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An e-business framework will consist of state-of-the-art architecture that
exploits the opportunities presented by the Internet. But before launching into an e-business framework itself, it's important to cover the range of solutions that can be built with it. We've found our customers' first forays into network computing are typically in three primary areas:
1. Content Management Solutions: Better ways to leverage information (often the most valuable company asset):
Applications that enable companies
to disseminate information by publishing it on their intranet Web site - for
instance, policies, job openings, announcements. This is often a company's first endeavor in leveraging Internet protocols. Once a presence is established, companies quickly need to move from providing static information to presenting users with dynamic information that can be tailored on the fly.
Applications
that establish or extend a company's brand presence on the Internet - sites that describe a company's product offerings, services, and strategies. Once companies have these sites, they quickly want to integrate them with other online processes within the company (tying to order-management systems, for instance) or the company's messaging system.
Applications to manage and access critical data: Financial data, customer data, product information, specifications, and so forth.
Applications that draw upon increasingly
complex multimedia assets: photographs, video, audio, engineering plans, X-rays.
Applications that deliver digital content - securely and reliably - to the people who need it.
2. Collaboration Solutions: Better ways to get teams to work together:
Communication systems, including electronic mail and
messaging systems. This is often the first network-based application a company deploys.
Human resource solutions, including employee self-service and organizational
planning and development.
Project coordination solutions, including engineering and R&D project management that enables concurrent
product development efforts across and beyond the enterprise.
Intranets and extranets that link internal teams with vendors, suppliers, and partners to
share information and streamline processes.
Sales-force automation solutions, including contact management and contract review and approval.
3. Commerce Solutions: Better ways of working with your customers, suppliers, and partners:
Web sites that foster one-on-one relationships with
customers - sites that build personalized pages on the fly, based solely on what customers want to see.
Commerce Web sites that bring efficiency to how goods and services
are bought and sold, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Customer
self-service sites that offer online problem resolution, service, support, product information, and the ability to not only improve customer relations but also to cut costs in the process.
Web sites that improve logistics and inventory management among manufacturers, distributors, and resellers.
While segmenting e-business applications into the categories of content management, collaboration and commerce provides a useful context within which to
discuss the role of e-business and how it fits into an organization, most e-business applications draw upon capabilities in each of these categories.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.
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