SMEs e-Business Solution Framework

By K. Bentamy, Webtech Technical Director

Small-and-mid-size enterprises (SMEs) sector is becoming one of the eBusiness target market for major business solution providers. The aim is to provide low-cost, scalable and powerful eBusiness solutions.

WebTech Pro offers a suite of online eBusiness applications known as the SME eBiz Starter. The SME eBiz Starter caters for all stages of eBusiness adoption and implementation, whether organisational needs are to build a basic online presence, design a Customer Relationship Management infrastructure or pertain to more sophisticated, integrated applications including eBusiness Resource Management, Business Intelligence, eCommerce and other new eBusiness opportunities.

The SME eBiz Starter is the answer to many SME market needs for rapid deployment of an inexpensive and scalable solution designed to encourage the adoption of eBusiness strategies hence providing businesses with quicker, tangible and measurable returns on their investment.

The framework is categorised into three key layers: Core e-Business layer, core e-Business Engine layer and e-Business Service layer.

• Core eBusiness Component Layer (Entities) - Technology infrastructure — for building and deploying a solid, reliable foundation for e-business;
• eBusiness Service Layer (Services) - Encapsulate and provide e-Business Functionalities. Components can be extended to provide an extension layer
• Core eBusiness Engine Layer - offers the underlying infrastructure to unify e-business applications and technology with key business processes and information

Webtech SME eBiz Starter will be available in the second quarter of 2004.

E-BUSINESS BENEFITS ARE ENORMOUS

Top concerns for CEOs in today's business environment are:

• the threat posed by competitors;
• controlling costs;
• finding new opportunities;
• improving responsiveness; and
• better customer focus and service.

E-business is capable of addressing the concerns listed above by delivering the following benefits:

• improved speed of response;
• cost savings;
• improved communications, information and knowledge sharing;
• improved efficiency and productivity;
• improved efficiency in procurement, production, and logistic processes;
• harmonisation and standardisation of procedures;
• better transfer of best practices;
• acquisition of new customers and increased sales;
• opportunities to forge new business partnership;
• solid business intelligence decision support platform;
• competitive advantage through improved customer communication and management; and
• improved customer service and satisfaction.

Technology plays a growing role in achieving these benefits however addressing strategy, technology, organisation, people and business processes as an integrated whole is important. The Internet is just like any other information technologies - planning, change management, good implementation practices and clear business objectives are required in order to achieve the full benefits.

Karl Bentamy
Webtech PRO PTY LTD
Managing & Technical Director
(02) 9604 4447
kbentamy at webtech.com.au
www.webtech.com.au