Information Technology has been investigated by academics at Brazilian Business Schools for a long time. Some themes related to this issue have not been discussed in Brazilian academy as much as they have in academies abroad. This text is concerned about presenting the concept of software agents and their application in Business, mainly in commerce. Throughout the text, it will be shown why software agents have made so much success within electronic trade. From product or service searches through making better decisions, software agents are a necessary reading for anyone who is trying to understand the benefits, challenges and difficulties that business is facing with communication media and information systems. Some publications from international journals, books and proceedings of academic meetings are reviewed as well as some Brazilian works. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate a greater discussion about software agents in Brazilian business schools and companies.
Software agents; decision making; electronic commerce