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Latest Articles

STRATEGY

Assessing, analysing and developing business strategies that involve interacting with customers and suppliers using technology

**10 WAYS TO p*&@ off potential customers**
All of us have our pet peeves when it comes to surfing the net for information. Here are the top 10 according to many surveys:

7 Design mistakes demanded by clients
From flash intros, to logo theft, to information overload, clients often ask a design team to do a lot of stuff that’s just plain wrong. Here are 7 of the most common mistakes clients might ask you to make -- and how to talk some sense into them.

Closing the gap between legibility, usability and sales
There is a major difference between these three concepts in internet marketing: Legibility: Is it easy to read? Usability: Is it practical and fast to navigate? Sales: Does it persuade the reader to act on what he has read?

Many hands make bad work
by Alex Maughan
The long walk to a project sign-off is hampered by the fact that a designer’s critics know nothing about aesthetics, colour and balance and have little experience in assessing what will work for the buying publics as a dynamic, fast usable web page.

Learning internet marketing
from the mass media
What can you learn about internet marketing from the mass media?

Things you can learn from watching sport!
Don't feel guilty taking time off to watch the Tri-Nations - there's a lot you can learn by watching your favourite sports team.

Do you have a game plan?
Are you a professional or an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to managing and coaching your business team ?

Moving from ideas to action
Five reasons why organisations fail to execute their ideas.

Paradigm shifts in the new economy
You've got email and an intranet - that makes you a "knowledge based business, doesn't it? But that is a little like saying that owning a saxophone makes you a jazz musician. It's not what you have, it's how you use it.

Unlocking potential in the supply chain
A business is a supply chain; it starts with an enquiry or request for information, moves through production and delivery, and ends with cash in the bank. How do you optimise that supply chain to increase the load bearing capacity of not just each link, but the chain as a whole?

Successful e.Business integration
What is e.business and how can you make it work profitably through networked systems and integrated processes.

5 Principles of a knowledge-based business
Everyone is talking about e.Commerce and knowledge management, but before we all get carried away with the exhilaration of the “new economy”, it's worth stopping long enough to identify some operating principles.

Out Damn Spam
No-one thinks of their company as a spammer, but many companies send out marketing emails - how can you keep customer's informed, without inundating or annoying them?

Digital communication tools
Is your company using the most effective method to distribute information and data to employees, managers, shareholders and customers?

Is your company good at service recovery?
You just can’t please all of the people all of the time. Do you deal efficiently and courteously with the fallout and then transforming a dissatisfied customer into a satisfied one?

Creative problem solving for non-creative people
In its simplest form, creative problem solving is a procedure that helps you go from goal (or problem) to action (or resolution).

See my latest articles on strategy in the free online Management Magazine at www.intercommerce.co.za

Interactive websites

Interactive or dynamic websites are ideal for extranets ongoing networking with your prospects and clients or for membership based organisation. They are an ideal way to cut costs on administration for your project, team or customer-service departments.

Security is built into the core structure and members will be given authority levels that allow them to view all information on the website.

After the site has been designed, built and configured, content is added to the website through user-friendly forms. The editor does not have to be concerned about layout. Therefore any person with computer access (and the correct authorisation) can be delegated to add or update content.

InterComm South Africa offers a 15% discount
to member-based non-profit organisations like clubs, charities, churches, associations and NGOs - for less than R12 000 you can offer your members:

advertising opportunities for members and sponsors
an events calendar
a downloads library for forms, newsletters, and other documents and software
a photo gallery for photos, videos, u-tube links, music and other multimedia files
league tables and upcoming fixtures
book, movie and music reviews
polls and surveys
news and announcements
email and newsletter functionality

Build closer relationships with clients

Do your staff waste time fielding the same enquiries over and over from frustrated customers about how to use your product? You could save manpower and time by offering the information over an Extranet - 24 hours a day.

Clients are registered and approved before they are permitted to access specific areas of the extranet

Forums and discussion areas
Photo galleries
Online documentation (quality documents, project plans, etc) - unique to that client
Access to customised reports, statistics, figures, discounts or other data unique to a client
Access to online or offline call centre
Reporting problems or complaints in a disciplined way
Usage tips
Product updates
Training resources - booking of training, order videos or books
Support telephone numbers
Common questions and answers
Online catalogs (text, pictures, videos)
Promotions on new products/services
Calendar of events and promotions
Case Studies, samples or examples to promote in-house expertise
Surveys (general feedback, User surveys)
Online Order Status checking
List/Links to resellers/distributors
Photo galleries of products, events, trade shows etc.
Small e-commerce stores

Build closer relationships with suppliers

A secure Extranet area could be provided specifically for suppliers. This area could have applications such as:

Transferring large files between your company and its suppliers such as building plans, timing schedules, forms
Tenders and RFQ's (Requests for quotations)
Potential suppliers lists (suppliers update their own information)
Price lists - updated by supplier
Procurement transactions - allowing your employees to place requisitions with approved suppliers, including approvals etc.
Attract new suppliers e.g. BEE suppliers.

The technology

The website uses an Open Source software platform and therefore does not require ongoing licensing fees. The system is modular, with each function being provided by a set of databases and pages, all of which work together. The system is flexible and allows expansion should new functionality be desired.

An extranet can be "located" on a hosted server on the internet, or within the client's premises. The sites combines the PHP development language with MySql databases, a combination operates on both Windows and Linux operating systems.

Pot Plants Direct - an extranet application

Pot Plants Direct is an online portal that allows trusted clients to order products online, rather than orders by fax or telephone. Photos and descriptions of the plants ensure that orders are accurate - there can be no mistake with colours, sizes or latin variations.

The site also manages the company policy of "minimum orders", delivery and logistics, as well as correct batching of products (seedlings must be ordered in batches). the site suggest complementary products such as florists accessories, pots and fertilizers.

Latest Articles

STRATEGY Assessing, analysing and developing business strategies that involve interacting with customers and suppliers using technology

10 WAYS TO p*&@ off potential customers All of us have our pet peeves when it comes to surfing the net for information. Here are the top 10 according to many surveys:

7 Design mistakes demanded by clients From flash intros, to logo theft, to information overload, clients often ask a design team to do a lot of stuff that’s just plain wrong. Here are 7 of the most common mistakes clients might ask you to make -- and how to talk some sense into them.

Closing the gap between legibility, usability and sales There is a major difference between these three concepts in internet marketing: Legibility: Is it easy to read? Usability: Is it practical and fast to navigate? Sales: Does it persuade the reader to act on what he has read?

Many hands make bad work by Alex Maughan The long walk to a project sign-off is hampered by the fact that a designer’s critics know nothing about aesthetics, colour and balance and have little experience in assessing what will work for the buying publics as a dynamic, fast usable web page.

Learning internet marketing from the mass media What can you learn about internet marketing from the mass media?

Things you can learn from watching sport! Don't feel guilty taking time off to watch the Tri-Nations - there's a lot you can learn by watching your favourite sports team.

Do you have a game plan? Are you a professional or an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to managing and coaching your business team ?

Moving from ideas to action Five reasons why organisations fail to execute their ideas.

Paradigm shifts in the new economy You've got email and an intranet - that makes you a "knowledge based business, doesn't it? But that is a little like saying that owning a saxophone makes you a jazz musician. It's not what you have, it's how you use it.

Successful e.Business integration What is e.business and how can you make it work profitably through networked systems and integrated processes.

5 Principles of a knowledge-based business Everyone is talking about e.Commerce and knowledge management, but before we all get carried away with the exhilaration of the “new economy”, it's worth stopping long enough to identify some operating principles.

Out Damn Spam No-one thinks of their company as a spammer, but many companies send out marketing emails - how can you keep customer's informed, without inundating or annoying them?

Digital communication tools Is your company using the most effective method to distribute information and data to employees, managers, shareholders and customers?

Is your company good at service recovery? You just can’t please all of the people all of the time. Do you deal efficiently and courteously with the fallout and then transforming a dissatisfied customer into a satisfied one?

Creative problem solving for non-creative people In its simplest form, creative problem solving is a procedure that helps you go from goal (or problem) to action (or resolution).