Business is Changing
BY Scott F. Geld
It's common knowledge that the Internet has enjoyed
explosive growth and has affected nearly every industry in
every country in the world. It is changing how we
socialize, how we educate ourselves and how we do business.
Just what are some of these changes?
Continually Shorter Product Cycles
Especially in the software industry, product cycles are
becoming shorter and shorter. Typically, a software product
goes through several stages before being released; code is
developed, the product is tested internally, then possibly
tested by the intended user audience, it's revised and
released for sale. Yes, released for sale even though known
bugs or deficiencies are present. But these bugs don't
affect the overall efficiency of the product, and 'patches'
to fix the bug can be issued after the product's release
and downloaded off the internet. The product is out the
door and in the market place competing for sales even
though it isn't perfect.
Instant Communication Forces Increased Productivity
Studies reveal that today's businesses have far less free
time to ponder decisions. Email makes it possible to
instantly communicate with one another. In business, this
accelerated communication means that decisions are expected
more quickly. Eliminated are the necessary time gaps made
possible with snail mail and slower forms of communication.
These time gaps must now be filled with increased
productivity in order to keep pace and compete.
Information Overload
Experts estimate that we have created as much data in the
last 30 years as our forbearers did in the last 3000 years.
The Internet has made information instantly available to
everyone at any time. If your customers don't like the
price you quoted for your product, they can find a
competitor on the internet, check out their price and use
it to negotiate with you. Or, a customer can simply order
the product online from your competition. Internet users
can even find out your wholesale costs and determine what
your markup is. Now that's leverage.
Clearly the Internet has changed and continues to change
the way we do business. Are you ready?
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More Great Articles by Scott F. Geld
Scott F. Geld is the Director of Marketing for Marketing
Blaster, Inc., an Internet firm specializing in providing
targeted traffic and leads. For more information, please
visit http://www.MarketingBlaster.com
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