Internet Solutions for Dirt Bikes | By: Frank HartmanMarch 17, 2013 | I have been asked to investigate how Internet tools and technology could be used to help Dirt Bikes’ employees communicate and obtain information more efficiently. Dirt Bikes provides Internet access to all employees who use desktop computers. I will look at different options and give Dirt Bikes a review of these options. I will also explain how these options can benefit Dirt Bikes. | |

Intranet Tools and Benefits According to Laudon and Laudon (2009), Internet networking standards and Web technologies can be used to create private networks that are called intranets. An intranet is private and secure network that is restricted to use by authorized individuals. The intranet network is protected by a firewall which prevents unauthorized individuals from entering the network. Sales and Marketing could benefit from using an intranet system by having instant access to accurate information concerning product information, marketing analysis, sales reports, and other necessary information to make decisions for these departments. The human resources department could benefit from the intranet in a couple of different ways. This could start with the way that prospective employees apply for a job. By having the applicants use a secure terminal it would allow the HR department to compare applicants side by side without mountains of paperwork. Interactive software could also be installed as a training tool for some jobs within the organization. This would help to lower cost by reduction in paper and printing cost for applications. It would also help lower cost by manpower hours by use of the interactive training tools versus a classroom setting where someone has to train the individual taking training. The manufacturing department could benefit from using an intranet to help coordinate and publish production schedules. The production department would benefit by the use of intranet system to track product usage, man hours, and other information. This would allow for easier calculation of production cost and would also show where improvements could be made for cost reductions. The intranet system would benefit shipping and receiving by tracking outgoing products and incoming parts. This would help to track what parts are in stock and what needs to be ordered so as not to slow production.

Helpful Internet Tools There are several internet tools which could be of great value to Dirt Bikes These tools might include Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Web conferencing. VoIP sends and receives voice calls using a microphone and speakers or a VoIP enabled telephone that converts analogue signals to digital so that telephone calls may be made over the internet. (dictionaryreference.com) A VOIP phone system can reduce communication costs by 20 to 30 percent (Laudon & Laudon, 2009) by lowering long distance charges and eliminating monthly charges for private lines. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) is a network that uses the internet to transfer information using secure methods (dictionaryrefference.com). The use of a VPN would benefit the company by securing sensitive information concerning trade secrets and new products when being sent over the internet to other employees that could be anywhere in the world. Web conferencing would be beneficial to the company providing a way for employees to work together from different locations and allow them to all see the same information at the same time regardless where they might be at the time the conference needs to be held.

Hardware Upgrading the equipment used by Dirt Bikes’ employees would also benefit the company in many ways. Examples of