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The Rural Voice, 1998-12, Page 40DECEMBER SPECIALS (valid until December 31/98) 10" Contractor Table Saw, Model TSC 10L 16 Speed Drill Press, s35000 S59900 _14" Band Saw Single Speed 545000 .1.0w CENTRAL RENTAL & SUPPLY LTD. 26 ISAAC ST. CLINTON. ONT. NOM n.O PHONE/FAX 482-7930 The Complete Construction Supply Headquarters ...,(4, -rope For Your sulk" gO.' Manufacturers of Quality Building Trusses Builders Outlet Quality Building Supplies priced right! MAR -SPAN TRUSS INC. RR #2, Alma, ON • 519-638-2420 • 1-800-318-0724 STEEL 0.,0 s 144.61 Christmas...a time to say "thank you" to all our friends and customers. Happy Holidays! • Beams • Pipe • Angle Iron • Sheet • Channel • Flat • Tubing • TV Towers CALL US TODAY! Owen Sound 1399 2nd Ave. East Phone (519) 371-8111 Fax(519) 371-6011 1-800-567-7412 WE ARE A STEEL SERVICE CENTRE 36 THE RURAL VOICE As for the benefits to the business, Ingratta said the first is the speed in which transactions can occur with the collapse of the supply chain by 60 per cent. Transaction costs fall and providing a product or service can be achieved more rapidly. Making use of intranet, an in - company sharing of information, keeps employees happier as they can respond to customer needs immediately, thereby keeping the client happy as well. Ingratta listed several points which affect a business going on- line, but said the most important aspect was to allow the internet to fundamentally change the company, not just be something on the side. "It is about changing the top line, getting new customers while retaining the old. Improve the product, decrease costs and maximize customer service." The first lesson learned is to make the internet about business, not just technology. It has to improve the operation. Secondly, benefits should be seen in a web year, or three months so be prepare to start small but grow fast. "Find the sweet spot and deliver quickly," he said. "Build on what you have." Ensuring system security is always an issue as there are 200 to 300 new viruses every month and 440 hacker bulletins posted, said Ingratta. The biggest risk is in losing customer trust. For success, whether with the Internet or simply in business, Ingratta said it takes a team to make it work. There needs to be a visionary, a branding person and a process person involved. That team work was shown through industry examples from Monsanto, which has created Farm Central, a web site linking visitors to numerous ag-related sites and information, as well as an inside look at the Novartis web solution. With the exceptional information provided, one day was just not enough to fully explore internet possibilities for agri-business. Further information on the seminar can be found on www.agribiz.net, sponsor and organizer of the seminar.0