EXTRANETS

Extranet is frequently used to link business partners, such as suppliers, vendors and trading partners who conduct frequent business transactions with an organization (Dodd, Annabel, 2000).

But also, extranet is an intranet that is accessible to some people from outside the company, or possibly shared by more than one organization or company and secure networks that provide customers, suppliers, and employees with access to internal systems.

The followings are the importance of Extranets in corporate communication as the several studies found (Stambro, R & Svartbo, E, 2002; Callaghan, J, 2002; Wilkinson, P, 2005): -

Timeliness and accuracy of communication

Extranets can help corporate communication managers to have no limit to time in doing activities concerning on the organization. This means extranets enable managers to work even they are outside of their organizations or offices so that to communicate accurately with either internal or external publics as well as their customers. For instance, the organization might be at Buzuruga and the manager might be at Usagara but through the use of extranet he or she can communicate accurately with other members of the organization or any other organization apart from the organization that he or she is working.

Reduced costs

By making manuals and technical documentation available online to trading partners and consumers so that people to share news of products, or services or organization development with a low cost as well as it reduces costs because it does not require trained personnel. Example in the organization the corporate communication manager may not be trained in web graphics but he or she may be capable to use extranets in order to communicate with others.

Create more effective collaboration

Between business stakeholders through enabling them to work online on common documentation that could enhance interactivity and networks among members and led to the business succession.

This means that through intranets it helps staffs to be able to access information accurately and consistently in a way that it will improve customer service because they will be able to work online, because the staffs will understand what their customers want in order to meet their needs thus the customer service will be enhanced.

Improved business relationships

Moreover, extranets help corporate communication managers to improve business relationships with their trading partners because of the close collaborative working that extranets support. Because people can interact with others outside of their organization it will be helpful to them to improve business relationships with other stakeholders. Extranets make them to interact closely and they can be connected among each other.

It improves relationship with customers

Extranets can help the corporate communication officers to improve the relation between them and their customers through giving customers direct access to information and enabling them to resolve their own queries. This lead to the creation of trust between the organization and the customers which lead to the improvement of relationship among themselves because the customers will satisfy more through being able to access information that they need by themselves.

In a nutshell; the extranets have importance in the corporate communication because ensure a better flow of information and giving corporate communication managers a capacity of managing messages in order to achieve the better image, performance as well as reputation of the particular organization.

BY MWINYIJUMA REHEMA

BAPRM III - 42686