The trend is clear: Corporations are increasingly relying on technology-enabled services to gain a competitive edge. E-Commerce->e-business->e-services->multi-channel services. Industry leaders and followers alike are digitizing services in order to become more customer-driven and process-centric. To execute this service digitization strategy, managers must learn to effectively translate business imperatives into multi-channel services processes, applications, and infrastructure. Services Blueprint: Roadmap for Execution reveals how managers can plan, analyze, and execute a coherent services strategy without getting lost in a sea of technical buzzwords.

Services Blueprint begins by introducing and defining the concept of services digitization and the two components--focal points and service platforms--required to execute it effectively. The authors then examine the different blueprints: multi-channel customer relationship management, spend management, supply chain management, human capital management, and product lifestyle management. Throughout the book, case studies illustrate key insights and best practices as companies evolve their execution focus: enterprise applications->Web Services->composite applications->services.

Drawing on their experience working with leading businesses, Kalakota and Robinson provide readers with a roadmap of how to achieve differentiation through multi-channel services, translate business objectives into process models such as order-to-cash, and leverage enterprise application investments to create new cross-enterprise services platforms. Services Blueprint clearly explains why some firms are better at digitizing business processes and capturing value than others.

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