Integrating Tech Infrastructure with Web Functionality Creates Growth Opportunity for Book Seller

June 15, 2003

E-business allows firms to reach customers and provide services that were previously not possible prior to the Internet. Finding these opportunities is the key to launching successful Web strategies that transforms a business into a modern e-business. In this case, a book distributor with over thirty years experience in aggregating and fulfilling book orders for corporate and academic libraries has radically expanded its business by combining its hard-won experience and fine-tuned fulfillment processes with new Web technology.

The firm, which must remain nameless for competitive reasons, has recently taken on Web-based book ordering and fulfillment for colleges and universities who typically operate unprofitable on-campus book stores for their students. Today, schools desire to eliminate the costs associated with dedicating staff and space to inventory and retail operations. IDS Interactive was engaged to develop an ordering system that receives individual retail orders via the Web, and then interfaces with the firm's existing technology infrastructure for accounting, fulfillment, and reporting. By creating a connection for its web-based operation, the firm can now handle large numbers of transactions for many new schools using its exiting IT infrastructure.

The true power of the new system, however, is its ability to quickly replicate the ordering functionality and back end integration for new clients. A central administrative control panel allows the firm to quickly create branded websites for new client schools with an option to add new functions as necessary. Upgrades to functions are then available to all client accounts throughout the system.

"This is an example of the Internet living up to its economic potential," says IDS president, Don Breinlinger. "On one hand, a business with a proven process can now offer its services over the network and gain new customers as a result. On the other, businesses that want to reduce costs by stripping themselves of operations outside their area of focus can now do so by outsourcing to companies that can service them online. The Internet provides clear economic benefits for both. These are the kinds of opportunities we look for when talking to clients about their businesses."

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Located in Huntington, New York, IDS Interactive, Inc. is an award-winning Web development firm that creates and implements Web-based strategies to help companies and organizations bring business processes online, enter new markets, increase visibility, develop new business, interact with customers and partners, increase efficiency and improve their bottom line.

For additional information please contact IDS Interactive.