What is Extranet? What is Extranet For?

Extranet is a network that enables a business partnership's suppliers, customers, or other stakeholders to use the same software and protocols over the internet. In other words, it can be described as a corporate intranet extension that uses World Wide Web technology to strengthen communication between suppliers and customers. This network is an access environment that speeds up workflow and increases productivity.

Businesses on the path to becoming corporate and those with different stakeholders in their service network should not be satisfied with a basic computer network. In an era where the value of information is increasing day by day, businesses should organize their intranet, extranet, and internet networks with a professional perspective.

In your company's internal operations and in tracking customer or supplier transactions, you need to have systems that provide commercial benefits. In nationally operating corporate businesses, a corporate website and intranets offer a number of advantages. However, you should know that you need an extranet configuration to make the business process more effective.

What is Extranet For?

The primary function of an extranet is an internet-based network that facilitates inter-company relationships and collaboration by connecting a business with its suppliers, customers, and other external business partners. Thanks to this system, stakeholders in all of a business's operations can exchange information and track operations via an internet connection without physical commitment.

The main starting point of an extranet is collaboration between third parties. Every business works with many stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, freelancers, and external investors through external resources. These systems enable the creation of a digital office for external collaboration. A strong and secure internet-based communication system can be created using the authentication methods used in company intranets.

In these systems, stakeholders access the network using a user ID and password, and various authentication tools. Therefore, it ensures secure and controlled information sharing over the internet. You can consider this system as an extended intranet network. Today, extranet is among the biggest helpers of businesses that have growth targets and are becoming corporate.

What are the Usage Areas of Extranet?

Extranet is an internet-based information sharing network with different usage areas. This private network can be used for very different purposes.

We will explain some of the usage areas of extranet;

Distribution Network Systems: If your business sells products through a distribution network, it provides effective communication with suppliers and distributors. It provides fast communication for many issues such as pricing and new product information between the marketing department and the distributor.

Dealership Systems: Dealership systems are increasing rapidly in our country. It is effective in standardized processes that will be quickly transmitted for a large number of locations spread across different cities and countries with the Franchise system. It allows for easily disseminating information to all dealers on many topics such as product information, manuals, guides, advertising instructions, and new corporate applications.

Public Institutions: Collaboration between public institutions is very important. To make projects between institutions sustainable or to share news securely, extranet is much more secure than a traditional e-mail. It ensures that collaboration is made secure.

Professional Chambers and Associations: Professional chambers and associations have thousands of members. It can be a secure internet-based system that will provide communication and information exchange among these members. Personnel can quickly communicate about corporate communication, legislative changes, and current news. In addition, members can easily communicate in a social flow.

Charities: The most important sources of income for charities are donations. Therefore, it can be challenging to organize many issues such as venue reservations, catering, and orders in institutions that work in an organized manner to hold events. For project management, extranet is a very functional idea.

Financial Advisors and Accountants: A very difficult period awaits financial advisors and accountants, especially at the end of the year. Year-end transactions or tax times can create great confusion with customer demands and document piles. Therefore, a system that will make information exchange with customers practical on financial issues can be an extranet. This system will also ensure the security of financial data.

What are the Benefits of Extranet for Your Business?

Extranet has great advantages for businesses. It helps in the following matters, especially for corporate businesses with different stakeholders;

• Simplifies Information Sharing: Extranet simplifies information sharing. Situations that may be overlooked with email communication can occur. It can also be difficult to constantly search for information in an email. With extranet, uploaded documents can be stored in one place. Each stakeholder can easily find what they are looking for and what they need to do. Information sharing and access to information are very easy.
• Document Security is Ensured: Information is very important for every business. Since today is the data age, one of the most important advantages of extranet is the security of documents thanks to SSL encryptions. You can also restrict access to certain areas and files on the system. In other words, there is a single control on the system. You can also track which user accessed which file and when.
• Large Projects Can Be Managed: Especially in large projects with remote work, collaboration becomes very easy thanks to the extranet. Users can access the common documents they want from a smartphone or computer. Project management becomes very practical. Here you can assign tasks, set calendars, and both upload and store documents. On the system, everyone knows their job description and is aware of their responsibility.
• Does Not Require Expertise for Use: Extranet is a practical cloud-based network. This means that no expertise or special training is required to use it. Users can quickly grasp how to use it. It minimizes investments made in digital training, especially for small businesses.
• Strengthens Brand Image: Today, brand image and corporateness are two very important concepts. One of the ways to project a professional image to your customers is a strong extranet. You need to create a positive impression to build long-term relationships with your customers. You can give your customers the opportunity to have a flawless brand experience even in simple transactions such as file sharing and communication.

The Effect of Extranet Network on Branding

Today, even small businesses can take the path of branding with very simple investments. Taking solid steps in branding is important, especially for businesses that are at the beginning of the road. In the process of your company's growth, intranet software will be sufficient to ensure secure communication and workflow for internal personnel. However, if suppliers, customers, or other stakeholders have been added to the system, you now need internet-based network systems such as extranet.

When a customer starts working with your business and sees a system where everything works flawlessly, their trust in your brand will increase. For branding, information exchange between all stakeholders of the business must be fast, and the workflow must be easy to follow. In addition, control and dominance over all stakeholders are the key to branding. With extranet software, you can make information exchange fast, secure, and controllable. In this way, you can professionalize and perfect your branding process.

Businesses that do not share information quickly and do not project a corporate image make useless investments in branding. When you use an internet-based communication network with access via private systems such as a username and password, you can put your brand on solid foundations. Especially if you are a brand that wants to expand, it is very important that you add extranet software to your branding budget.