44212: Web-site Development What is a Web Presence? Ian Perry Room:C49 Extension:7287

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 2 Business Supply Chain Suppliers Organisation Customers  Communication? with Customers face-to-face, fax, letters, telephone, etc. with Suppliers all of above, plus things like EDI.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 3 E-Business Supply Chain  Bi-directional communications for the whole supply chain: external suppliers (Extranet) [Up-stream] internal staff (Intranet) external customers (Internet) [Down-stream] Organisation Intranet Internal E-Business Customers Internet Business-to-Customer E-Commerce Suppliers Extranet Business-to-Business E-Procurement

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 4 What is a Web Presence?  A ‘Web Presence’ needs to; support the necessary interaction (i.e. specific business processes) between an organisation and those in the Internet/Web community they wish to do business with.  It is not enough; just to have a number of ‘pretty’ Web Pages loaded onto a Web Server.  And should never; simply be a vehicle for Web Authors to show off their technical skill.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 5 Type of ‘Web Presence’ - A  One extreme ( simple, cheap ) a few ‘simple’ Web Pages advertising an organisation’s products and/or services to their customers: pages which rarely change. used a means of raising awareness of what is on offer. inviting potential customers to engage in business, by:  & telephone (& fax?).

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 6 Type of ‘Web Presence’ - Z  The other extreme (complex, expensive) many complex Web Pages; a means of doing business with both customers and suppliers: a constantly updated, interactive system, allowing people to;  search for and request particular products and/or services and to pay for them on-line. and, depending upon the products and/or services on offer, allowing the organisation;  to deliver them via the Internet.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 7 Not so Extreme!  DO NOT have to be positioned at either of these extremes.  DO need to make a decision about the level of ‘commitment’ to a ‘Web Presence’ that will best match current (near-future?): business needs in-house technical skills Type AType Z Where?

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 8 ‘Do It Yourself’  Advantage: Understanding of the business this Web Presence is to support; so the initial Web pages should better match the requirements of the organisation.  Disadvantage: May be ‘costly’ to develop the necessary skills to author the Web pages; in terms of both time and money.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 9 Using Consultants  Advantage: Consultants should be able to build a Web- site quickly; so organisation will be on the Web sooner.  Disadvantage: They may mis-understand the business; requiring a re-write and re-submission, cancelling out any initial time gained.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 10 ‘Do It Yourself’  Advantage: Once skills are in-house, then revisions of Web pages can be made quickly; reflecting what is happening in the organisation as and when those changes occur.  Disadvantage: Need to keep those skills up-to-date; the technology ‘behind’ the Web is constantly changing.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 11 Using Consultants  Advantage: Consultants should understand the latest Web technologies; and be able to advise of new opportunities.  Disadvantage: Revision of Web pages will always be slower; organisation may be ‘embarrassed’ by the out- of-date content of one, or more, of their Web pages.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 12 ‘Testing the Water’ A minimal level of investment.  a few simple Web Pages; most (all?) of which will not change.  little in-house technical skill required; simple layout, no interaction required.  could ‘do it yourself’; however, many Web Authoring services will design such Web Pages based upon existing company literature.  ‘Web Presence’ at ‘Type A’ end of the scale.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 13 ‘Partial Commitment’ A medium level of investment.  several more complex Web Pages; some of which change fairly frequently, and may have an interactive content.  must EITHER train own staff; so that they have the necessary technical skill to set up, and maintain, the ‘Web Presence’.  OR rely upon outside consultants; for these necessary updates.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 14 ‘Doing the Business’ A high level of investment.  many very complex Web Pages; constant updates, lots of interactive content.  MUST have in-house technical skill; to set up and maintain the ‘Web Presence’.  CAN’T use consultants; too expensive/inconvenient to rely upon them.  ‘Web Presence’ at ‘Type Z’ end of the scale.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 15 A Changing Commitment!  Of course, an organisation’s level of commitment to their ‘Web Presence’ may change.  There is nothing to stop them; starting out by ‘Testing the Water’, moving on to a ‘Partial Commitment’, and finally ‘Doing the Business’.  Especially if that ‘Web Presence’ really does support the business.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 16 E-Business Maturity (The Gartner Group)  Stage 1 - Broadcast on-line access to product/service information.  Stage 2 - Interact basic self-service capabilities.  Stage 3 - Transact full-service on-line commerce with integration to back-office systems.  Stage 4 - Integrate full integration across customer channels and supply chain partners.

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 17 Maturity Across Industries (Dataquest)

Ian Perry44121: Web-site Development: What is a Web Presence?Slide 18 The Bottom-Line  Maintaining a modest ‘Web Presence’ might cost between £500 and £5,000 per year.  Variance in cost being dependent upon: the proportion of business process for which the Internet/Web is considered a useful tool. the type of Web Presence required (fairly static / some interaction / constantly changing). the level of in-house technical skill of the staff (do it yourself / using consultants).  £5,000 is quite conservative; and could rise dramatically if really “Doing the Business”.