Bricks to clicks

Gone are the days when managers could throw money at the Web in the hope that some of it would stick. An unplanned approach is risky. Just ask Levi Strauss and Toys "R" Us, and CD Universe. Over the past two Christmas sesasons, Levi Strauss and Toys "R" Us each suffered sales losses and brand damage when the seasonal demand overwhelmed their distribution capabilities and they failed to deliver orders taken on-line. And in January 2000 a security crisis threatened to sink CD Universe when an on-line hacker hijacked almost 350,000 credit card numbers and threatened to post them on his Web site unless he was paid a ransom. But the Internet is here to stay, and many businesses have figured out how to make it work. Look at Dell, which pioneered the direct sales of personal computers to end consumers in an industry that had until then relied on value-added resellers for the distribution of product to retail outlets. Dell has proven that selling on-line has unlimited potential when the go-to-market model is planned and executed, and is continuously monitored for success. Ed McMahon's message is straightforward: In order to make your e-business transformation successful, you need a plan - an overview, a blueprint. You need some way to assess what you have to work with and to get yourself and the other leaders in your organization united around a common purpose. You need to understand your company's resources and capabilities, your industry, and your customer. Bricks to Clicks gives you that blueprint. With clear explanations and hundreds of real-life examples, this timely and important book tells you everything you need to know to craft your approach. From e-business fundamentals to understanding B2B and B2C top-line and bottom-line opportunities to assessing your company's internal capabilities, the answers you need are here! -- from dust jacket.