EXTRANET

                      Mkessa Patricia

According to Prof. Indranil Sen Gupta, An Extranet is a private network that uses internet
protocols, network connectivity, and possibly the public communication system to securely share
part of an organization’s information or operations with suppliers, clients, partners, customers or
other businesses.
An extranet can be viewed as part of a company’s intranet that is extended to users outside the
company usually via the internet. It has also been perceived as a way to do business with a
selected set of other companies in isolation from all other internet users.

According to P. Jain, M. Kulhari and S. Kumar, Extranet is an intranet for outside authorized
users using the same internet technology. It is the inter-organizational information system that
enables outsiders to work together with the company’s employees.
It is open to selected suppliers, customers and other business partners. Example: Distributors
have the access to product files such as; product specification, pictures and images to answer the
queries of the customer.

According to Mohammed Nadeem, An Extranet implies to an “extended intranet” which uses
internet protocol networks (like the internet) to link intranets in different locations. It also uses
firewalls but it allows only selected outsiders such as business partners, suppliers, and customers
to access the company’s web site.
An Extranet is a network based on web technology that links selected resources of the intranet of
a company with its customers, suppliers or other business partners.

IMPORTANCES OF EXTRANET IN CORPORATE COMMUNICATION
Information can be updated instantly: Authorized users have immediate access to latest
information. Also allows information to be viewed and the delivery of accurate information at
times convenient for external users.
Overall improvement in business effectiveness: Extranets can improve organizational
productivity by communicating with the external stakeholders, building productive collaboration,
and sharing different innovative ideas for the purpose of making improvements.
Improve relationship with the customers: Through extranets, the business and customers
relationship gets better by communicating through discussions, comments and suggestions.