Understanding and Deploying LDAP Directory Services (2nd Edition)

Understanding and Deploying LDAP Directory Services > 26. Case Study: An Enterprise with an Extranet > Leveraging the Directory Service

Leveraging the Directory Service

With the successful deployment of the HRP extranet, HugeCo directory designers have begun to make plans for additional directory-enabled extranet applications. These applications will continue to leverage the directory to improve service to HugeCo retailers and customers.

Applications

HugeCo plans to extend its extranet to support a new application through which authorized retailers can become certified to sell new HugeCo product lines. This application would be a combination of an online education application and a database of certified employees . The directory could be leveraged to store information about the online courses the employee has taken, and it could even be used to store information about the current course the employee is taking. After the employee completes the appropriate course and passes an online examination, the store would be marked as authorized to sell the new product.

Other extranet applications being considered might extend HugeCo resources directly to consumers. In particular, an application being prototyped allows consumers to take a virtual tour of a home finished with various HugeCo products. Consumers can select from a number of different model homes one that closely matches theirs, and they can experiment with "virtual installation" of various products. If the customers find a combination they like, they can travel to an authorized retailer who can retrieve the virtual plans and begin the ordering process for the customer. Customer information and virtual plan choices are stored in the directory.

Directory Deployment Impact

The HRP retailer extranet has enhanced HugeCo's business in the following ways:

• Product literature and prices are disseminated more quickly and at a lower cost to HugeCo.

• Retailers receive more proactive notification of product announcements, special promotions, and so on via the personalized start page.

• Retailers can communicate more effectively with HugeCo concerning outstanding orders. Orders can be placed and tracked 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and any clarifications required by craftspersons on the assembly line can be handed electronically .

Index terms contained in this section

applications

         leveraging

                    HugeCo case study 2nd

case studies

         HugeCo

                    leveraging 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

deployment

         HugeCo case study

                    impact 2nd

directories

         case studies

                    HugeCo 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

extranets

         HugeCo case study

                    leveraging 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

HugeCo case study

          leveraging

                    applications 2nd

                    deployment impact 2nd

leveraging

          HugeCo case study

                    applications 2nd

                    deployment impact 2nd

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