Novell is helping to bridge the digital divide through its CommunityNet service, a solution based on Novell Directory Services (NDS), and geared to help communities promote their goods and services on the Internet, regardless of whether they have a web presence or not. The CommunityNet solution is a Novell internal code name not a product name.
"While e-commerce has opened many doors to global trading, to some countries it has become a very real threat, especially in developing nations where Internet access is virtually an unattainable dream," declares Brent McCormick, strategic integration manager at Novell USA, during a recent visit to South Africa. "The Web may have eliminated global trading barriers for some enterprises, but for others it has literally taken business away, as more and more consumers are looking to the Internet as the means to either make a purchase or educate themselves before doing so.
"The promotion of local business plays an integral role in stimulating community growth in a particular community, and just because a business cannot afford to have a web site, doesn`t mean the goods or services they offer are of poor quality."
McCormick says that although the large global search engines are extremely useful tools, they only provide information on existing web sites. "Consequently, businesses without a web presence often lose customers, even though they provide high-quality, value-added goods and services."
The CommunityNet network focuses on providing three essential elements to a community, which may be anything from a small town, to a large country:
Discovery - the opportunity for local and foreign citizens to discover all there is to know about a particular community, through the Internet,
Interaction between consumers and businesses on available goods and services. The solution allows businesses a dynamic and secure means to self-administer their business profile, which includes the online business profile, promotions, coupons, catalogues, jobs, FAQs, and contact information. Businesses can manage the visibility of their business information
Trust - the assurance that the information provided is reliable, because it is endorsed by a representative community authority, such as a municipality or national government.
"The beauty of CommunityNet is that it can be customised to suit the community`s particular needs," says McCormick. "The site is hosted by a government authority or a private sector organisation, who then acts as the recognised authority for the creation or deletion of information in the directory."
Information on commerce (including businesses, jobs, and catalogues), education, resources, tourism and entertainment can be provided on the site.
"This solution is ideal for business owners who don`t have the IT skills to maintain a web site, or simply cannot afford one," says McCormick. "With CommunityNet, however, they can not only promote their services online, but also retain control of what information is made available. Additionally, if a business has invested in a web presence, then the solution allows business the best of both worlds, you can be discovered from the CommunityNet web site and still link to your other web site. All it costs is a monthly subscription fee."
People wishing to visit the community can now obtain information on all goods and services available, not only those with a web presence.
"CommunityNet enables all communities to participate in the digital world. Imagine the impact it would make if President Thabo Mbeki could state that every business in South Africa has a web presence, and that each business control that presence itself," McCormick concludes.
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