DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 1 USING THE INTERNET AS A STRATEGIC BUSINESS TOOL Presented by: Mark S. Deion Deion Associates & Strategies, Inc.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 2 4 PRIMARY STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS: I. Reduction of Expenses: –Current –Future II. Internet Access: –Browsing – III. Internet Web Site IV. Implementation Plan

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 3 I.Reduction of Expenses Use of the internet should be designed to identify potential expense reductions. This should: –Finance a portion of internet start-up costs. –Force integration of corporate internet program. If you cannot identify primary cost savings, you should re-evaluate your internet plan!!

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 4 Current Expense Item Targets: Telephone Fax Stationery Postage (delivery services) Personnel Marketing Collateral material Customer service

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 5 Future Expense Item Targets: Expansion of existing market base: –local, regional, national, international Entry into new market base Operational capabilities: –Ability to deal with broader customer base –Ability to process more information –Enhanced personnel performance Expansion of product / service line.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 6 II.Internet access: Browsing / Even without a web site you can use the internet as a strategic tool!! You can browse the web to perform numerous activities. You can use to accomplish numerous tasks.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 7 Browsing: CIA: Competitive Information Acquisition “Maintain a competitive edge” Monitor & Research: –Competitors –Suppliers –Customers Existing Prospective

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 8 Browsing: (cont.) –Product Information What you sell What you want to sell What you are using –Market trends –Operational information Travel, (airline, hotel, maps, directions) Equipment, software, hardware Trade associations, government agencies

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 9 Browsing: (cont.) Communications: –Video teleconferencing –Internet telephony

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 10 Browsing: (cont.) Any form of data/information which you need to operate your business can be obtained on the internet. Remember: If you can find out about them, they can find out about you!

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC Enhance communications: –Decrease delivery and response time “Real time” communication –Cost efficiency –Bulk distribution –Global access – messages sent to Fax machines –Document Attachment: Seamless attachment of documents and/or files

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 12 III.WEB SITE A web site will allow you to do many things. Here are 5 primary types of web sites: Relational Informational Promotional Transactional Operational

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 13 III.WEB SITE (cont.) You can also develop a web site which is used in the following environments: Internet Intranet Extranet

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 14 Relational: (Your presence on the internet) Classifies your company with similar companies. Serves as industry resource. Provide company information at minimal cost. Post web site reference globally.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 15 Informational: (About your company) Disseminate information to known sources. (You refer others to your web site) –Can be used as internal and external reference. Disseminate information to unknown sources. (Others find your web site on their own)

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 16 Informational: (cont.) Types of information: Company contacts Products / services Follow-on help (customer assistance) Policies / procedures Financial data

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 17 Promotional: (Sales / Marketing efforts) Advertise your: –Products –Services –Special deals –Previous accomplishments

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 18 Transactional: (Fulfillment: “Make the Deal”) Customer review of products / services –Catalog / products / services itemized on web site –Ordering procedures –Technical specifications –Inquiries Additional information required to negotiate deal Enhance communication: personnel >>> customer

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 19 Transactional: (cont.) On line ordering: –Submission of orders to specifications –Payment requirements –Shipping requirements –Availability of inventory The entire ordering process can be interfaced with all internal systems to facilitate efficiency.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 20 Transactional: (cont.) On line purchasing: –Process financial transaction Seamless interface Instant access to funds Payment in advance –Downloadable products / information Entire transaction processed with no human contact The entire transactional process can be interfaced with all internal systems to facilitate efficiency.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 21 Operational: (Integrate with corporate activities) Communication –Internal –External Marketing Sales

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 22 Operational: (cont.) Advertising Promotional Customer Service Human Resource Development –Employment opportunities –On line training for existing staff

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 23 Operational: (cont.) Research and Development It is imperative that you determine how to use a web site to improve and enhance all corporate activities.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 24 IV.IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Develop a plan: –Create an internet development team Who will do what? –Phased development What will happen when? –Test each phase Review with staff Review with potential end users Revise to correct problems

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 25 IV.IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (cont.) –Create evaluation team Evaluate everything Re-evaluate! –Provide personnel training for use of the internet Develop performance analysis Internet technology changes FAST!!! Be prepared to change with it.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 26 V.COMMENTS: (Hints) 1.CIACompetitive Intelligence Acquisition 2.TMNTime Money Numbers Everything you do with the internet should be evaluated in respect to Time, Money and Numbers. 3.Reciprocity What you can do with the internet, anyone else can do as well.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 27 V.COMMENTS: (Hints) cont. Your ability to be cost effective and responsive to your customers and suppliers provides you with a strategic advantage. If your customers and suppliers are using the internet as well, this increases your strategic advantage. Mutual use of the internet facilitates strategic advantages and strategic alliances. You will discover that it is easier and more profitable to do business with companies that maintain or exceed your level of technological competence.

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 28 V.COMMENTS: (Hints) cont. The next time you ask someone for their address or URL, you are attempting to integrate the use of the internet in your daily corporate activities. Look for the Advantages Develop a Plan Implement it Don’t be afraid to Change!!!

DEION ASSOCIATES & STRATEGIES, INC. 29 CONTACT INFORMATION: Information on use of the internet or other business development issues can be accessed at: Mark S. Deion President Deion Associates & Strategies, Inc. 106 Tyler Street Warwick, RI USA Tel: Fax: URL: