Today almost half of the businesses in the U.S have their own websites. These websites are used as crucial marketing tools, although businesses can use them to communicate with their customers over the internet. But this is not an easy venture for other small business since the cost of a website ranges between $5000 and $2000 ( Cesaroni & Consoli, 2015) . An example of a business that does not use a website in its operation is Delaware Car Repair Company. The company is located in Ohio and serves a wide geographical area. Until recently, its customer base has drastically dropped due to competition from other businesses that have websites and makes great use of social media platforms to advertise their services. Delaware Car Repair Company is now looking to enter the internet by developing a website that will allow it to expand their market and provide better services to their customers.
The most appropriate internet business model that Delaware Car Repair Company can use to get on track and fight for its position in the market is the Virtual Storefront business. This model can allow Delaware to sell its physical goods online as well as selling in a physical storefront ( Burmeister et al., 2016 ). The goods will be bought using an online check or a credit card. After completing the transactions, the goods will be transported to the buyers directly. Delaware Car Repair Company website will offer buyers a notice of purchase via e-mail and also attaching the notice on the physically purchased goods. This is the most common type of transaction used by small businesses in the U.S
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Benefits of a Website to Delaware Car Repair Company
Increased Visibility
The major reason why Delaware needs a website is to heighten its visibility to a wide geographical area. As much as customers here about the company, they may decide to do online research before deciding to leave the comfort of their home or shift from the dealers they currently have to Delaware . A website for the company will provide a map and directions to the company’s workshops; outlets and offices hence reduce the difficulties customers’ encounter while trying to access the company ( Cesaroni & Consoli, 2015) .
Credibility
By building a website, the company is actually giving its business an opportunity to inform customers why they should trust and conduct business with them. Studies have found out that most people search the internet to check for the credibility of the company before making a decision of buying. If the company can provide good product or services and positive word of mouth, the business is likely to spread which in turn provides more repeat and new customers. Customers are likely to trust a business the moment they have conducted business with them. Through the use of Virtual Storefront business model, the company can continuously serve its customers online and increase its credibility ( Burmeister et al., 2016 ).
Sales
The main objective of Delaware Car Repair Company is to sell. Having an online presence will allow the company to sell its services around the clock to whoever and whenever without any limitations. Providing the business with an online presence it deserves will give its brand a boost in the market ( Cesaroni & Consoli, 2015) . In fact, if the company becomes visible worldwide, it is likely to attract more clients. The more clients the company receives, the more the sales and hence its fast growth.
Accessibility and global connectivity
The company’s website and social media accounts are always accessible for 7/24. This means that customers will shop and book appointments for car repairs at their comfort. Most customers become devastated when they visit a shop only to find it closed. This makes them find another store that operates online and more accessible at any time.
Ways in which Delaware Car Repair Company can benefit from the Internet
First, the internet can help Delaware to manage and access their accounts. The owners of the can be able to view the progress of their business over the internet and manage their customers from whichever part of the world. The CEO of the company while on vacation in Switzerland is able to see hourly sales using a PDA or just a phone ( Burmeister et al., 2016 ). At the end of the day, all the company transactions can be input into a database automatically which can be administered and reviewed 5 hours a day.
Delaware can also come up with an Extranet. This could only be available to workers. Through the Extranet, workers can check the company inside information like sales statistics, news, upcoming projects, due dates and company email. The internet can also help the company to hire new employees. The company can use the internet to advertise their job position and any other information regarding job openings and attract highly talented candidates from states they could not reach otherwise ( Burmeister et al., 2016 ).
The internet can enable the company to create a corporate image inexpensively. It is relatively cheap and easy for the company to define its image on the internet regardless of its size. Since markets make the company’s information to change rapidly, the only easy and fast way of changing the image is through electronically.
Functional Specification for Delaware
By using the internet, Delaware Car Repair Company can access millions of websites that have useful information. Since it deals with cars, it should evaluate other car companies to find out how these competitors are taking advantage of the internet. Dana Tire & Auto Service Company has developed a site provides clients with the various brands of spare parts of all kinds and car services. Delaware can emulate what is helpful from Dana Tire & Auto Service Company site and base its functional specification on that site ( Cesaroni & Consoli, 2015) .
Delaware can also come up with a small website that is embedded with general information about the company showing their products and allows customers to purchase them. The company should design a page that would enable customers to contact them if they incurred any problems with their cars or if they have any general questions. The other pages that can be created include those with guarantor contents, old status, and securities ( Burmeister et al., 2016 ). The website could be linked with other non-car sites like the insurance and travel sites. It is risky to link the company to cars part dealers since they might take away the business from Delaware Car Repair Company. This is how the basic website for Delaware would be laid out.
Technological specifications for implementation
Before Delaware Car Repair Company develops its internet-based project, a cost-benefit analysis must be done to increase its confidence in completing the project successfully. The first a computer is required in order for the hardware to be bought. The other specification is the Internet Service Provider (ISP). The software that will be needed during the implementation includes Dream Weaver or the FrontPage. This will be helpful during designing and maintaining. The second software is the Paint Shop Pro that will be useful for graphic design ( Cesaroni & Consoli, 2015) . Technical maintenance will be significant for troubleshooting. Personnel will also be required during the implementation process as they will be responsible for research and maintenance in order to increase the productivity of the internet.
Conclusion
To sum it up all, internet implementation will accrue several tangible benefits to Delaware Car Repair Company. This includes a better corporate image, more timely information, improved operations, higher consumer satisfaction, and accessibility to a better market. The company will also have a chance of developing rapidly as technology changes with time.
References
Burmeister, C., Lüttgens, D., & Piller, F. T. (2016). Business Model Innovation for Industrie 4.0: Why the Industrial Internet Mandates a New Perspective on Innovation. Die Unternehmung , 70 (2), 124-152.
Cesaroni, F. M., & Consoli, D. (2015). Are small businesses really able to take advantage of social media? Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management , 13 (4), 257.
