the challenges of international trade to exporters and importers: distance, language, methods of payment, documentation, transport, customs duties, non-payment, currencies, foreign exchange rates, competition and different legal systems

the appropriateness of factors affecting choice of method of communication in given situations: urgency, cost, security, distance, availability of networks and importance of the message

the impact on production of digital communication with suppliers, e.g. using electronic data interchange (EDI)