Are all systems go for e-business?<\/p>\n
By Betti Alisjahbana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Estimates say there are over 100 million
\nInternet users around the world, and the number is growing
\nexponentially. International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates 510
\nmillion people worldwide will be on-line by 2003.<\/p>\n
The phenomenon is felt around the world without exception.
\nWhile it took television 13 years to reach 50 million viewers all
\nover the world and 38 years for radio to reach the same number of
\nlisteners, it took less than five years for the Internet to
\nachieve the same milestone.<\/p>\n
The World Wide Web, commonly known as the WWW, has made the
\nInternet more user-friendly and exciting. Introduction of color
\nand animated graphics has captured users' imagination and has
\ncome a long way from the boring, static pages of the early days
\nof the Internet.<\/p>\n
There are approximately 200,000 Internet users in Indonesia,
\nThis figure does not include global corporate intranet users with
\nInternet connections, nor does it include local corporate
\nintranet users with a similar connection.<\/p>\n
What makes the Internet so influential? Today we see the
\npromise of universal access with 100 million potential customers
\naround the globe. The Internet is a new medium for businesses to
\nreach customers. It is creating unprecedented opportunities for
\nbusinesses to take what they have in their intranet and expand
\nthemselves into a new world with universal reach.<\/p>\n
Here are four from the number of compelling reasons for
\nbusiness to get on the Internet:<\/p>\n
First, there is the promise of global advertising, i.e.,
\ngetting our product information directly to end customers more
\neffectively. An increasing number of businesses are using the
\nInternet to make product marketing information -- such as
\nbrochures, white papers, product specifications, etc. -- easily
\navailable to customers. This avenue will become even more
\npreferable, especially if product information changes regularly
\nand wastes reams of printed material. The Internet is an
\nexcellent medium to reach customers and provide them with
\ncontinuously updated and exciting information.<\/p>\n
The Internet also is an excellent means to build customer
\nloyalty. Among other things, we can use it for managing customer
\nfeedback. Using the forms capability found in Internet tools such
\nas Lotus Domino, we can easily obtain specific feedback from our
\ncustomers and have it routed automatically to the customer
\nsatisfaction department for timely response. The Internet is
\nthere 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The around-the-clock
\nlink to customers will prove invaluable and beat the phone
\nfeedback system, where customers usually complain of being put on
\nhold too long. Of course, ultimately it is what we do with the
\nactual feedback that determines the degree of our success.<\/p>\n
Banks are now introducing additional services to their
\ncustomers across the Internet with facilities to check balances,
\nmake transfers between accounts, pay bills and even obtain loans.
\nThey are finding the provision of the services not only enhances
\ncustomer loyalty, but also reduces transaction costs
\nsignificantly. On-line costs can be less than 10 percent of those
\naccrued in a physical transaction.<\/p>\n
The Internet also is an excellent avenue to expand our
\nbusiness. As more and more startups have found out, it is
\nexpensive these days to build a new outlet. Real-estate prices
\nare rising dramatically everywhere. Even if we can afford to rent
\nan office, we still have to take into account the overhead and
\nstaffing costs.<\/p>\n
All of these pose formidable challenges to anyone wanting to
\nexpand his business today. Even when we finally acquire a
\nlocation and staff that we need to get started, we will have but
\none physical store with a limited reach to customers.<\/p>\n
The Internet is now being used by businesses to reach new
\ncustomers where a physical store would fall short. They can now
\nreach customers beyond their neighborhoods, states and even
\ncountries, something they may have never thought possible before.
\nThe concept of electronic storefronts is being deployed faster
\nand faster these days; businesses daring to open their Cybershops
\nare finding new ways of doing business in the Cyberspace.<\/p>\n
Security remains an issue to be solved, but it is now commonly
\nbelieved that if we truly have the products the customer wants,
\nthe security issue will be ignored. The key is to give the
\ncustomers the benefit of the doubt and provide the best customer
\nservice possible, and businesses will see how this new dimension
\nof doing business will become permanent. IDC predicts that
\nInternet-related spending will grow 50 percent per annum through
\n2000. Pundits are predicting Internet sales will reach up to
\nUS$400 billion in 2002. No matter what the actual number may be,
\nit will be a huge one.<\/p>\n
And the Internet allows us to connect our extended enterprise
\nto cut product development time and streamline everyday business
\nprocesses. Today's technology allows companies to synchronize
\nplanning and forecasting activities over the Internet. By using
\nthe Internet as a secure communication backbone, companies can
\nexchange planning information, work out action plans based on
\nthat data and anticipate problems that may occur in cooperation
\nwith their trading partners.<\/p>\n
A successful extended enterprise collaboration delivers to the
\ncustomer the right product in the right place at the right time
\nfor the right price, with the least possible cost throughout the
\nsupply chain.<\/p>\n
When we connect our key business systems directly to our
\nbusiness constituencies, i.e., our customers, employees and
\nsuppliers via our intranet, extranet and over the Web, we have e-
\nbusiness in action.<\/p>\n
Timely<\/p>\n
Four years ago, the idea of using the Internet for doing
\nbusiness seemed rather illusive at best. Today, there are plenty
\nof products and services providers who are capable of turning
\nthat dream into reality. Bold and enterprising businesses are
\nbeginning to reap the benefits.<\/p>\n
As we are battered by tough times, efficiency and productivity
\nare definitely the key to getting out of the ongoing crisis. New
\nways of making money with tight resources are always welcomed,
\nand e-business can pave the way to move ahead when the going gets
\ntough.<\/p>\n
Indonesian businesses will stand to gain by entering e-
\nbusiness in a borderless world. E-business can certainly help our
\nlocal business go global and compete with the rest of the world.
\nThe current crisis is by no means the time to sit back and wait.
\nThe visionary will see light, the bold will act and e-business as
\na business strategy will open the way for them.<\/p>\n
Everyone can flourish on the Internet because the technology
\nis open to all. Small-scale handicraft businesses can start
\nselling their products to customers around the region on the
\nInternet. A small engineering firm can use the Internet to
\ncollaborate with other parties in product development projects.<\/p>\n
The Internet provides a level playing field where any
\ninnovative business can become an effective and successful e-
\nbusiness enterprise. Small businesses can compete with large
\ncorporations and even go global by adopting e-businesses. All it
\nrequires is to look at using the Internet and formulate a
\nbusiness strategy that leverages the technology, even
\ntransforming ways of doing business.<\/p>\n
The Internet wave is not going to stop because we are facing
\ndifficult times, as it will not stop for anybody. It is up to the
\nbrave and innovative entrepreneurs to take up the challenge to
\nmove into e-business -- even during the tough times, looking to
\ncompeting globally as they ride the waves into better times. It
\nwill be too late if businesses wait until the crisis is over
\nbefore they get started, as the rest of the world will have
\nalready transformed itself completely into e-business by then.<\/p>\n
The writer is a Jakarta-based IT observer.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/are-all-systems-go-for-e-business-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }