For example, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG of Germany, a leading maker of high-end printing presses for printers and print media producers throughout the world developed the ability to monitor its equipment remotely using built-in sensors, networking microprocessors, and other information technologies. Thus they provided maintenance services in a cost-effective manner using these smart products. Today, Heidelberg has used information technology as a competitive advantage in business by incorporating self-monitoring and networking capabilities built into its products.
Honeywell International is a company that is involved in control and automation systems for petroleum refineries. It implemented a new suite of customer smart services called Experion Process Knowledge System, or PKS, a system of information and operations technologies that are deployed at a customer’s refinery, but controlled and monitored remotely via network connections by Honeywell. With PKS smart services, customers experience fewer false alarms leading to lower maintenance costs. Honeywell has also benefited by charging a premium for its use.
Cleveland-based Eaton Corporation is involved in making axles, truck parts, and other engineered components. To gain a competitive advantage, Eaton introduced Home Heartbeat, a system that monitors the status of various home systems and alerts the homeowner when something is amiss. This is done by using water sensors, open/closed sensors, and power sensors connected to a base station over a wireless network. Home Heartbeat allows checking remotely whether or not a space heater might have been left on or whether a pipe has burst back home. Eaton brand now stands for total home awareness because of its use of information technology to build awareness and connectivity into its products, turning them into smart products.
WESCO Distribution is one of the world’s largest distributors of electrical products and other MRO (maintenance, repair, and operating products). WESCO faced problems in having to call a non-stock product manufacturer regarding customer pricing and availability and then relaying the product information back to the customer via another telephone call. WESCO soon developed a new e-business system that connected the WESCO customer ordering and inventory systems to the inventory systems of its major suppliers. Now WESCO sales personnel in 330 plus locations were able to directly access the finished goods inventory systems of their major suppliers.
At Yahoo, technologies have facilitated interfirm collaboration such as collaborative platforms and portals, supply-chain systems, etc. Thus Yahoo has accomplished a significant transformation of its service from a search engine into a portal by initiating numerous partnerships to provide content and other media-related services from its website. Ingram Micro, a global wholesale has successfully deployed an integrated trading system and suppliers to connect directly to its procurement and ERP systems.