Success  Stories

Innovation in applying information and communications technologies (ICTs) is a powerful driver of trade.

The Internet is becoming important as a gateway to products and services. On-line transactions between business and in the retail market are exceeding expectations; firms are improving efficiency through the use of ICTs; countries are adopting strategies to effectively export their technological expertise and products. 

For less well developed countries e-marketplaces promise to offer opportunities to compete on a global scale in a way that has not previously been possible. 

In this section we will showcase how SMEs have successfully ICT into their business activities. We will also request Network members to share their experiences with us here and through the Discussion Forum.

 

Business case study from India: Acquiring e-competency: a success story
(Taken from the International Trade Forum article ''E-challenges: Countries in Action")


The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (AMUL) links 10,000 village societies in India, a total of 2.1 million milk-producing families. Its business involves daily collection of milk at 25 supply centres in Gujarat; the production of butter, cheese, ice cream, baby food and milk powder; the marketing of these products through 50 sales offices throughout India; and distribution through a network of 4,000 stockists who, in turn, supply 500,000 retail outlets.

Notwithstanding the traditional nature of its business, the cooperative’s management decided in 1995 to adopt “information technology integration” as a strategic thrust. The objective was to create new efficiencies in all aspects of the business, heighten competitiveness, and extend market reach (both within India and in export markets).

Since that time, all 650 staff have received computer and e-commerce training. All are e-literate. Only e-competent applicants are now recruited. Five hundred computers have been installed at headquarters and a company intranet has been established.

A web site (http://www.amul.com) has been constructed featuring sports information, recipes and quizzes (to stimulate buyer interest and to establish national brand recognition) and business-to-consumer order placement.

E-competency has been established at the supply and distribution ends of AMUL’s business. At the supply end, a computerized database has been established of all suppliers and their cattle. Computerized equipment measures and records qualities and quantities collected. Around 4,000 computers have been set up at member unions and village cooperatives. At the distribution end, 3,000 stockists have been provided with basic training and computers. AMUL experts assist stockists and retailers to build promotional web pages.

AMUL cyberstores have now been set up in 125 locations in India, the United States of America, Singapore and Dubai. Each visit to the Indian cyberstore sites results in purchases averaging over 300 rupees (US$ 6.50). An e-mail database of 10,000 customers has been developed.

All this has been achieved in less than five years despite a national environment characterized by weak information technology infrastructure, and a high “touch-and-feel” consumer culture.

AMUL’s future plans include introduction of a web-based business-to-business ordering system for dealers/stockists and e-transaction capability at the level of the village cooperative.

“If you want to become e-competent, it is not enough to focus just on your own company. You need to bring in your whole business network. This means creating a shared vision,” says B.M. Vyas, managing director of AMUL.

 

www.alltender.com: an e-marketplace providing tender information online
(Extracted from the upcoming ITC study, '“B2B e-Marketplaces: Current Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs Exporters in Developing Countries of Asia and the Pacific”)

E-procurement is far from a reality in Bangladesh but alltender.com (www.alltender.com) is an e-marketplace providing tender information online. 

www.alltender.com provides an efficient Information Management System for Tender and Auction information and consolidates information from the whole Government, Semi-Government, Sector Corporations, UN Missions in Bangladesh, NGOs and Large Private Groups. It is produced and maintained by Asteroid Systems Limited owned and operated by a group of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. It functions as a net-application within the e-government flagship. 

Marketplace

The clients may be purchasers or suppliers. Purchasers are generally responses from the market prior to the procurement of goods, services, works or expertise. Suppliers vary from small business to major corporations seeking new business opportunities from the market or business intelligence within vertical market segments. Many suppliers, from very small to large corporations, use alltender.com to watch tender notice information in the country.

Aggregation model

Supplier/Contractor/Auction Bidder members receive tender notices specific to their category and requirements automatically through Web Browsing and also via E-mail or Fax. Owner members can enter into the Online Tendering System of alltender.com, which provides comprehensive management and processing.

Benefits to client

· Information of all valid Tenders at a single source.
· No risk of missing any Tender.
· Lower cost of getting Tender Information.
· Search Options by Date, Category and Organization.

Revenue model

The revenue on the site is derived from the supplier, contractor, auctioneer or the purchaser. Subscription fees are based on the service requirement of the subscriber.

Supply side

On the supply side the Bangladesh readymade garment industry, handicraft, oil and gas industries have established their own sites to promote their products and services with international buyers. These exchanges provide a number of online and off-line facilities and business promotion services as well as routine business activity tools to be used by suppliers registered with the exchange.