The database could be set up to allow for searching by product name, product type (categories), and by manufacturer/vendor name (for a list of all products by a particular manufacturer).
The value of the directory would be greatly enhanced by providing a summary page of basic information about the product --its features and highlights-- and basic information about the manufacturer, with links to the manufacturer's site as well as links to other relevant information such as online product reviews, demos, newsgroup discussions, or automated mailing lists. This would require a set of customized templates for the different types of searches that might be done (i.e. a Company Profile, a Product Profile, and a Product Type Summary).
Another important issue that needed to be addressed was how to simplify the process of updating and adding new information to the directory. We recommended a Web-based Vendor Input Form that would be used to automatically update the database. This could be supplemented by some sort of mailbot --automatically generated e-mail reminders for the vendors that would summarize the information currently on file, provide the date it was entered or last changed, and the URL for the form to update it.
Other recommendations included enhancing the Intranet Advisor section of the site by adding an Executive's Basic Guide to Intranets, which DF Communications authored and was included as part of the first phase launched in the fall of 1997.
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