In e-commerce, a number of business process and activities go unnoticed by the consumer and are often taken for granted. With an online merchant's business, value-added activities work together to make the business-to-consumer interface operational.
在电子商务中，许多交易的进程和活动不被消费者关注，并且经常认为那是理所当然的。在线交易中，价值增值活动一起发生作用使得B2C (企业对消费者）模式的交易得以实施。
In 1985 Michael Porter wrote a book called Competitive Advantage, in which he introduced the concept of the value chain. Businesses receive raw materials as input, add value to them through various processes, and sell the finished product as output to customers.
1985年迈克尔波特写了一本书名为《竞争优势》，在书中他介绍了价值链的概念。企业接受原材料为“输入”，经过各种不同的流程为其增加价值，然后将最终的产品作为“输出”销售给消费者。
Competitive advantage is achieved when an organization links the activities in its value chain more cheaply and more effectively than its competitors. For example, the purchasing function assists the production activity to ensure that raw materials and other supplies are available on time and meet the requirements of the products to be manufactured. The manufacturing function, in turn, has the responsibility to produce quality products that the sales staff can depend on. The human resource function must hire, retain, and develop the right personnel to ensure continuity in manufacturing, sale, and other areas of the business. Bringing in qualified people contributes to stability, continuity, and integrity of operations throughout the firm.
当一个组织能比其他竞争者更有效更便宜的与其价值链的活动相联系时，竞争优势就实现了。举例来说，购买力促进了生产活动，确保原材料和其他供给即时到位并满足产品生产的需求。相应地，厂家有责任生产出销售团队可依赖的高质量的产品。人力资源也相当重要，要雇佣、保留和发展适当的人才才能保证在公司的制造、销售和其他的环节上有相应强的连续性。吸引高素质的人才才能保证整个公司的稳定持续发展。
There is no time sequence or special sequence of activities before a business is considered successful or effective. The idea is to link different activities in such a way that the value-added (output) of one activity (department, process, etc.) contributes to the input of another activity. The integration of these activities results in an organization fine-tuned for profitability and growth.
一个交易在它被认定是成功或有效之前，其行为没有时间上或其他方面的特别顺序。这个理念是以下面的方式贯穿在不同的商务活动中的：一个环节（部门，流程等）的增加价值（输出）直接作用于另一个环节的输入。这些环节的整合为组织带来收益和增长。
According to Porter, the primary activities of a business are:
据波特介绍，商务活动主要是（价值链的构成要素）：
Inbound logistics. These are procurement activities vendor selection, comparative shopping, negotiating supply contracts, and just-in-time arrival of goods. They represent the supply side of the business. In e-commerce, the business must be capable of exchanging data with suppliers quickly, regardless of the electronic format.
内运物流。包含一些采购活动包括供应商选择、比较购买、合同谈判和货物的即时抵达。他们代表着商务的供应方。在电子商务中，企业必须有能力和供应商快速地交换信息，不必考虑采用何种电子形式。
Operations. This is the actual conversion of raw materials received into finished products. It includes fabrication, assembly, testing, and packaging the product. This production activity provides added value for the marketing function. Operational activities are the point in the value chain where the value is added. These happen in the back-office where the pizza is baked, the PCs are assembled, or the stock trades are executed. Data are shared at maximum network speed among internal and external partners involved in the value-adding processes.
营运。这是原材料转变成制成品的环节。它包括制造、装配、测试和包装产品。这是为市场活动增加价值的环节。营运环节是价值链中增加价值的最重要的环节。例如在后台的比萨饼的烘烤、计算机的装配和股票交易。数据在公司内部和合伙人之间通过网络资源共享来积极参与整个流程来实现产品的最大价值。
Outbound logistics. This activity represents the actual storing, distributing, and shipping of the final product. It involves warehousing, materials handling, shipping, and timely delivery to the ultimate retailer or customer. The output of this activity ties in directly with marketing and sales.
配送物流。这个环节是最终产品的存储、分配和运输。包括储仓、材料处理、运输和及时发送到零售商或消费者。这个环节的“输出”直接和市场销售相联系。
Marketing and sales. This activity deals with the ultimate customer. It includes advertising, product promotion, sales management, identifying the product's customer base, and distribution channels. The output of this activity could trigger increased production, more advertising, etc.
营销和销售。这个环节针对最终的消费者。它包括广告、促销、销售管理、了解客户需求和销售架道。这个活动的“输出”可以提高销售产量，获得更大的广告效益。
Service. This activity focuses on after-sale service to the customer. It includes testing, maintenance, repairs, warranty work, and replacement parts. The output of this activity means satisfied customers, improved image of the product and the business, and potential for increased production, sale, etc.
服务。这个环节是对客户售后的服务。它包括测试、维护、修理、质量保证和退换产品。这个环节意在使客户满意，以提高产品和企业的形象，从而潜在地提高产销量。
Primary activities are not enough. A business unit needs support activities to make sure the primary activities are carried out. Imagine, for example, a manufacturing concerns with no people or with poorly skilled employees.
有基本的商务价值活动并不够，一个企业需要支援价值链来确保商务活动的实施。设想一下，制造业没有人力资源或者说没有熟练员工能行吗？
The key support activities in the value chain are:
在价值链中的主要支持活动是：
Corporate infrastructure. This activity is the backbone of the business unit. It includes general management, accounting, finance, planning, and legal services. It is most often pictured in an organization chart showing the relationship among the different positions, the communication network, and the authority structure. Obviously, each position holder must add value to those above as well as below.
公司内部管理系统。这个活动是公司的核心。它包括一般的管理、会计、财政、计划和法制服务。通常在组织结构图中展示各个部分的位置关系，连接网络和组织机构。很明显，每个位置的环节都会给其前后的环节增加价值。
Human resources. This is the unique activity of matching the right people to the job. It involves recruitment, retention, career path development, compensation, training and development, and benefits administration. The output of this activity affects virtually every other activity in the company.
人力资源。这是调配最优的人们到适合工作岗位的独特环节。它包括招募、保持、补偿、训练体系。这个环节直接影响到公司其他所有环节。
Technology development. This activity adds value in the way it improves the product and the business processes in the primary activities. The output of this activity contributes to the product quality, integrity, and reliability, which make life easier for the sales force and for customer relations.
技术研发。这个环节是主要的环节，是改良产品厂家流程的方式中增加价值的环节。这个环节的工作对产品质量、增值和可信度有益，这样可以增强购买力，增进与顾客的关系。
Procurement. This activity focuses on the purchasing function and how well it ensures the availability of quality raw material for production.
采购。这个环节的主要功能是购买，确保得到高质量的原材料。
Where does e-commerce fit in? The value chain is a useful way of looking at a corporation's activities and how the various activities add value to other activities and to the company in general.
电子商务适合在什么环节呢？价值链是有一个公司运作情况的有效方式，而且从总体上考虑各种不同的商务活动环节是如何把价值加入其他的商务活动环节上的。
E-commerce can play a key role in reducing costs, improving product quality and integrity, promoting a loyal customer base, and creating a quick and efficient way of selling products and services. By examining the elements of the value chain, corporate executives can look at ways of incorporating information technology and telecommunications to improve the overall productivity of the firm. Companies that do their homework early and well ensure themselves a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
电子商务能在降低成木、提高产品质量、促成忠诚客户基础和创建快捷高效的产品与服务销售方面起到关键作用。通过对价值链中的要素进行分析和协调，结合信息技术和通信技术可以提高整个公司的销售能力。公司尽早做好内部管理可以确保在整个市场中具备竞争优势。