Volvo 1999 Annual Report Download - page 46

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 46 of the 1999 Volvo annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 110

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110

44
New www.volvo.com
On December 1, 1999, Volvo’s new and redesigned website was launched at
www.volvo.com. The launch of the redesigned volvo.com was important in creating a
uniform image of the changed Volvo, as well as actively taking advantage of the many
opportunities for using the Internet as a communications and business tool.
Volvo.com, which is the Group’s common platform for presence on the Internet, is
directed towards all of Volvo’s target groups: customers, shareholders/capital market,
media, employees, suppliers, students, job applicants, politicians and the general public.
After launching the new volvo.com, the next step is to redesign each of the business
areas’ sections. Thereafter, work will begin on introducing
national versions of volvo.com. The objective is to launch
national versions in Volvo's important markets in 2000. This
means greater opportunities to adapt product offerings and
information, depending on the local market situation, and to
communicate with Volvo's customers in terms of their own
culture and language.
Business over the Internet increasing in importance
Electronic commerce has in a short time become an in-
creasingly important way for Volvo and other companies in the
transport industry to reach new and existing customers. Volvo
Truck’s Internet application for used trucks – Volvo Truck Finder – is one example of
how the Internet can be used to make it easier for customers to find the right product.
The first version of this database, which was introduced in June 1998, has been succes-
sively refined and increased in functionality to include more countries and languages.
Currently, nine countries and languages are represented. The database is identical for all
markets, which makes it easy to search anywhere for a specific truck. The program also
contains a search function for trucks that are not currently registered in the database.
When such a truck is entered, the customer and the dealer both receive an e-mail
message so that contact can easily be established.
Trading over the Internet also plays an important role when Volvo Aero’s subsidiary,
The AGES Group markets and sells Boeing’s surplus spare parts all over the world. The
Inventory Locator Service, with millions of spare parts in its database, is used by
virtually all the world’s airlines and maintenance shops. The Service contains lists of all
spare parts currently available in the AGES and Boeing inventories.
The Volvo Group has now established a strategy for e-commerce and is investing
heavily to develop applications that enable the company to take advantage of Internet
to offer Volvo’s customers and others information and customized offers, for example,
via www.volvo.com.
Volvo on the Internet