e.Business
represents the "digitization of business". While computing
has been with us for over four decades, it has been used
primarily as a crunching tool. Its main purpose has been
data processing and warehousing. In the eBusiness world,
the network and computing infrastructure becomes the
driver of disruptive changes. This change creates a new
environment for communication, interaction and
transactions. Some quick examples of eBusiness
applications include drugstore.com, amazon.com, E*Trade.
However, eBusiness goes beyond the web. In fact, some
eBusiness applications may not even touch the web.
For example: When a Stratus computer has
a part failure, its fault-tolerant design does an
automatic switchover to the redundant part. The system
then "calls Stratus" electronically and places an order
for the replacement part. The only time the customer knows
that something is amiss is when the Fedex package arrives
the next morning. This solution is a digital solution, but
can be delivered digitally without the web infrastructure.
(From Future Perfect by Stan Davis)
The Canadian company PETtrac installs
microchips in dogs and cats (4 Million and counting) as a
way to recover lost animals. Over 17,000 pets have been
recovered to date. It's a digital solution to the lost pet
problem. LoJack for your pets! (From Blur by Stan Davis
and Chris Meyer)
Consider what Coca-Cola has done with
its 800,000 vending machines in Japan. Normally, the
machines are serviced by route drivers who, upon arrival,
see that a machine is out of Diet Coke, Sprite, etc. What
was not known is how long ago each ran out or whether
there was a run on Sprite simply because frustrated Diet
Coke drinkers opted for a second choice. New vending
machines in Japan provide Coke that kind of information in
real-time. Each machine is equipped with a microprocessor
that communicates customer purchases back to a central
distribution facility. Thus, as soon as the machine runs
low it calls for more. In addition, Coke has demand data
for each location by time of day - the ultimate in
micro-market segmentation. (From Blur by Stan Davis and
Chris Meyer)
How do you get started?
You already have! By contacting us,
reading our literature, visiting our websites, and
educating yourself so that together we can get you
e.business enabled.
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