Extranet systems enable clients to establish and maintain powerful relationships with their users and business partners. This relationship is facilitated via a secure, password protected area the user can access to perform any number of interactions. These interactions can range from viewing a user specific price list and ordering products to a complex subscription based psychological therapy system.

Log on to the DHL website to check the status of that package you sent this morning, for example, and you've just used an extranet in one of its simplest forms. An extranet system is a mechanism based on Internet and Web technology for communicating both privately and selectively with your customers and business partners.

What's the difference between an extranet, an intranet and the Internet?

First there was the Internet, which is available for everyone to use. Then businesses got smart and started developing their own intranets that used the same friendly Web interface but put up firewalls so that only employees could see the information on the site. Finally, the extranet was created. It finds itself somewhere in between--there's still a firewall, but you allow only selected outsiders, such as business partners and customers, inside.

Why would you use extranets?

When done correctly, extranets provide a safe way to allow transactional business-to-business activities and can save your company some serious time and money. The automotive industry uses extranets to cut down on its redundant ordering processes and keep suppliers up to date on parts and design changes, allowing quicker response times to suppliers' problems and questions. Suppliers can receive proposals, submit bids, provide documents, even collect payments through an extranet site. An extranet has restricted (password-protected) access, so it may be connected directly to each party's internal systems.

Does every company need one?

Many view extranets as the next era in Web development. While other business-to-business communications, such as electronic data interchange (EDI), are out there, an extranet is more user-friendly because of its Web interface and allows for less regimented and more ad-hoc inquiries. Before a company can make an attempt at harnessing the capabilities and profits gained from using an extranet, a fully functioning intranet is generally put in place

Pegasus InfoCorp builds customized extranet systems for clients based on their requirements. Our intranet/extranet applications will help you streamline and automate workflow, collect information on-line, report on data from multiple systems and manage content and documents for multiple departments with centralized data management. A few common features of extranet systems are provided below.

Catalogs

Specialized supply chain specific catalogs and tactical specs of products and service. Here clients can send up specific information for suppliers and vendors, which are not in public domain

Special Offers

The customized CMS allows easy set up of special offers section to facilitate vendor and customer loyalty and interaction.

Events and Seminars

Events and seminar announcements and bulleting board calendar system to maximize participation of customer groups.

Contests and Promos

Comprehensive CRM system that allows companies to set up contest and promos in the extranet system. These flexible content can be time and product specific. All the interactions are trackable with the database and can be mined for future use.

Polls and Surveys

Online polls and surveys are the most cost effective method to get quick feedback with engaged stakeholder base. Completely database driven module allows creating polls and surveys on the fly

Knowledge base/ Knowledge Management

Clients use knowledge bases to provide their products and services to select partners

Support Ticket System

Support ticket system for any help and support required by customer vendor and supplier groups

Pegasus InfoCorp helps build extranet systems for clients across the USA, UK, Australia, Europe and Asia based on their specific requirements, with development occuring at our offshore development center in Mumbai, India. If required, we can also consult clients on functionalities needed by them in their extranet systems.