Information technology (IT), along with all other divisions of technologies, is an essential part of a company. Without IT, there would be no “e-commerce”, including “online retail, Internet auction sites, group buying and … mobile commerce”. This article discusses IBM’s approach to technology in business. IBM states that “brick and mortar stores (are) still relevant”, and according to Tadd Wilson (an “expert for the retail store solution, system and technology group of IBM”), this is because “our brains are basically wired the same way they were 10s of thousands of years ago”, and that “Browsing through a store, touching merchandise … making a purchase … fulfills a need in consumers”.

I personally agree with the take that Wilson takes on for IBM. Although it is, indeed, imperative that technology, IT in particular, is constantly maintained and updated for the convenience of consumers, I feel that a majority of the consumers would prefer getting to see and touch the product before making a purchase, rather than relying on pictures and the reviews of other consumers. However, in my opinion, the main focus should be on technology, as consumers increasingly becoming more inclined to use the internet for information and not the traditional sources. This will become very important in the future, when the internet will have even more influence than it has at present.