Info Systems J (2003) 13, 353–373 © 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 353 Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKISJInformation Systems Journal1365-2575Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 200313 353373Original ArticleAn internet retailing data frameworkA P Vrechopoulos et al. An internet retailing data framework for supporting consumers and business processes Adam P. Vrechopoulos*, Katherine C. Pramataris † , Georgios Doukidis ‡ & George Lekakos § The E-Business Center (ELTRUN), Department of Management Science and Technology, Athens University of Economics and Business, 47A Evelpidon Street, 11362, Athens, Greece, email: *avrehop@aueb.gr, † K.Pramatari@aueb.gr, ‡ gjd@aueb.gr, and § glekakos@aueb.gr Abstract. This paper describes an action research case study dealing with the development of an internet retail store with advanced capabilities. The research focuses on the exploitation of information generated through consumer–system interaction by the virtual retailer (i.e. sales, navigation and personal consumer data). The results effectively support the business processes, consumers and product suppliers. To that end, an internet retailing data framework was developed during the user requirements capturing phase of the ACTIVE (Advertising and Commerce Through the Internet in the context of the Virtual Enterprise) project, as a means of structuring the system’s information requirements and data processing mechanisms. The purpose of this framework is to describe in detail what con- sumer information the system needs to collect and to advise the virtual retailer (i.e. ACTIVE’s administrator) how to use the available software components to exploit this information in order to effectively support consumers and business processes. Despite the fact that the proposed framework is tailored to the ACTIVE charac- teristics and needs, it can also be utilized by other virtual retailers to effectively support their key stakeholders (i.e. customers and suppliers). Keywords: internet retailing, consumer behaviour, business processes, e-shop 1 . RETAILING TRENDS OVER INTERNET The fields of application of the internet for companies are numerous and invade virtually every area of business life. So far, the commercial part of the internet has been used mainly for pre- senting companies and products. It is now increasingly developing more into an actual mar- ketplace where all the stages of a commercial transaction can be handled in the virtual arena. Traditional interactions in the marketplace are becoming transactions in the marketspace,