Get Started in e-Business

AimAimThis presentation is prepared to support and give a general overview of the ‘How to Get Started in e-Business’ Guide and should be read in conjunction with the publication.

IntroductionIntroduction

Use of the GuideUse of the GuideThis guide looks at the background to e-business by:

Giving practical guidance on how to develop an e-business strategy and

How to begin using e-business

Three sections provide more specific details: Project Information Exchange e-Trading e-Tendering

IntroductionIntroduction

What is e-Business?The use of electronic means for the conduct of business, not only buying and selling but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners

Why e-Business?Construction companies can make efficiency gains through e-commerce:

Reduce costs Speed up your business processes Improve your customer/client relationships

What do You Need?

Technology Infrastructure:Internet access, electronic network provider, etc.

Getting StartedGetting Started

Organisational commitmentImplementation strategy derived from overall business plan and IT strategy

Developing an e-Business Developing an e-Business StrategyStrategy

Determine What E-

Business is

Determine What E-

Business is

Investigate what e-business applications already exist

Investigate what e-business applications already exist

Look at how other companies are using e-business

Look at how other companies are using e-business

Decide to which of your business functions this may apply

Decide to which of your business functions this may apply

Developing an e-Business Developing an e-Business StrategyStrategy

Determine What This

Means for Your Business

Determine What This

Means for Your Business

Investigate how e-business is changing the dynamics of the industry

Investigate how e-business is changing the dynamics of the industry

Decide which applications of e-business are most promising

Decide which applications of e-business are most promising

Determine what competitive threats e-business poses

Determine what competitive threats e-business poses

Developing an e-Business Developing an e-Business StrategyStrategy

Set Your E-Business Priorities

Set Your E-Business Priorities

Analyse the costs and benefitsAnalyse the costs and benefits

Decide which applications are criticalDecide which applications are critical

Develop management consensusDevelop management consensus

Developing an e-Business Developing an e-Business StrategyStrategy

Implement Your Strategy

Implement Your Strategy

Decide which e-business technologies and supporting software to invest in

Decide which e-business technologies and supporting software to invest in

Ensure that you have adequate resourcesEnsure that you have adequate resources

Organise for continued successOrganise for continued success

How to Begin e-BusinessHow to Begin e-Business

How to Begin E-Business

How to Begin E-Business

1. Start small1. Start small

2. Identify a suitable project 2. Identify a suitable project

3. Gain the commitment of project partners3. Gain the commitment of project partners

4. Agree which formats to use4. Agree which formats to use

5. Agree communication channels5. Agree communication channels

6. Agree storage requirements6. Agree storage requirements

7. Run a trial7. Run a trial

8. Implement, review and revise8. Implement, review and revise

Project Information Project Information ExchangeExchange

If organisations intend to use electronic project information exchange:

Determine which documents are to be exchanged

How and in what format they will be exchanged How and where project information is to be

stored Other contractual issues to be addressed

Project Information Project Information ExchangeExchange

Internet Based Project Information Exchange

Reduced manual distribution costs Integration of project information Simple management of access rights Document storage and archiving Continuous access to project information Minimal software required

E-TradingE-Trading

E-Trading consists of: The buying and selling of construction related

products The administration of the supply chain, procurement

and financial operations

Internet-based trading Internet provides suppliers with a means of

increasing reach and building better customer relations

Buyers may search up-to-date accurate product information

E-TradingE-Trading

Receiving goods on Site

By automating this process companies can potentially:

Clear material invoices Streamline document matching Reduce disputes Improve information exchange between sites Introduce “self billing” with greater confidence

E-TradingE-Trading

PaymentIt is likely that a company could adopt from one of the following options:

BACS Electronic Banking Purchase Cards Electronic Remittance Advice and Payment

E-TradingE-Trading

Legal Issues It is essential to set out clearly the terms on which

the parties will do business With e-trading it is suggested that your terms and

conditions should cover some of the following: Risks Authority Payment Dispute resolutions etc.

E-TenderingE-Tendering

Tendering by electronic means potentially offers a considerable cost saving together with a better controlled process

Exchanging Electronic Tenders A standard electronic exchange format allows all

parties to link their systems together It reduces the high cost and time delays associated

with the traditional way manual information handling

More InformationMore Information

www.cica.org.ukwww.cite.org.ukwww.construct-it.org.ukwww.e-centre.org.ukwww.isi.gov.ukwww.itcbp.org.uk