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March 1997, Volume 14, No. 3
Snap-on's Extranet Serves as Single Point of
Information
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Snap-on Tools Co. (Kenosha, Wis.), a manufacturer and distributor of
tools and shop equipment, is using Netscape World Wide Web server
software as the enabling technology for its extranet solution, which
was rolled out officially nationwide in December 1996. The Netscape
software-based extranet serves as the company's primary mechanism for
information delivery to its approximately 4,000 domestic dealers.
Snap-on dealers and technical representatives can go to
http://www.snapon.com and, after
entering a special password, access relevant business information on
such areas as product and promotions, best business practices and
company news. Visitors to Snap-on's extranet can also take advantage
of discussion groups to discuss relevant business topics with other
dealers in the organization. The extranet has also provided a means
for dealers and technical representatives to offer feedback about the
online offering, products and customer information.
Prior to developing an extranet strategy, Snap-on communicated
with its dealers by sending out mailings and relying on its
management structure to pass necessary information along to the
field. Future plans include rolling out Snap-on's extranet globally
to reach its entire 5,300 dealers worldwide.
"Our extranet solution enables us to disseminate information to
our dealers in a more timely and efficient manner," said Bob Gingras,
manager of electronic commerce at Snap-on. "We're able to provide our
dealers with a reliable and consistent information resource that
functions 24 hours a day."
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