eBusiness
Terminology | Knowledge | EBusiness Kits
What is this eBusiness all about, and why is it important?
Well, it's basically about redefining how you do business and integrating what you do now with new technologies and new avenues for communicating to get things done. It requires thinking in terms of new strategies and business models. It's not simply launching a web site, or redesigning one. It's a lot more.

Why get involved?
Because the technologies, strategies, and applications that currently constitute eBusiness will affect Montana's manufacturers - your customer loyalty, your response time, your ability to compete. Important changes now taking place in this digital economy offer real opportunity. But resistance to these changes is not unusual. Change is a process, and information can help to overcome resistance and locate the tools you need to get started.

Afterall, new technology has been coming along more and more rapidly over the past 100+ years. Many companies resisted using the telephone when it was first developed. They felt that it was an intrusion into their privacy. That fax machine you rely on today was resisted and called a fad; and, over the last decade, using e-mail seemed foreign to many. Most take these technologies for granted today, just as we will take eBusiness technology for granted in the near future.

MMEC can help you get started. One of our priorities is helping Montana's manufacturers understand what eBusiness is, determine its value, and respond proactively, and appropriately.

Typical eBusiness Evolution Process

Advantages of eBusiness

• Promote Availability and Market Reach - Electronic media is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24-7) from any location in the world with an Internet connection.
• Build Buyer/Seller Relationships - Buyers are able to receive highly customized service and can build one-to-one relationships giving you an excellent competitive advantage.
• Reduce Costs - Overhead costs, paperwork, time and errors can be reduced.
• Improve Marketing Capabilities - Analysis of markets and products may be improved because buyer information and is more readily available and customer satisfaction can be tracked.
• Promote Brand Equity - Build your small company's reputation and brand among far-flung buyers.
• Meet the Price of Entry - Companies in many supply chains and in many industries must now do business electronically in order to be considered as viable partners.
  
• Improved Planning - Better visibility to demand and inventory allows companies to improve planning and reduce inventory, stock-outs and over-stock situations.

Information is Key
Whether your company needs an informational, business to consumer (B2C) or business to business (B2B) website, there are many opportunities and many myths. Debunk the myths by taking the time to educate yourself using some of the resources on this page. Information is key to easing your resistance to this powerful way of doing business.

Please call MMEC if you have more questions. Our field staff can introduce you to special Opportunities, Readiness, and Security Assessment Tools made available to us through the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership that help you get started strategizing and planning your eBusiness direction based on information specific to your company history, goals, and resources.

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EBusiness Kits
To get started with the Kits, please open and read the Quick Start document. The Quick Start contains instructions on how to get the kits up and running. The user guide also has a Getting Started section that can help also. Then save the zip file to a folder that you can find, example: C:\\MyDocuments\eBusinessKits\.

Overview of each Assessment

If you are a Montana manufacturer and would like additional help with these kits, call (406) 994-3812.
Opportunities Kit - To download, click on the kit, select save.
Quick Start
User Guide
Assessment Questionnaire

Readiness Kit - To download, click on the kit, select save.
Quick Start
User Guide
Assessment Questionnaire

Security Kit - To download, click on the kit, select save.
Quick Start
User Guide
Assessment Questionnaire