Notes: May 1999

Cyril

The enclosed note (E - MAIL) is 5 years old (23-4-94)

At that time, internet was beyond horizon. So, it is not surprising that, in the enclosed note, I have talked about the concept of a HELP - DESK.

With several technical & commercial support staff

.Taking "orders" over telephone

. Answering "Queries" over telephone.

The concept of a client,

. Placing "Order" thru internet

. Tracking / monitoring progress of his "order" on our website.

Simply did not exist !

But, in 1999, things are vastly different.

Although "Help - Desks" do exist (even on websites), it is only a matter of time, before these become OBSOLETE.

More & more companies are using internet (their website) as a CENTRE PIECE / ANCHOR around which, all their business - process are centered.

The current scenario is somewhat like.

But I feel, for most companies (at least in U.S.A./ Europe/ Japan), the barriers would fall and there would be a SINGLE "interface" for

. Employees

. Suppliers

. Customers

That single interface would be a Company’s WEBSITE !

This has already happened with a fear large Americal Companies. Examples of these could be found in following books.

. Web pages that suck (sent to you)

. Webonomics

. Business @ speed of Thought (Bill gates)

. Direct from DELL. (I am still reading)

If we had implemented HELP - DESK 5 years ago, that would have been fine. It might have even helped our staff to get used to "doing business over telephone".

But, having "waited", I feel, it would be wise to simply "By - Pass" that stage of "evolution" altogether and straight away jump to the concept of FULLY INTERACTIVE SINGLE INTERFACE (WEBSITE)

We may still develop our

ORDER EXECTUION SYSTEM (MODULE # 2)

Around our INTRANET & thoroughly test it out before MERGING with the INTERNET. This will help us to "debug" out internal business processes before exposing these (processes) to the Public - at - large. Because,

If these (processes) do NOT perform 100% correctly/ accurately on our website, it might get adverse reaction - even ridicule - and client may NEVER RETURN !But, out "goal" has to be clear right now. And that is, Merger of "Intranet" with "Internet" Assuming that

. Implementation of Module #1 takes 2 months (May/ June)

. Development of Module #2 (Order Execution) covering features in the enclosed notes, takes

3 months (May/ June/ July)

. Testing of Module # 2 takes 2 months (Aug/ Sept)

. Development of NEW WEBSITE (NT based) takes 2 months. (Oct/ Nov.)

. Merger of Module #2 into NEW NT based Website takes 3 Months (Dec/ Jan/ Feb. 2000),

We are talking of a PROJECT TIME FRAME of 12 Months.

. If we manage this schedule (and do you see any reason, why we cannot?), at the end of this

12 months period, we should be ahead of

. All Indian Jobsites

. Most of the world's jobsites

By March 2000, I also expect that, in India,

. Internet subscriber base would have grown substantially

. May ISPs would be operational

. "Internet - over - cable" would have become a reality (IN cable/ SITI cable & a Delhi Party which expects to launch this by June 99). If this happens, millions of home TVs will be able to "access" internet (Hinduja (IN), along have 2.3 million cable TV connections in 12 cities)

. Hundreds of Cyber - cafes would have come up.

. Internet connection charges would have dropped drastically (each "Late comer" ISP would have to drop prices to be able to enter the fray) (DISH NET offering Rs. 1.8 / hour in Pune / Chennai!).

. E - Commerce would have become a "little" easier.

In the books mentioned earlier, I have underlined / marked - out, sentences / paras/ pages, whihc I would request you to read!. Before

You start working on Module #2.

Unless, we have the GRAND PICTURE in front of us, we would end - up on the periphery! subscribe to Jack Welch's (GE) business philosophy, viz

"If in any business, you cannot be either #1 or #2, get out of it !"

To implement this project, I am ready to commit

. Required funds

. My own time

. 3Ps organizational support

I am sending this note to you with a request to commit.

. Your own personal time/ attention

. A dedicated team of professionals