G1RD-CT-2002-00698 e-Volution II – Road map for e-business implementation in Extended Enterprises

1. G1RD-CT-2002-00698e-Volution II – Road map for e-business implementation in Extended Enterprises Final Project Review – VOL.2 15 April 2005

2. Content Service Provider (CSP)

3. Background and purpose: focuses on the commercial network of national content service providers in Italy, Germany, and Greece with branch-related know-how installs the update subscription service offering updates for the software’s “link sector”, and distributes the files online monthly, offline quarterly, and spontaneously as reaction to unexpected market developments “intended to retain a close relationship with e-Volution II customers and to provide them with customised information. Result, information provision on: E-business strategies, trends, methodologies, news, major players, … targeted information on “Your Sector” with original pilot focusing on furniture (wood packaging and inflatable boat markets also considered) Technical approach: information provided through a multi-modular web-portal and retrieved based on intelligent agents CSP purpose, objectives and expected results

4. Selection of sources using Cybion’s source collecting, filtering, information retrieval methodology Module technical development on directory, news collector and metasearch (My SqL, php, RSS/XML, HTML) First GUI created (presented in November 2004) Integration plans and implementations (MA  CSP, CSP  MA) Revision of GUI and functions based on requirements made following testing in Germany Major modifications made to CSP navigation, GUI, directory structure, functionalities, user experience, “passage” to services CSP realisation history Access from Information Selector of Market Module to CSP

5. Stand-alone Content service EE companies can subscribe to CSP services by: Already receiving login to MM and accessing the CSP Promoting only CSP and offering the service on its own, providing login and password separately after registration Functions of regular service Email automatic reply sent to registered user on a regular (monthly, weekly, bi-monthly – lower subscription fee) or exactly when major information on market, sector is updated (“real-time” updates – larger subscription fee Opportunity to receive CSP online service updates in various formats (email, RSS) Exclusive links to e-Vo toolkit information and materials Integration to MA/CSP Access from MA (IS) to query CSP data Re-insertion of CSP relevant results into MA Stand-alone content service & integrated function within e-volution tool-kit

6. I CSP Definition Creation and planning of sector to be incorporated with CSP II Brief study what kind of information is needed by the companies what is the map of the sector, what are the relevant roles within the respective EE (kind of providers and clients. III Creation of semantic map Semantic map of the sector is created to be used for searching, filtering and monitoring the information. Only concepts related to sector are implemented in the map, as general concepts about extended enterprises, market data, etc. are already implemented and included IV Research of the information sources Set of tools queried by meta-search tool Various queries are performed to find rss feeds, metasearch, and to define directory websites Editorial and automatic methodology for CSP

7. content of the sample of the website will be rated using the semantic map that will have been previously defined. Automatic insertion in the directory, in the meta-search V Information retrieval, filtering, monitoring RSS, meta-search, directory contains websites. Directory also contains some documents that are found within the websites that have been selected according to two operations. All documents retrieved are then filtered and classified with semantic technology Monitoring monitoring of the sources: the process of identification of the sources is repeated periodically Monitoring of the pages: the process of search/crawling is repeated more often to find news documents CSP data retrieval methodology (cont)

8. Home page of CSP accessed from Information Selector located in MA (menu option: “Go to CSP”) CSP home page has undergone major revisions Home area: Provides introduction to what CSP has to offer Requires that EE company member chooses its relevant sector Can be used as the login access point for e-Vo members that subscribe to the service Links to sector specific EE home page with unique EE roles to choose from Easier navigation, clean & simple user-friendly style CSP home page

9. Begin by choosing sector from menu that takes user to the respective sector pages

10. Select role and click on relevant links to receive furniture EE results/resources

11. Select role and click on relevant links to receive wood pallet EE results/resources

12. Directory of links to specific related resources created and updated according to a symbiotic method Category structure created to incorporate both a general e-business window and “your EE sector” focus Currently, directory developed primarily for furniture sector, but also incorporates wood packaging and inflatable boats sectors (Italian and Greek test case sectors) Focused sector usage allows for double-access to the information depending on e-Vo user’s preferences in path towards information for their e-business strategies Relevant categories provided as results after sector chooses its EE role navigating from the CSP home page and after selecting its sector from menu drop-down bar Navigation directly to directory home page on left nav bar throughout CSP e-Vo Directory: relevant content & structured insight

13. CSP DirectoryEE user pathi.e: Furniture II Furniture entrance I “Your Sector” entrance III Furniture EE access entrance IV Furniture suppliers entrance

14. E-Business External E-business (E-Commerce, E-procurement, Supply Chain Management, CRM, etc.) Internal E-Business (Knowledge Management, Sales Force Automation, Document retrieval and management, etc.) “Your sector” Sector EE access Individual sector EE roles (i.e: CAD design for furniture EE, Wood bobbin for wood pallet EE) Companies, players, organisations Market data, reports, trends News, media, events: Link to RSS feeds provided here corresponding to the news of the sector & opportunity to be taken to the e-Vo RSS tool “Info-on-demand” service performed by consultants to provide a target information for the user Can also be incorporated and available on CSP: Training material & Methodology and any other e-Vo tool dissemination/application e-Vo Directory Category structure

15. This tool is able to query specialised search tools and databases in the invisible web where is stored the biggest part of information available on the Internet The data retrieved is filtered to display only relevant information to the user Results are clustered into categories and visually organised to narrow down user’s search requests e-Vo Meta-search Internal database search tool Results on the CSP available for the user Meta-search tool Filtering system

16. This tool is interfaced with a large number of specialised sources which publish their info in RSS format and also traditional web sources. The user will define its interests The system selects the sources, then filters its data and could provide automatically, on a periodical basis, a “news wire” via mail e-Vo RSS – News collector Results send by mail to the user News published in rss format Rss collector Filtering system

17. RSS is a XML based format for syndicating news and content of news Why use this technology? Have an easy way to collect and focus on relevant news in the industry and be informed in “real-time” when news breaks, trends develop, markets open, change, risks form etc. Focus our efforts on filtering to gain targeted information for e-vo users With RSS aggregators, users can develop their own personal news content service to view only the news that is important to them E-Vo RSS: currently aims to locate and develop RSS feeds related to E-Business and the furniture industry to keep EE alert to what’s going on in their specific sector and e-business as a whole RSS (“Really Simple Syndication”)

18. user is presented with a service, package of personalised information, that combines the following useful tools and content to allow him to: Get targeted specific-sector focused links and documents to correspond to their EE’s experiences and requirements Be kept updated with news feeds that provide the EE with real-time updated news on their sector and e-business Search for content with results only coming from e-business and specific e-vo sector sources Double navigation” of typology of information By sector: enter as your EE sector from CSP home (i.e: furniture, wood packaging) By category of information: accessing left navigation throughout CSP, user can access all CSP modules News – RSS Resources – Directory Sources of the invisible web are chosen to increase relevance to the user CSP advantages & benefits

19. User is presented with a service, package of personalised information, that combines the following useful tools and content to allow him to: Get targeted specific-sector focused links and documents to correspond to their EE’s experiences and requirements! Be kept updated with news feeds that provide the EE with real-time updated news on their sector and e-business! Search for content with results only coming from e-business and specific e-vo sector sources! CSP: innovative support content service Innovation lies in the special source retrieval and semantic map creation and in the package of varied information that CSP provides EE users in attacking their E-Business strategy from a broad and narrow perspective. Targeted categorised data (E-Vo Directory) Relevant News Updates (E-Vo RSS) Filtered search results (E-Vo Metasearch)

20. Final result of CSP Personalised and relevant information Symbiotic method CSP I I Market Module User II III Working Tool to MM and IS Personalized Information Tool Results II Information Selector Dynamic info: From output to input

21. Training

22. Enable the use of the methodology and software to develop, to adapt and to optimise e-business strategies in Extended Enterprises Provision/deepening of knowledge and use of experience about methods, instruments to develop e-business strategies Objectives Users in Extended Enterprise constellations get formalised knowledge, methods and know-how including a framework for integration, processing and coordination for e-business related analysis activities

23. Training components and target groups Training content: • Presentation material • Methodology training material • Software tutorials: OrganisationAnalyser incl. ProjectManager, MarketAnalyser incl. InformationSelector, Content Service Provider, StrategyBuilder) Target group for training material • managers and employees User of training material • Trainers, managers, (consultants), employees who are involved in the e-business roadmapping processes

24. Component 1: Presentation material Aim • attract attention for the e-Volution methodology • Target group are potential user of the e-Volution tool-kit like managers of SMEs in EE constellations • The potential user gets an short overview about the benefits and a short description of the methodology Structure • Need for e-volution: Why to use e-Volution • Objectives • Target group (enterprises which already are or will become member of extended enterprises) • Approach (collaborative work on different level-EE members, management and employees) • Introduction of methodology concept including short description of modules and software tool-kit modules

25. Component 2: Training material Aim • Detailed description of methods, methodology workflow and structure • presentation slides are the basis for workshops/seminars, which can be held by trainers/consultants or for self study in combination with the software tutorials • The managers get a structured description of how to use the methodology and how and in which steps the software provides support

26. Component 2: Training material Structure • Based on methodology’s 4 module structure • General introduction and overview about the methodology • Module 1-4 • Introduction of modules • Purpose and objectives • Structure and relation to other modules • Environment including organisation, participants, demands on participants • Approach • Workflow and method description, description of single steps with link to software

27. Component 3: Software tutorials • Aim • Description of how to use the software as support for the methodology • Structure • aim/purpose of the software • installation • system requirements • how to install • Access to the application (for different user like moderators or users) • Description of the features, functionalities and workflow, necessary input, what is the result

28. Project dissemination • Industrial Interest and Reference Group Presentation • Dissemination (presentation, publication, demonstration) • Project website

29. Integration of representatives from best practice companies, relevant forums, national chambers and industry and e-business experts from the European countries of the consortium´s members broaden the perspectives for research verify the project results serve as important dissemination platform for the project Aim of national Interest and Reference Group

30. Designing and Publishing a project leaflet to support the acquisition of IG/IRG members and also other dissemination and marketing activities in 2003 Publishing newsletters, in which IRG/IR are informed about the ongoing activities, e.g. the V.I.P.-newsletter of the F.A.Z.-Institute published regularly Designing and publishing advertisements, in which IRG were searched, e.g. in the Kompass and TOP event catalogues of the F.A.Z-Institut in the period from 2003 until 2005 Acquisition and care of 15 IRG during the period, which join the project 1st IRG meeting on 25 September 2003 in Germany, including questionnaire and evaluation Achieved Interest and Reference Group results in Germany (Selection)

31. Invitations to IRG/IG members to participate in selected events, connected to E-Business and Innovation, e.g. symposium and trade fair ” e-Business for medium sized business” in Bad Nauheim on 22nd September 2004 Special attending to new potential IRGs, organisations with strong interest in e-volution methodology and software in response to the marketing and will for cooperation, e.g. the company tempus Zeitplan Systeme in Gingen/Benz and the Wirtschaftsförderung and Technologietransfer (business development and technology transfer) Schleswig-Holstein GmbH and Frost & Frisch Convenience GmbH in Bielefeld day-to-day public relations to IRG/IG Invitation of the IRG/IG to the Final German Conference and involving them into the workshop on 28 April 2005 in Wiesbaden Additional test cases AUTEV and Greschalux made from the IRG, supervised by IAF and M-BIS Achieved Interest and Reference Group results in Germany (Selection)

32. German IRG test case AUTEV Initial situation and EE scenario • legal organisation, shareholders are 9 regional, independent, sometimes competing Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) • service engineering organisation of innovative SMEs, serves global markets • Competitors are big global players, but competitive advantage of higher flexibility because of its organisation structure to integrate on demand the needed competences • value chain design and partner integration depends from the product/service specification (Virtual Enterprise) • e-business as basis for more efficient business • Concentration on a specific business scenario and EE constellation

33. e-volution application area: e-commerce of complex ICT solutions marketing/ sales procurement engineering service Value chain Private and public organisations COMPLUS SERVICE Extended Enterprise E–Business System server Central DB-Server AUTEV AG Location: TGZ ICT infrastructure Customers SQL-Server Skyrix-Server AUTEV AG Location: TGZ E–Business System client AUTEV partners E–Business System client AUTEV partners Location: Kirchmöser E–Business System client Internet SQL-Server Supplier E–Business System client E–Business System client AUTEV partner Location: Rathenow SQL-Server

34. Phases and status of inter-enterprise collaboration in AUTEV EE Communication establishment Stabilisation of collaboration Business partner integration • Definition of enterprise role in the network • Project coordinator, customer coordinator, network coordinator, development partner, production partner, service partner, quality manager, infrastructure manager • Definition, i.e. personalisation of responsibilities and assignment of resources • Agreement on communication procedures • Stabilisation of collaboration and definition of coordination mechanisms • Benefits, IPR handling, penalties, costs/profit assignment • Definition of inter-enterprise processes and workflows • Extension of enterprise boarders • Information sharing and ICT-integration and sharing • Business process and workflow integration • Cultural and social integration

35. German IRG test case AUTEVRealised activities within the scope of project IRG • Presentation and transfer of the e-volution methodology (Modules 1-4) and software tool-kit to interested managers of AUTEV partners (based on the training material with reference to the AUTEV partners’ situation and needs) • access to the e-volution toolkit software to support real business operations • Support by the consortium in the testing phase through the provision of skilled personnel to the test case, on site in the premises of the test case • Assessment of the e-volution methodology and tool-kit by based on provided assessment procedure Supervised by partner IAF

36. Achieved results & feedback Results for the test case • Methodology and selected method transfer • Know-how transfer to support current running e-commerce project • Selected use of methods and tools within the scope of running activities • Core competence analysis (Module 2) • Markets segmentation and assessment (Module 3) • Commitment for common next steps based on methodological approach - AUTEV and IAF keep in contact (common project) Feedback • Industrial requirements and e-volution concept are confirmed, software support is always welcome • Special interest in methodological and tool support structured market analysis • Methods and tools are usable for target group SME • Acceptance of the software tools is different, ASP-approach is OK • Integration strategy for ERP-systems is needed, especially for (MarketAnalyser) • Further EE problems also on cultural and management level

37. IRG test case Greschalux e-business status • on demand e-commerce (B2C) • e-work flow management (B2B) e-business plans • e-commerce, i.e. e-shop with product catalogue and product configurator in 2005/2006 and ex-tended e-marketing; • e-SCM • IT-supported offer management in the network; • e-procurement over the Internet and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM); • Offer management as extension of the INDIA work flow system for automated product compilation, product cost calculation and e-procurement; • Extension of the existing Management Information System (MIS) • e-Customer Relationship Management

38. Legend Partners Greschalux The Greschalux EE value chain process model EE value chain process model (AS-IS) Customer order Marketing & Sales Production Assembly planning Assembly at customer location Invoicing Service and maintenance acquisition Maintenance Assembly planning Serv./maint. order Invoicing EE value chain process model (TO-BE) Production Assembly planning Assembly at customer location Invoicing Maintenance Service and maintenance order acquisition Marketing & Sales Customer order Assembly planning Serv./maint. order Invoicing

39. Greschalux Activities I/III • Methodological support for the just started internal e-commerce (marketing & sales) LAURA project • methodological support of the reengineering of the process • first project management activities documented and processed in the newly designed project management tool • first experiences in using network supporting project management tool at Greschalux and two of their biggest partners • enlargement of the tool to meet the requirements of project management in EE environment much better • improvement of the transparency of the entire project and single activities and their status • Support for the development and assessment of marketing & sales business strategies • work with the organisation analyser (module) starting till December 2004 with • analysing the processes marketing and sales • involvement of all involved and relevant process participants (Greschalux (marketing and sales department), partners (CEOs), some customers) • gathering of information following the organisation analyser methodology • combination, compression and discussion of final results in physical meetings • Meetings: 10.11.04; 24.11.04; 08.12.04 • common definition of a redefined ecommerce based marketing and sales strategy Supervised by partner M-BIS

40. Greschalux Activities II/III • Decision support on what modules need to be realized with priority • use of the organisation analyser support this decision making process • involvement of employees of Greschalux and relevant employees of the five biggest subcontractors • physical meetings: 15.12.2004; 15.01.2005 • decision made which modules have to be realised which what priority • Decision support for regional implementations, adaptations or extensions • refer to point 3 • Technological decision support (part of the ERP system/ special application) • use of the organisation analyser support this decision making process • involvement of employees of Greschalux and relevant employees of the five biggest subcontractors as well as two IT-Manager of the Holding CRH (Netherlands) • decision was made in the physical meetings on 08.02.2005; 15.02.2005 Supervised by partner M-BIS

41. Greschalux Activities III/III • 6. Testing and evaluation of prototype solutions • lab tests at real system application simulation a M-BIS and interview functionality of the organisation analyser is used to evaluate the prototypes • tests are going on • 7. Organisational changes and newly defined processes related to the strategy implementation • process redesign did start after the definition of the new strategy and its realisation • process was supported by the use of the project management tool • Feedback from Greschalux and their partners • feedback was positive because all relevant persons could be implemented in the decision making process but with reduced time consumption by travelling and doing meetings • the used methodological support was given from the beginning to the end, from the strategy definition til the operational realisation of single implementation processes • the acceptance and usability of the organisation analyser was good for all involved user except the administrator • the administration was done from one programmer of M-BIS and one manager of Greschalux with the aim to teach and integrate project management abilities in the newly defined eCommerce based structure of the EE • the usability for the administrator was too complex which caused • too long learning phase • time losses by using the system • sometimes misunderstandings Supervised by partner M-BIS

42. family-owned southern Italian company involved in the production and management of wood packaging offers to its customers innovative value added services: management of empty packages, withdrawal and recovery of already used packaging design of customised pallets according to customer’s specific needs for revision and reengineering of logistic processes IMBC’s strategy: to differentiate offer towards final customer IMBC is the EE constellation driver Italian IRG test case Imbal Center (IMBC) Initial situation and EE scenario

43. FBR wood straight bobbin production for telecommunication cables Interested to leverage on semi finished products (all the items needed for straight bobbin assembling) in order to have a higher number of potential customer. has stable relationship with Imbal Center, offering specific services for the procurement of raw materials mainly from European countries (Germany and Austria) and selling some wooden parts. CED Romano administrative and financial services long term partner of Imbal Center. LGM offers commercial services and specific support in the suppliers selection and rating Italian IRG test case Imbal Center (IMBC) IMBC EE main players

44. Italian IRG test case Imbal Center (IMBC) • Imbal Center shares information on production schedule and available inventory with FBR, by an integrated e-procurement process. • Supplies procurement lead time ranges from three to six months, so the integration of this process provide relevant benefit to Imbal Center. • FBR, thanks to the long term experience in this industry, has a wide knowledge of the sourcing market which implies a significant efficiency during the purchasing process. • High quality intra extended enterprise processes are enabled by the certification ISO 9000 reached by all the members.

45. Imbal Center setting up a project with one of the main customers for remote inventory management: aiming to become the sole supplier of wood packaging This could allow Imbal Center to considerably increase its own turnover (because this potential agreement means higher quantity of sold products) offering added value services, the remote inventory control, enabled by a direct electronic connection with this customer. Within the EE, information on administrative and financials issues are shared by using a mini ERP, which has been now enriched by adding several modules dealing with operations/production. The locations of these SMEs allows frequent face to face meeting useful to increase the internal collaboration. Italian IRG test case Imbal Center (IMBC) Goals and EE benefits

46. Visit by UNISA at IMBC premises in order to identify production process specificity and internal organisation Workshop finalised to identify: IMBC markets and products IMBC EE structures: identification of partners (FBR, CED ROMANO and LGM) and internal relationships Workshop finalised to explain MM functionalities and subsequent data collection to feed e-Vo Market Module Italian IRG test case Imbal Center (IMBC) Activities performed

47. Sensitivity analysis matrix Example for Italian IRG test case Imbal Center (IMBC) activities • The feedbacks received by Imbal Center led UNISA to implement the Sensitivity Analysis: some answers to the questions related with the Wood Pallet - Consumer Product/Market (PM) area were modified in order to analyse the impact on the bubble position inside the matrix; • The starting point of the PM area is in the “stay on the current position” areawhereas the arriving point is in the “invest in order to increase the market share” area;

48. Results Opportunity and Threats identification: To offer added value services for IMBC main customers in order to increase margins (i.e.: Stock management and pallet recycle) Final sold products not very complex, low barriers for new entrants Feedback Offered suggestions regarding usability/friendliness: GUI improvement Needs for a quick revision and simulation of the questionnaire answers: sensitivity analysis Efficient retrieval of market information: information selector and integration with the CSP Italian IRG test case Imbal Center (IMBC) Achieved results & feedback

49. IRG/dissemination meeting conducted at UNISA’s premises February 2005 Promotional leaflet created, sent electronically and distributed manually to current IRG and to other e-business contacts (Cybion & UNISA). Questionnaire distributed. Specific focus spent towards IRG members Febal (furniture) and Esmalglass (ceramics) whom were personally visited at their offices UNISA contacted PlastCaudio (automotive and electric household appliances) and gathered input for market module implementation Online virtual meeting conducted in November 2003 on e-Vo website, focusing on e-business trends in EE Achieved Interest and Reference Group results in Italy

50. Italian IRG continually contacted via email/newsletter regarding project updates Communication to Rome Chamber of Commerce about project in searching IRG members Promotional materials published online on the e-Vo website in Italian language IRG test case Imbal Centre made from the IRG, supervised by UNISA Achieved Interest and Reference Group results in Italy