Snap on Tools Intranet Case StudySnap-On is one of many companies that have adopted the Internet as a management tool. Snap-On operates its own intranet for the exclusive use of Snap-On franchises and resellers. (Senn, 1998) Snap-On's intranet provides mountains of valuable information that would be inconvenient to provide any other way. The speed of change in today's market has forced printed materials into partial obsolescence. Before Snap-On developed its Intranet, merchandise catalogs and parts lists had to be printed and bound. Anyone who has been to an auto parts store can vouch that each of these catalogs is nothing short of enormous. An affiliate should carry several catalogs in his vehicle for reference purposes. These catalogs took up space in the truck that could have been used for inventory, and consulting them would have taken up valuable time. Additionally, Snap-On would have to reprint the catalogs or send appendices if any of the information changed. With an intranet, Snap-On simply changes information on its websites, and the new information is there when affiliates access it. This means no more costly mailing of heavy catalogs and no more wasted time spent flipping through the pages of a book, trying to find the item you wanted, only to discover after fifteen painful minutes that the page you needed has been torn out. (Senn, 1998) If I were a Snap-On franchisee, I would be enthusiastic about the use of a company intranet to provide sales and product information. Timely information is vital to survive in the business world today. Snap-On's intranet allows for quick information updates. This means that I would not have to wait six to eight weeks for an updated list of goods, nor would I have to pay exorbitant sums to receive the package via express mail. All my questions could be answered almost immediately by searching on the different pages or by email. (Senn, 1998) Snap-On was motivated by the many advantages of the Internet to use the intranet as a tool to develop a communication link with each retailer. Affiliates in remote locations could be easily contacted and arranged. Orders and inventories can be monitored from one location, decreasing the number of staff and middle managers. This flatter organizational structure ensures clearer communication between field and office staff.