Don't call Dimerco Data System (
The moniker is one that, at least in company's eyes, conjures up the image of flashy Web sites that emphasize style more than the bottom line.
"We like to say that we provide infrastructure services," said Stephen Chu (
Dimerco does the behind-the-scenes work of coordinating a company's various information systems so that they work harmoniously together, a service that would come in handy for any firm that wanted to set up shop on the Net.
And instead of charging ahead on the infobahn that is the wired world, where businesses like to brag that they move at Internet speed, Dimerco is cautiously plying along in the slow lane.
The company is asking questions about what the Internet means to its clients, and about how the medium can be effectively used. It recently formed a strategy team of senior employees to answer these questions, and its mission is to develop workable business models.
The approach may seem pedestrian, but it's one that could save Dimerco's clients plenty of headaches down the road.
"Once a company decides to step into e-business, it's very easy to spend money," Chu said. "But what about the return?"
Linking customers to the Web
There's no doubt about it: Taiwan's information services market is growing at explosive rates.
According to the Industrial Technology Information Service, the local information services industry is expected to expand 24 percent to NT$115 billion this year and 30 percent to NT$137.4 billion in 2001.
Systems integration is expected to account for NT$20.8 billion of this year's total.
And then there's the Internet's promise, not to mention an alphabet soup of hype -- B2B, B2C, ASP, ISP, DSL, ADSL, IA, ad infinitum. Many Taiwanese companies are pondering their future and contemplating moves online.
"Most of them are just beginning to think about the possibilities," Chu said. "Everyone wants to step into e-business, but no one knows where to go."
What is known now is companies with Web ambitions will need the services of an systems integrator to handle logistics and back office operations. That's where Dimerco comes in.
As a systems integrator, the company could potentially play an important role in helping Taiwan's businesses move their operations online.
"It has the goal of linking their customers' databases to the Web," said Neal Stovicek, equities research head at National Securities Corp, which covers Dimerco. "That's their strategy."
In the running to land 7-Eleven deal
Take for example President Chain Store (
President, owners of the nation's ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience stores, hopes to sell books, CDs and other goods online, delivering them to customers at its 2,300 outlets islandwide.
A key component is a home package delivery service that President expects to launch with Yamato Transport of Japan this year. In addition to offline transactions, the delivery service could play an important part in handling President's online business should it come to fruition.
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