Scottish Courage Brands is seizing the opportunities offered by the internet by launching two major initiatives ­ one for suppliers, the other for customers. The company has built on information and data exchange systems it has in place and has been running a pilot extranet project with Booker, Bell's and Sainsbury for the past 12 months. This has been developed into beersmart.com. Marketing director Brian Sharp said: "We are trying to set up a dialogue with all our major customers with a secure extranet site requiring a password." This will contain all information relevant to each of the brewer's customers, including market information and analysis and tailored marketing plans. Managing director Robin Alexander said: "Pulling together the wealth of information that both we and our customers have into one shared site makes this a powerful business tool. The ability to see, at a glance, the status of transactions, stock availability and deliveries, really enhances customer relations." David Simister, supply chain manager at Sainsbury said: "The SCB extranet site is the first example of which we are aware of a supplier site specifically designed to help the retailer to manage business more effectively. "Particularly useful is the ability to see the long-term promotional plan for each line. This shows details of television, radio and newspaper advertising by week and is helpful when planning future promotional forecasts. "Sainsbury sees it as being essential to develop closer relationships with supply chain partners in order to better serve the end customer, and has been developing innovative e-business solutions to support this important work." {{DRINKS }}

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