Electronic Catalogues

An electronic catalogue is designed to present products to customers or partners all over the world via the internet. The electronic catalogue provides more detailed information AbOUT the products the company has to offer, including real-time inventory status, photographs, product specifications, product instructions, safety procedures, and video demonstrations. It is important for any company who does implement an electronic catalogue that they are supported by an IT infrastructure. Catalogues such as these provide customers with many advantages however they do yield their disadvantages.

A major advantage of having access to an electronic catalogue is the search function. This function allows the customer to search the catalogue using keywords, full text, line items, inventory levels, and unit prices. In doing this it places a lot of power in the hands of the customer which in turn makes it easier for them to find the product if they know exactly what it is they want. However not all search engines are that user friendly and do make it difficult to find exactly what you are searching for. This is one of the biggest problem facing companies to find and associate all of the potential names for a given product. As a result, electronic software is available from many vendors, some of which are Actinic, Harbinger, Endeca and Mercado. This software provides the functionality of the catalogue aspects, and all the company has to do is input its own product information.

Another advantage of electronic catalogues is that they often provided links to product reviews and industry information.

References

• Haag, Cummings, et al. Management Information Systems for the information age. Toronto: McGraw Hill Ryerson, 2006.
• Ibid
• Hagg, p, 178
• Ibid
• Ibid
• Ibid