Compiled ByDeborah Austin Brick-and-mortar industrial equipment manufacturers could reduce costs up to 6% across their value chains by using the Internet's full potential -- achieving e-sales growth of 8% to 10% -- says the recent study "eTransform IndustrialEquipment" by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants. Only 15% of the industry uses eTransformation's full potential, says the study. It identifies four current e-business implementation levels:
- Information Provider -- more than 50% of companies surveyed -- using the Web as limited-interaction marketing tool.
- Breaker of Rules -- 35% -- using the Web for business or customer transactions.
- Company-wide eTransformer -- 15% -- fundamentally transforming key processes along the value chain to efficiently use Web-based applications' benefits.
- Virtual Champion -- very few -- completely redefining business models to create innovative revenue streams using the Web.
