We're now going through a discovery phase in Japan, says Collins. How do we apply regular business strategies to the Web. So Beacon created a site where housewives can go and exchange information with other housewives and get tips from the Japanese Martha Stewart, Harumi Kurihara. Kurihara is also used in product promotions to drive traffic back to the site. He points out that Japan Airlines has put their entire part procurement system on line.
Suppliers make online bids, and the airline can keep a record of purchases and prices.
Users have matured. Companies that utilize the Web to personalize and interact with their customer base directly, gear themselves to be not only more attractive online, but to be remembered by consumers and their off-line purchases. Renaissance has gone through an interesting, and telling, metamorphosis in the past year. Originally, it was part of a joint venture with a New York-based company, Renaissance Multimedia. Shortly after the joint venture was established, the New York division was purchased by a software manufacturer who made it very clear that they were not interested in offering interactive services in Japan.