Paradigm Shift

The Latest Internet Technologies when combined with Business Enterprise Software and modern Telephony systems create a new business paradigm. Automation of a multitude of business processes, high service levels, rapid response and low overheads. Successful dot-com businesses are running with a fraction of the real estate and staffing overhead of the traditional Bricks & Mortar Competition. The high costs of developing integrated solutions combined with avarice of investors have delayed the full realisation of benefits to the customer. Now that there are 'off -the- shelf' proven technical solutions and more practical investment incubators, market places will see aggressive price down/value-up offerrings that really squeeze the established vendors.

Expectations

Consumer Expectations of service levels and efficiency are also rising and forcing everyone to raise their level of service, simply to retain market share. XML based search tools are giving consumers the ability to check the whole marketplace quickly. Consumers are expecting to know much more, precisely what they are getting and when. Tracking of parcel shipments is already the norm, increasingly buyers will expect to the front-end web view to feedback production schedules and dependencies. To delight your customer they are going to want to be able to see their order manufactured in real-time maybe even change specifications during build.

The Web Speaks!

The high costs of Sales and Support are going to be reduced by web solutions that are 'reaching out' from their graphically based origin. Contact Centres will become more automated with voice synthesised machine operators and interactive scripting based on web page methodology, the human element will perform call monitoring and order conversion roles, higher service level at a lower cost. Reception and Secretarial duties will be again focused on value adding human interation with the synthesised automation efficiently routing most callers. This handset access to the web page and automated ordering will open-up web benefits to include partially sighted people and those who will never use a computer.

Flexible Working

Many staff will not be in the office they will be working from their home or even from customers and suppliers locations. Advanced video conferencing and project collaboration applications will give freedom and creativity to let people get the job done, protoyping and development timescales are halved as information managment is automated.

Internet Market Place

A virtual meeting place exists for every specific industry. Your business benefits from joining the club because it finds other internet aware customers and suppliers. The protocols for trading are harmonised and simplified making e-commerce arrangements quick and easy. Advertising costs and supplier churn costs are reduced because market place visibility is so improved. Upward and Downward on-line auctions level the playing field for all the players. You have access to the latest (world-wide) technology developments in your industry.

Brand Hub

A bricks & Mortar office is still essential but it will be meeting and sharing environment. The Company/Brand Strategy and values will be created here. It is the administration headquarters for network hardware and out-sourcing arrangements. The whole supply chain will be entertained here, staff will be inducted and trained. It will be a centre for ideas and meetings. The layout will be a hot-desking and re-configurable space including presentation theatre/media rooms and living room convenience suites.

Out-Sourcing Mania

Business expenditure is controlled absolutely by out-sourcing all non core-activities. Application Service Providers (ASP) lease hardware and supply application software down the internet. Creative Services such as Advertising and Web Design are contracted out. Contact Centres & support customer enquiries are contracted out. Payroll and ledger transactions are also sub-contracted.

Conclusion

Many Bricks & Mortar businesses are using their resources and established brand to launch an independent dot.com start-up both as an insurance bet and as a test bed for later migration of their traditional model across to the new world of virtual e-business.

Why not let us help you formulate your e-business strategy today

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