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Successful Implementations If Internet Technology

In the dot.com build-up websites for business-to-business companies were consider revolutionary tools to change everything about the way we do business. Common models included enablers that reduce delays in a supply chain, low cost training resources and marketing tools. How successful has your web strategy been?

Business-to-business sites that were the most successful for companies who ran them were sites that helped customers find resources for purchase or exchange. Not a simple brochure, but an interactive environment to find answers, do price comparisons, or technical research on a product.

The Internet reduced transaction costs and simplified the basic commerce functions, opening up huge secondary markets. These exchanges traded everything from aircraft to basic construction materials like bolts-- anything that could be shipped or provided in a packaged unit. Most often commodity materials.

A professional services exchange provides contract services between one company and another. Just like traditional bid-proposal systems, companies can find service providers or request bids for specific projects. Professional services exchanges sprung up all over the Internet, including: (the line between contract outsourcing and job search is constantly blurring)

• Elance On-line Marketplace, http://www.elance.com/
• eWork Pro-Source, http://www.ework.com/
• Guru, http://www.guru.com/
• Hire Ability, http://www.hireability.com/
• ProSavvy, http://www.prosavvy.com/
• Sologig, http://www.sologig.com/
• Assortis, http://www.assortis.com/

Efforts to optimize the supply chain have pushed changes in technology, the Internet has been useful in this aspect for business-to-business. Vertical trade exchanges provided powerful tools to cut dollars off resource acquisition, sites included: (including some high profile company auctions)

• Equipment Trader, http://www.equipmenttraderonline.com/
• Sun Microsystems Authorized Auctions, http://www.sun.com/auctions/
• Machinery Trader, http://www.machinerytrader.com/
• Dell Auction, http://www.delauction.com/
• ChemConnect, http://www.chemconnect.com/

[Ed.-- While the Internet is well suited for auction like exchanges, this type of commerce isn't always constructive for price stability and availability. Auctions sometime produce a lowest bidder mentality where quality isn't considered till after the fact.]

When you are faced with new technology, instead of implementing it for its own sake; ask questions that identify cost reductions, clearly define a return on investment, and improve your value to customers. Technology is often produced faster than it is culturally accepted, great ideas take time to adopt or work out the bugs.

/ b2b-websites | business-success /

By Justin Hitt at October 10, 2003 5:41 PM  Subscribe in a reader