midterm/blogspot #1

Research 1 company that makes use of E-commerce. Describe the nature of this company in 1-2 paragraphs.

Identify then, how does this company use e-commerce to achieve strategic advantage. Describe the benefits derived from this strategy.

-Caltex pumps up service stations with Global Retail Automation Retail Network
As a company, Caltex has strived to build relationships with its customers and strive to understand their needs. This means providing not only fuels and other energy products but also food, beverages and other everyday supplies and services.
Caltex was formed in 1936 based on a sealed partnership between Chevron Corporation and Texaco, Inc. From the U.S. and expanding across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, Caltex has grown tremendously and now operates in more than 60 countries across these regions.
In 1999, Caltex moved its operating regional headquarters to Singapore from the US and shifted operations from a geographic to a functional organization in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
When parent companies Chevron and Texaco merged in 2001, the merged company, ChevronTexaco, became the fourth largest energy company in the world. With that merger, Caltex is now part of a global energy company with Chevron, Texaco, Caltex and Caltex "Starmart" remaining its flagship brands.

Benefits of the Company:

-Fujitsu Philippines provided the new Fujitsu touch-screen point-of-sale (POS) systems, the first pieces of the Global Retail Automation Network (RAN). Fujitsu has helped Caltex to reduce the number of POS suppliers to save money through bulk purchases and easier support.
Choosing this best-of-breed POS hardware solution allows Caltex to support its legacy applications, and it acts as a stepping stone to next-generation touch-screen systems that can use the same hardware. The POS systems would translate to new products and better ways to operate service stations and convenience stores.