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What is an e-business? And why should you be one?
The Internet is important. You know that. The wired world (and now wireless) is changing
everything. You know that. No business can afford to ignore the implications of a connected world.
But you wonder: What is hype and what is reality? Sure, 80% of the Fortune
500 have Web sites, according to the Economist. But only 25% are selling anything.
There must be something more. Something that can give your company
an advantage in the marketplace.
That something is e-business. The world is ready for it.
e-business is the future of business.
e-business is what happens when you connect your critical business systems
directly to your critical constituencies - customers, employees, vendors and suppliers - via intranets, extranets and over the Web. Combining the resources of traditional information systems with the vast reach of the Web.
Thousands of businesses have taken the first step to becoming an e-business by establishing a Web site and publishing information electronically. It's
simple to do and relatively cheap. But the impact on your business in limited.
The second step is moving to "self service" Web sites - where customers do
things like check their account status or trace a package. This is harder to implement, but the potential return is great.
The third step in becoming an e-business is moving to transactions - not just buying and selling, but all processes that require a dynamic and
interactive flow of information.
Things like service and support, managing supply chains, and the many systems (both internal and external) that are at the heart of how your
business works.
This is where the world is headed. It's happening now and it's happening fast. Is your business ready for it?
We specialize in e-business and e-commerce consulting, designing and programming. Contact us for a free consultation.
Here are some definitions:
An INTRANET is an e-business application deployed within a business.
An EXTRANET is e-business application deployed within the larger community of a business - including its suppliers, vendors and contractors.
Connecting either one to the INTERNET makes the information it contains accessible from anywhere in the world using ubiquitous software.
An E-BUSINESS is a business that uses these tools to connect its critical business systems directly to customers, employees, vendors and other critical
constituencies.
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