to the many variations and processes. Some of those variations are: Initial order capture Delivery of goods Warehouse operations (cold goods, fragile goods, explosive etc) Payment processes Container movements e.g. Iraqi Ports receive 1000s of containers E-Business solutions can help simplify this process. Different business partners can exchange electronic messages; these messages can be validated, processed and integrated with other systems. Sample electronic port operation:

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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Trade, Retail and Manufacturing

The supplier - buyer relationship can be fully automated; E-Business technologies can handle any transaction ranging from a very large multi million dollar supplier to a very small web base supplier. Several partner interfaces can be provided to exchange and automate messages. Some of those standards and messages include: Purchase Order (PO) Invoice (INV) Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) Returns Electronic catalogue E-Commerce capability (online buying capabilities) And many more These technologies will open the door for massive improvements in those sectors and could revive the Iraqi industry making it possible to exchange electronic messages with companies around the work. Sample business flow:

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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Other fields
E-Business can be applied in several other fields and business, some of those fields are: Oil industries Electricity Services Water Services Natural resources e.g. Gas Tourism Air travel Agriculture Defense Intelligence Services Boarder Security Science Education Employment Environment Pharmaceutical & Health Infrastructure And others

E-Business will also have environmental benefits including: Reduction in paper use (mostly electronic media) Reduction in car, petrol use and pollution (service can be done remotely through the internet)

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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Bringing E-Business to IRAQ

In the past 10 years the demand for E-Business has skyrocketed with more and more organizations around the world adopting E-Business. Around the world several trillions of dollars go through E-Business systems and gateways every day. Iraq should strongly adopt E-Business as this is the only way for Iraq to build a solid economy that can compete and be compatible with modern global standards. Iraqi Government and large Iraqi organizations e.g. Banks, Airline, Ports, Oil need to incorporate E-Business systems and technologies as soon as possible. It may be suggested that Iraq is not ready for this now as the focus should be on roads, building, electricity, etc. However Iraq now has the perfect opportunity to build an infrastructure based on solid foundations, E-Business being one of those foundations. E-Business can be brought to Iraq by several means, including: Extensive training for Iraqi engineers, through o Online training and studies (online courses, certificates and universities) o Training can be performed by experienced overseas Iraqi engineers to local engineers. o Implementation of E-Business studies in Iraqi universities. As part of E-Business implementation there will be a training program to help organizations to build, maintain and administer E-Business solutions. All software vendors provide this service as part of the solution delivery. Companies who implement E-Business can then provide training (e.g. ELearning) to their trading partners, users and customers.

There are many E-Business resources on the internet; in addition to that Iraqi professionals who live outside Iraq can train local engineers remotely by using online sharing\training tools such as WebEx http://www.webex.com/ .

e-IRAQ By: Eng. Salah Al-Rubaie

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E-Business software vendors

There are several E-Business software vendors, most of those vendors provide services in the Middle East through Europe based offices, some of those vendors are: IBM: Web Methods Microsoft: BizTalk Sterling Commerce: Sterling Integrator Tibco Sun Microsystems And others

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Summary
E-Business has become an important factor for major businesses and companies around the world. Iraqi government can put Iraq in a leading position in the region if they adopt E-Business and integrate it into all government and non-government sectors. Iraqi government needs to implement certain E-Business guideline\standards to help Iraqi companies to adopt E-Business. If E-Business was to be taken away from the world economy, it would result in multi trillions of dollars being wiped-out, seeing the collapse of major organizations around the word. Iraqi government needs to act and act now to bring to Iraq 21st century information technology systems.

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About the author

Name: Salah Al-Rubaie Experience: 19 years IT experience. Current position and experience: Senior E-Business Consultant Working for a global E-Business software vendor Australia More than 9 year of E-Business experience and worked on more than 40 projects in several fields, some of those fields are:
Finance & Insurance: National Australia Bank American Express Reserve Bank Australia NRMA: Insurance company Mondial: Insurance company Government: New South Wales Health Department Australian Taxation Office Retail: Coles, second largest retailer in Australia Metcash third largest retailer in Australia Harvey Norman: Electronic retailing Transport & Logistics: VersaCold: Cold logistics DHL P&O Ports (DP World) Manufacturing: Hyundai Australia Lindt Chocolate Huhtamaki packaging Colgate Palmolive Orica

Education & Qualifications: B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, University of Technology, Baghdad - IRAQ CCNA, MCSE+ Internet Specialist Contact: Email: Ph(home): Ph(mob.):

salah.rubaie@gmail.com +61 2 9622 4442 +61 407 008 432

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