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PA e-Comm News January 24

ADVERTISERS OF THE WEEK

Experts report that revenue continues to shrink for all categories of enterprise software; but on the flip side, the supply chain management market is shrinking less than other categories because it has demonstrated as much traction as CRM. In fact, the supply chain market has outpaced CRM by about 8% over the past year. SCM software is proliferating because business executives are beginning to view the demand chain (all the steps between a marketing campaign and payment for a product) as a continuous business process. Cisco Systems is viewed as an example of what a company can do with an effective supply chain system. They have improved delivery, reduced costs through outsourcing and used technology to accept orders through the Web. Many companies are finding supply chain software purchases enticing because they provide efficiencies is creating more overlap between back-office and front-office operations.

Wireless is grabbing all the headlines in the local area network because of its mobility. At the office and in the home, people are gravitating toward use of laptops and handheld devices that they can carry with them while they do their jobs or move from the living room to the bedroom. And they want untethered access to a high-speed Internet connection. There are now standards and protocols established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Most people do not understand that achieving secure transmission with wireless LANs is extremely difficult and reports indicate that plenty of users have never bothered to turn on the protective features that come with their systems.

Carrera, a longtime consultant, is building a tech staffing company based on the Hollywood talent model system, by matching people to specific job openings. They do this by scouting hotshot tech jocks with the idea of developing a long-lasting relationship during a string of consulting jobs. After applicants are invited to participate in the plan, the company puts them through a series of tests, background checks and interviews, focusing only on those who can command top jobs. Carrera's ideal candidates are experienced technologists who've worked independently and possess sophisticated technological skills. They look for skills, such as in the security and health care fields, that aren't subject to constantly being outsourced to foreign countries. The system breaks up the pool of IT workers into two groups: commodity workers, or those whose skills are a dime a dozen and a more select group of megastars, those with true "talent." Carrera will take up to a 30 percent cut of the salary paid to the worker.

Consumers are expected to spend $4.8 billion online during the first quarter of 2003, up from $4.6 billion in the year-ago period, according to a survey released recently. In addition, the number of consumers who said they plan to shop online in the first three months of this year increased 9% compared with last year, to 56%.

Free shipping offers from online retailers such as Amazon.com, along with other holiday promotions, played a major role in luring consumers to the Internet for holiday shopping. When final online sales figures are tallied for the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, revenue is expected to total between $9.5 billion and $10 billion. In the latest ACNielsen survey, consumers with high-speed Internet connections expressed the most confidence in what the Internet could offer, beating out dial-up users by 21%. The difference between the two groups can be attributed to broadband users' increased comfort levels with online credit card use, plus the convenience of faster Internet access. Besides the convenience of an always-on Internet connection, broadband users also have access to more multimedia shopping experiences, including use of 3D virtual models, 360-degree virtual-reality tours, and audio and video tools that let them view and evaluate products more thoroughly before making a purchase. 
 

PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The following is a listing of recently published technology procurement opportunities with various governmental entities. We hope our readers take the opportunity to investigate these postings and increase their business:

GSA - Federal Technology Service (FTS)
Acquisition Services Division (6TS-A)
70 -- GENERAL PURPOSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/FTS/ASD6TSA/6TSA-03-JMT-0093/listing.html

USAF - Air Force Materiel Command
AAC - Air Armament Center
70 -- KIOSK, TOUCHSCREEN SYSTEM
Modification 01 http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AAC/Reference-Number-F43XPI30140100/listing.html

SSA - Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management Office of Acquisition and Grants 70 -- Uninterruptible Power Supplies Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/SSA/DCFIAM/OAG/Reference-Number-03-2003/listing.html

USA - National Guard Bureau
USPFO for North Carolina
D--Frame Relay Circuits to comprise a Data Network for the North Carolina National Guard Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/USA/NGB/DAHA31/DAHA31-03-R-0001/listing.html

DON - United States Marine Corps
Marine Corps Air Bases East - RCO
D -- Consultation and Training to support software development for the T58 test cell Digital Acquisition and Display Computer System LabView Program Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/USMC/M00146/M00146-03-Q-9017/listing.html

DON - Naval Sea Systems Command
NUWC Keyport Division
60--Fiber Optics Materials, Components, Assemblies, and Accessories Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N00253/N0025303Q0055/listing.html

DISA - Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/VARIOUS-22-Jan-2003/listing.html

DOT - United States Coast Guard (USCG)
Commander (fcp), USCG Maintenance and Logistics Command - Pacific D -- Software Database for production of shipyard work specification Amendment 06 http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOT/USCG/FCPMLCP/DTCG89-03-R-66V101/listing.html

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