Competitive intelligence can help a business anticipate a competitor s actions, gain an advantage with customers or suppliers, and recognize new opportunities and potential threats. The Internet can also be a factor in extending the reach of companies that want people in different locations to work on the same information at the same time. Many companies are now using intranets to support work group computing. Intranets are internal networks that use the protocols and standards of the Internet and the Web, but with protection from unauthorized traffic via firewalls. With the right website, a small company can present an image as impressive as its largest competitor can.
Many catalogs are already available to tens of thousands of government buyers and personnel.
Research published in Federal Computer Week indicates that 46 percent of federal employees use the Internet to retrieve technical information, including technical reports and product specifications. Such listings can be extremely valuable to a small organization for the broad exposure that they can provide. Every prudent business manager has concerns about the potential for data theft and sabotage. The numerous players in Internet commerce, however, are minimizing the risks. Browsers can warn of potential website hazards and provide document certification and encryption.