Use of Internet in business

 USE OF INTERNET IN BUSINESS

The basic concept behind use of Internet in business is that it allows you to connect to your customers so that they can learn what is being done, receive information and technical support and can even buy products over the Internet.It also helps to have communication with the remote clients and you can find huge amount of information on almost any subject and from anywhere.

The basic use is in following categories:

1. Online Commerce

2. Customer Service

3. Organisational Support

4. Information.

(1) Online Commerce

Almost all famous and large business companies have launched their Web Sites online. Even many small companies and local organisations are using the power of Internet. The basic information provided to online customers is as follows:

(i) Company Information: The basic thing to be done is to tell all about one's company. The amount and way in which information is presented tells a lot about the company to the online suffers. The various operations of the company can be provided. The main information to be included on the Web 

Page is :

The Company's name.

The logo of the company.

The contact information that is address, phone number, e-mail, etc.

 A brief description of what company does.

The partnership details can also be given.

The company's recent activities.

The products of the company.

This information can also be provided on the Web pages hosted by the Internet Service Providers. These sites look like one's own site. The contents of the web page should be well structured and technically accurate, of a quality and style and should also use proper grammar and punctuation.

(ii) Catalog of Products and Services : The listing of products and services should be provided to the public if the company deals in providing products and services. In this kind of Web page a simple information only about the products can be provided or little complex one can update the prices and the frequent changes from database.

A company that has wide range of services and goods has to update information by hand if no database is there. If database is there, then automatically new entries regarding prices, captions etc. are provided. The Web pages with databases need technical support. The software components are needed to link the Web page with the database. Some ISPs will support dynamically created pages but these can be better managed by having own

Internet Server.

(iii) Custom Product Specification : The catalogs can be created that allow users to choose the products, specify their purchase and also see the results online instead of having simple catalogs. In this kind of Web page the programming is needed. The programmes can be can be written in Java or Java Script, Perl script, etc. 

(iv) Product Brochures: Customers are turning towards Internet to access information regarding products. The product information can be given online.The animated pictures of products with 3-D affects can be used to attract more customer.

(v) Online Product Ordering : A natural extension of your online catalog online ordering and payment. A well-crafted web page encourages customers to browse, select, customise, order products and every pay for them using their credit cards.

(vi) Online Product Delivery: If your product is information, then you can even deliver it over the Internet! You must craft this kind of web site with care,however, in order to make the site secure. Creating an online product delivery web site can be simple if your products can only be unlocked if the customer phones you to get password. If you want customer to purchase the product as well as download it over the Internet, you must establish a secure connection as you do for online product ordering and payment.

(2) Customer Service

You can also use a web site to support your customers once they have purchased your product or service. Some things you can include in a customer support web site are:

Product technical references.

Troubleshooting guide.

Tips, tricks and application notes.

Order and shipment tracking.

Only the last two kind of support page (order & shipment tracking) require sophisticated web-page creation skill.

(3) Organisational Support

You can also create a web site that supports people inside of your organisation, rather than customers outside of it. An internal web site is often called an Internet. Sites that are intended for business partners and customers only and are not public are called Extranets. Some things might include in an Intranet are :

• Contact information, job description and so on for employees of your company.

• A company newsletter, complete with back issues.

• Memos and organisational correspondence. including an online forum for group communication.

• Organisational information such as the company handbook or policy and procedures manual.

. Databases for organisational use, such as customer contact lists and inventory tracking.

• Company financial information including stock prices and histories.

(4) Information

Another use for a web site is to collect information on a subject or discipline. An electronic engineering firm may collect a lot of data on devices  and circuits and it may make that data available to the engineering community.Software firms may collect and distribute publicly available software tools.