Visibility into Operations. Businesses consistently seek to improve the accuracy of their inventory and revenue forecasts but are constrained by a lack of clear visibility into operating data. Web services based “digital dashboards” are one way adopters hope to address this challenge. Several specific categories of information that are hot-button issues include demand forecasting throughout the supply-chain, real-time cash flow and operating capital, and production and inventory availability.Bottom-line, better visibility will yield a dramatic impact on a company’s cost structure.
Exploring New Business Models. Most companies evaluating web services today are focused squarely on efficiencies and tend to put new web services-based revenue opportunities into a“sometime in the future” bucket. A few early adopters are exploring new subscription or pay-peruse business models, however. Further down the road, companies may spin off non-strategic (but potentially valuable) web service competencies, just as many tangible assets were “unlocked” at an increased value as stand-alone entities over the past ten years.