For the first time, eBusiness is being measured as a part of U.S. productivity gains, signifying a new phase of productivity growth.

While it may seem like we've made giant strides in the realm of online B2B trade, we ain't seen nothin' yet. In fact, U.S. online business trade will reach almost $7 trillion by 2006, 27% of total trade, according to a new report from Cambridge, MA-based Forrester Research.

Forrester also says: eCommerce isn't the important story. What is? Productivity. The report eBusiness Propels Productivity highlights the fact that lower transaction costs, improved market information and intensified competition will drive B2B growth -- and provide a 15% productivity boost to the U.S. economy over the next decade.

The report's author, analyst Matthew R. Sanders, concludes that despite today's uncertain economic environment, firms are already realizing benefits from B2B trade and collaboration -- and that the most dramatic productivity gains will come about starting in 2004.

The bottom line business imperative:

Make change management job #1. To realize eBusiness productivity gains, firms can't simply throw technology at the problem and expect a return. It will take champions -- lots of them -- starting from the top to ensure that intercompany processes like purchasing and demand forecasting will work.

The last two years have been a wild ride for the B2B sector as the euphoria of dot-com IPOs turned to despair over failed eMarketplaces. But firms are pressing ahead with their eBusiness plans and eMarketplaces are settling out. By 2006, trading through eMarketplaces will reach $2.9 trillion in goods and services.

For a copy of the full report, please contact Emanuela Cariolagian at Golin/Harris, 213-623-4200, ext. 711.