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Tools that Transform Your Business As I reflect on the current business climate in Sarnia-Lambton and especially the "e-business" climate it's still hard to believe so much has occurred in so little time.
Just a few years ago, doing business in this area as well as across Canada and the rest of the world, was radically different. Talk about electronic business and you were mostly limited to large companies who linked to major customers through Electronic Data Interchange or EDI networks. Beyond that, the landscape is as different today as the Earth is from the Moon. The World Wide Web is, of course, the basis for a substantial amount of commerce today, at least to the point where it is integrated into other ways a company communicates and sells to its customers. Virtually every company, and especially if they have serious competition, will have a Web presence for their goods and services, often available with just a few clicks and a secure payment option. Increasingly, the opportunity of "buying now" is presented in a seamless e-business environment, with those companies who don't offer it being left in the dust. The Web has also leveled the playing field, an advantage that is particularly important to a community such as Sarnia-Lambton, which may not be as large as others. What is required is having the telecommunications infrastructure to link to the Internet, something the business community here in Sarnia-Lambton has made a priority. With excellent data communications in place, business ventures here can, and do, enjoy an equal footing along with companies that may be much larger. It's also true that Sarnia-Lambton enjoys close proximity to much of the population of North America, a factor that becomes important when the delivery of hard goods is involved in fulfilling the transaction. Thankfully, we can not only attract customers to a website and make the transaction a welcome experience, but we deliver "the goods" (quite literally). More and more companies, even traditional bricks and mortar firms, are opening up their business processes to competing in a virtual marketplace. In fact, one of our early clients became a landmark venture as far as the florist industry is concerned. Today, virtualflowers.com does a tremendous business on the Internet in a field that is very much a "touch and feel" category. As we consult with other firms, we're able to show them tools that will, quite literally, transform their enterprise. Often, a quick demonstration and a "did you know?" kind of question, is met with astonishment, delight and acceptance. These firms are using the collaborative and connecting power of the Internet to find new markets for existing products and, yes new products to attract even more customers, around the corner and around the world. And the cost? It will, of course vary. But often, the investment can be stages in ways that begin to generate cash flow, giving the business owner the opportunity to reinvest for even more opportunity. This new world of e-commerce we find ourselves in, not only accelerates the ability of companies to bring their products to market, but shortens the life of those products. On the other hand, focusing on identifying a fundamental consumer need and using the Internet to meet that need in new and innovating ways, can be remarkably liberating, not only to the customer you will capture, but to your business as well. Thankfully, there are those of us who make it our business to get the technology to work. David Grant is President of CanWeb Internet Services Ltd., a full-service development firm based in Sarnia-Lambton. email: dgrant@canweb.com  |
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