Telecommunications applications that can provide strategic benefits to businesses include: –
World Wide Web/Electronic mail:
The World Wide Web (WWW) is a system with universally accepted standards for storing, retrieving, formatting, and displaying information in a networked environment. Electronic mail is the computer-to-computer exchange of messages. WWW and e-mail use both intranet (a private network based on internet technology), and the Internet (a network of networks that is a collection of thousands of private and public networks). Many organizations now use the intranet to connect to their dealers throughout the world. Others use the WWW to post their procedure manuals to keep geographically distant locations up to date. Business benefits include up to date price lists and product information for dealers.
Facsimile (FAX):
This is the transmission of documents containing both text and graphics over ordinary telephone lines using a scanner that digitises the document. This has business benefits in a allowing the cost-effective, speedy transmission of complex documents including drawings and signatures. Faxed documents are accepted as legal documents.
Video conferencing:
Improves communications by allowing design teams to confer simultaneously through electronic mail or Group communication software. This allows faster time to market cycle times in design teams and thus contributes towards differentiation and competitive advantage.
Can reduce the need for expensive travel by individuals or teams, but face-to-face contact is still very important for certain situations.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI):
This is the direct computer-to-computer exchange between two organizations of standard business transactions documents. This is now becoming a normal strategic tool in supermarket retailing logistics management The ability to minimize inventory, and improve logistics planning using EDI contributes to cost reduction, and also improves the quality of perishable inventories held.