E-commerce and Online Business Reference

Antje Wilmer asked:




Scalable eCommerce Solution addresses the growing needs of your online business at the juncture of transition perfectly.

Scalability in terms of economics refers to the ability to handle the growing demands of business effectively. With the expansion of business, new requirements crop up. Scalability is the capability of increasing output in a graceful manner when resources are added. Higher is the scalability; brighter is the scope to combat competition and foster growth. Scalable ecommerce solutions help your online business to have a smoother phase of transition.

Scalability and your online business venture

Scalability for your online venture might be simple actions like increasing memory of your server, adding more nodes at your IT platform or can be involved to complex functionalities like adding a new feature and changing the complete e-commerce architecture. At the juncture of operational scale transition, every business should overcome hurdles persistent in the existing platform. Size and replication are two vital factors which need proper attention. Customizable ecommerce solutions are tailor made for theses situation as the have the potential of adoption while the requirements grow.

How to get a perfect scalable ecommerce package for your business?

For a matching deal you need to understand the dynamics of growth for your business. Once you are sure regarding the needs, half of the job is done. Then start searching for a scalable ecommerce solution provider.  Online search is one of the best options. Here you can have access to a horde of suppliers competing with each other in a healthy manner. You can choose one of them who provide quality within your budget.

Ted Hust asked:




For today’s business owner wanting to either have a new ecommerce website built or needing to take their brochure website and turn it into a money generating tool, finding the right web designer can be difficult. There are so many companies and designers out there, it’s hard to say what one is right for your specific needs. The next problem is finding a designer or company that can perform the necessary work your business needs to complete your website for an affordable price. That’s where the option of third party shopping cart solutions come in.

There are many programmers than can build an ecommerce website that works specifically for your exact needs and wants. If you are looking for a highly complex and very specific shopping cart system, then having a programmer that specializes in that field is where you are going to want to look. If your ecommerce shopping cart needs are more basic, there are very affordable options available that you can utilize and have your website online and running in no time at all. The best part is, it will be for a very affordable price.

One of the systems that comes highly recommended among the ecommerce world is the Miva Merchant third party shopping cart system. This third party shopping cart system is very affordable to use. Although Miva Merchant comes ready to use with some really great features, it is easily upgraded with specific types of modules that experienced Miva Merchant programmers have developed over time. Utilizing the additional modules for a nominal fee per module, is a great way to enhance the great shopping cart system that Miva Merchant already provides.

In addition to using the Miva Merchant third party shopping cart system, finding the right web designer to make it look professional is one of the last pieces to the puzzle. Having an ecommerce website that functions properly is just not enough. Your ecommerce website needs to be laid out and designed in an organized and professional fashion, as to encourage your shoppers to purchase and then up-sell them as well. Finding the right ecommerce web designer to do this for you is essential in your website’s success.

Finally, advertising your ecommerce website is your last step. We all know that having a website, well designed or not, does not give sales. You have to bring people and customers to your website to find the merchandise or products and services you sell, to get that sale. There are many methods to do this. Advertising on tv, radio and venues such as this are one way. There are also two different ways online that can bring traffic to your website. The first is pay per click advertising. This is a method of advertising that is immediate. You decide what keywords you would like to bid on for search engine placement, and pay a certain determined amount by the pay per click company. The second way of driving targeted traffic to your ecommerce website is by naturally getting your website listed in the search engines. This is called search engine optimization and needs to be completed by a seo professional that knows what they are doing. There are many seo companies out there that will tell you they can get you listed, but many are frauds.

Do your research when deciding to open your ecommerce website. Find the right third party shopping cart system that will work best for you and your business’ needs. Then find the right web design company to design your website. Once you have that completed, drive targeted valuable traffic to your website to increase your sales and revenue. Bringing the online community to your website is a great way to increase your sales and provide more income for your business. Finding the right combination of software and people to get the job done is what will make your online ecommerce business successful.

Tyler Moon asked:




Numerous questions arise with the emergence of e commerce application. Especially when someone is stick into his plan of embracing e commerce as a source of income, then he or she should know the intricacies of the process. To spot the wolf in sheep’s clothing few points require to be kept in mind. They are the following:

Ask yourself the requirement: the very first and foremost thing that you must ask yourself is the requirement. You must know whether you really need hardware or software. This eliminates the expensive process of choosing, maintaining and renewing hardware and software, removing the conventional upfront capital investment. Do I have to pay for upgrades? The answer is no. Retailers do not need to pay for additional e-commerce features with accurate on-demand e-commerce. New functional upgrades are made obtainable for free — quite a few times per year and offer additional e-commerce capabilities and functionality. Do I need to guess my peak load? No. A huge challenge for retailers is grading according to customer requirement and ensuring they can grip the holiday rush. However, with SaaS, you do not require to be tensed at your peak load again because the unique on-demand architecture ensures load to be scaled as desired for increased Web traffic, particularly during busy times. Versions of same software, or a single On-demand SaaS e-commerce models are constructed and run on a single example of software with a multitenant architecture. This is significant because this structure allows grid computing which dynamically distributes IT resources to meet changing customer demand. Can I really modify and upgrade seamlessly? Yes, this can be done on demand, Software as a Service e-commerce permits retailers and manufacturers to modify their sites without building their own code. New features and functionality are made available. The main benefit of this service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach is decoupling the usage of functionality. Can I easily amalgamate? Yes. True on-demand e-commerce removes the hassles of custom coding and growth during integration. In its place, Web services are available from a Web server to a Web user and the incorporation can be with a back-end system or an external service. All functionalities are exposed with open API (application programming interface), and that culminates to easier integration.

Will I require migrating for more functionality and knocking out my budget? The answer is definitely “No”. this is because of the fact that too often vendors hit you up for more money after they make the first sale, claiming that “you require migrating to a latest version.” With the Software as a Service e-commerce model, you don’t require to migrate to a purchased application for more functionality. The fact is that, with an on-demand model, the whole cost of ownership is reduced because there is no hardware or software cost, less staff and support is needed and you don’t have to pay for functionality upgrades for e-commerce provider.

Avnish Saxena asked:




RMScart – Microsoft RMS supported epos solution

Today, just about every aspect of modern living is about competition and about reaching the top inspite of the existing competition. As a retailer, this is possible only if your customers get good service and that too, at a very good price. While the product that you deal in or the service industry that you belong to, determines the target audience that you have, yet the mantra for reaching the top, is more or less the same. The point is that no matter who your target audience is, at the end of it, it is the service that you provide and the economic benefits that you offer, that determine whether you would be able to sustain in the highly competitive market and at the same time make profits or not.

Now, in order to stay at the top, a number of business owners have started using the Microsoft retail management system, and undoubtedly are benefiting from the advantages that come alongside using the microsoft rms retail practices. As a result the popularity of retail management systems is on the rise and businesses are either already using the system or are considering integrating their current practices with the system.

You could belong to any of these categories. You could already be using the retail management systems or could be considering using the retail management system. In either case, ensuring that the functioning of your business is in sync, is a necessity to achieve success.

Ensuring that the basic requisites are in place

Now, in case you are planning to start using the retail management systems, it is advisable to ensure that your computer fulfills the basic software and hardware requirements to ensure that the system functions properly and results in increasing efficiency. In order to find these out, you could either search online or speak with the dealer from whom you plan to purchase the retail management system. Further, once the system is installed, upgrading software and hardware capabilities would simply further enhance the performance. At the same time, just in case, your system does not meet the basic requisites for the retail management system, the performance might not really be upto the mark. So it makes sense to ensure that the basics are in place before making the investment.

Integrating back end with online front end

Once the microsoft rms retail or the retail management system is in place, the next step to increase profitability would be to integrate this system with the online selling model. In the current scenario, it is imperative for a business to have an online presence. Now-a-days, there is a huge market that looks at shopping from the convenience of their homes rather than stepping out to stores. In fact, if a business does not have an online presence, it is actually not tapping a huge share of the market. Other than this, online retailing offers the benefit of catering to your target audience beyond geographic boundaries. So for a retailer who is truly looking at optimizing profitability of the business, it is important to offer online services to customers. And here is where we at LAN services would be at your service. While we can help you to set up an online retail model in case you do not have one, we at LAN services can also help you to truly optimize the benefits that microsoft rms retail online can offer. This basically implies the benefits that arise from ensuring that your retail management system is extended to service your online retailing requirements as well by providing the requisite back end support.

Getting in touch with us

Contacting us is actually quite simple. All that you need to do is, log on to our website, that is, Lanservices.com and then go to the contact link. Once you are there, you would need to fill in some basic information and once that is done, we would get in touch with you as soon as possible. You could also contact us at the address listed there, or for that matter even call us at our toll free numbers. Another way of contacting us is by simply sending an email and we would get back to you. So all that you need to do is, pick the method that suits you the best and contact us as soon as possible.

Once you have gotten in touch with us, from here on integrating your online retailing model with the retail management system would be taken care by us. We would look into whatever needs to be done and would help you to set up a system that would work to your advantage. This in turn would definitely enhance your business performance and would further increase your profitability. So with us by your side, you are all set to win in the competitive market!

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pntglobal asked:




 

Internet today is filled with million of web sites and mainly ecommerce based web sites for single product sales to thousands of products on a single site. Then there are different kinds of services available for sale on web sites using similar ecommerce solution.

It is assumed wrongly that ecommerce solutions are best suited for business in developed countries only due to their economy and more buying power.

In fact we see ecommerce solution, its cost and benefits, we will find that ecommerce solutions are more beneficial for under developed countries.

Mostly in underdeveloped businesses find it difficult to get access to bigger markets and web site is the easiest, cost effective and efficient way to reach global markets and introduce your products on comparatively much lower prices than in developed countries.

Also as developed countries has more buying power, it is more likely that they will come to your site and purchase your products as compared to local clients visiting your shop.

Also in developed countries almost every one has credit card so it’s more likely that person visiting from other country make online shopping.

Developed country entrepreneurs may reach business in under developed countries and may have tie with them by helping them ecommerce solutions for their existing offline businesses.

Good web design and development company with proven track record for ecommerce development and ecommerce solution is required for ecommerce development but above all sound business skills is required to plan your ecommerce based web site development.

Ecommerce based web sites should have at following features:

1. Aesthetically good looking site

2. Easy to navigate

3. Good products display

4. Easy to buy

5. Easy to process payment

6. Reliable for payment processing

Source:



Shahid H. Qadri is internet consultant and affiliated with www.pntglobal.com which is web site designing and development company.

Mr. Nidal Abusalih asked:




The emergence of the Internet, evolving customer demands, pressure to accelerate business process, and the need to establish more collaborative relationships with key suppliers and business partners are all pushing organizations towards ERP solution. So, what is ERP?

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is described as an “information system package that integrates information and information based processes within and across functional areas in an organization” [1].

Traditional stand-alone applications were designed for specific customers, with limited functionality, and isolated from other applications. On the contrary, ERP is a business tool that integrates all the applications required by an organization as a whole, and connects the organization to other enterprises in a network form. It is usually compromised of several modules such as: a financial module, a distribution module, or a production module. Today, ERP have added new functions such as supply chain management, product data management, electronic commerce and warehouse management. Thus, ERP opens a window of opportunity for businesses to compete globally, respond to competitive pressures, and increase revenue.

ERP Characteristics & Basic Operations:

ERP facilitates company-wide Integrated Information System covering all functional areas like Manufacturing, Selling and distribution, Payables, Receivables, Inventory, Accounts, Human resources, Purchases etc.

- ERP performs core business activities and increases customer service satisfaction.

- ERP facilitates information flow across different sections or departments of the organisation.

- ERP bridges the gap between business partners allowing ongoing collaboration.

- ERP is a good solution for better project management.

- ERP is built as open system architecture, meaning it allows automatic introduction of the latest technologies such as: Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Internet, Intranet, Video conferencing, E-Commerce etc.

- ERP not only addresses the current requirements of the company but also provides the opportunity of continually improving and refining business processes.

- ERP provides business intelligence tools like Decision Support Systems (DSS), Executive Information System (EIS), Reporting, Data Mining and Early Warning Systems (Robots) for enabling people to make better decisions and thus improve their business processes.

- ERP tracks a wide range of events in an organisation, and plans for future activities based on these events.

ERP driving forces:

1. The need to increase supply chain efficiency.

2. The need to increase customer access to products or services.

3. The need to reduce operating costs.

4. The need to respond more rapidly and flexibly to a changing market place.

Global ERP Implementation:

Historically, most international companies have managed their systems on regional basis, because there was no single solution that was globally acceptable.

In today’s dynamic business environment there is a strong need for the organisations to become globally competitive. The key for success lies in customer satisfaction, through understanding customer needs, and providing quality goods and services in the shortest time possible. To support a global outlook, many firms implemented or are in the process of implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems, in order to improve level of coordination among national entities of the same firm, and also with business partners. However, to achieve this level of coordination it is important to have a global market strategy, a common IT infrastructure, and business processes in place.

An analysis of past global ERP projects, highlight on the importance of aligning organisation structure with business process and business strategy with IT strategy in order to compete in the international market. ‘Threads’ is a good example of an international company that replaced its legacy system with ERP. ‘Threads’ had a national organisation structure that operates on country by country basis.

To obtain a global view ‘Threads’ decided that its time for change by transforming the company from a local to a global geographical perspective. Hence, making Europe as one market for their business operations, and also ensuring competitiveness through a focus on the quality, price, and customer service. The intended organization structure and supporting global ERP is shown in [2].

Enabling Technologies:Traditional ERP systems required sophisticated and expensive information technology infrastructure such as, mainframe computers. Nowadays, with the advancement of information technology and the cost reduction of computers it becomes possible for SME’s to think about ERP Systems. Moreover, the power of Three Tier Client Server architecture and scalable relational data base management has made it easier to deploy ERP Systems in multiple locations.

Implementation of ERP

Implementing an ERP project is a process consisted of many phases. Following, a step by step approach will simplify the process and is more likely to yield a better result. The normal steps involved in the implementation of an ERP are as below:

o Project Planning

o Business & Operational analysis including Gap analysis

o Business Process Reengineering

o Installation and configuration

o Project team training

o Business Requirement mapping

o Module configuration

o System interfaces

o Data conversion

o Custom Documentation

o End user training

o Acceptance testing

o Post implementation/Audit support

In short, implementing ERP can transform the way an organization conducts business. It helps the enterprise link its resources, utilise and allocate them in the best possible manner and control them on real time basis. For instance, in the case of ‘Threads’ the transformation from Legacy system to ERP system resulted in a reduction of data redundancy, reduction of overheads, an increase in customer responsiveness and customer service levels throughout the firm. This has been facilitated by implementing a common global ERP system throughout its European operation.

Critical factors for Success of ERP:

The successful implementation of an ERP project requires management to plan carefully, and have all needed human and financial resources in place. Below is a list of the main critical factors for the success of ERP:

1- Top Management Support:

Among the most important factors for the success of ERP project is the top management commitment and support. The role of top management includes, developing an understanding of the capabilities and limitation of the proposed system, setting goals, and communicating the corporate IT Strategy to all employees [3].

2- Project Management:

Another important factor for the success of ERP is managing the project life cycle from initiating to closing phase. The Project Manager (PM) has sole responsibility and authority for planning and controlling the project scope to meet the deliverables in the given time frame and budget.

3- Selection of the appropriate package:

Selecting the appropriate package is an important managerial decision. Analysing and evaluating the organisation needs and processes help in taking the right choice that best suits the business environment. A careful selection of the right package results in minimum modification and successful implementation and use. On the hand, selecting the wrong software may mean a commitment to architecture and application that do not fit the organizational strategic goal or business process [3].

4- User training and education:

A quality implementation can de derailed by poorly trained employees who do not know how to properly operate the ERP system. The knowledge transfer to employees is arguably more important than the quality of the system. For that reason, companies should use consultants to run training sessions on how the system works, and how they relate to the business process.

5- Business Process Re-engineering:

Business Process Reengineering is a pre-requisite for going ahead with implementing ERP system. An in depth BPR study has to be done before taking up ERP. Business Process Reengineering brings out deficiencies of the existing system and attempts to maximize productivity through restructuring and re-organizing the human resources as well as divisions and departments in the organisation

6- Dedicated Resources:

One of the main critical factors for ERP success is determining the human and financial resources needed to implement the system. This should be done at an early stage of the project. Failing to commit the required resources often result in schedule and cost overdue.

7- Project Team Competence:

Another key element of ERP success or failure is related to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience of the project manager and team members. The project team should work in a coordinated way to achieve one goal. Hence, it is vital for team members to have technical and business skills to complement their work.

8- Clear goals and objectives:

Setting clear goals and Identifying the Objectives of the ERP Project is the third most critical success factor. The initial phase of any project should begin with a conceptualization of the goals and possible ways to accomplish these goals. It is important to set the goals of the project before even seeking top management support [3].

9- Ongoing Vendor Support:

Ongoing vendor support represents an important factor with any software package. ERP systems require ongoing vendor support to keep them up to date with the latest modules and version. In addition to this, vendor support provides technical assistance, and maintenance.

10- Interdepartmental communication:

Good communication is a key component for the success of ERP. Hence, it is essential to communicate effectively between team members and the rest of the organization, in order to keep everything working properly.

To conclude, ERP implementation could become a complex and risky process, if not managed properly. Organizations need to identify the critical issues that affect the implementation process. Such as: selecting the appropriate software package, securing commitment and support from top management, cooperation from business partners, having adequate knowledge among team members, training employees and keeping them informed. All those issues and other more can minimize the failure of ERP project and maximizes the success of ERP implementation.

References:

[1] Kumar, K. and Van Hillegersberg, J. ERP Experiences and Evolution, Communication of the ACM, (43:4), pp. 23- 26, 2000.

[2] Holland C. and Light B. (1999) Global Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation Retrieved August, 27, 2005 from: http://csdl2.computer.org/comp/proceedings/hicss/1999/0001/07/00017016.PDF

[3] Somers T.M., and Nelson K. (2001), The Impact of Critical Success Factors across the Stages of Enterprise Resource Planning Implementations, published in 34th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 2001, Hawaii

[4] Holland C.P, and Light B. (1999), A Critical Success factor Model for ERP implementation, IEEE Software, May/June 1999, pp. 30-36

[5] Hammer M. and Champy J. (1994) Reengineering the Corporation, New York, Harper Business.

[6] Kerchevak M. (2005) Five Steps to an ERP Solution, Retrieved September 3, 2005 from: http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2005/06/05/story5254.asp

[7] Robinson S. (2004) A Developer’s Overview of ERP, Retrieved September 1, 2005 from: http://www.developer.com/design/article.php/3446551

Mr. Nidal A. Bousaleh

Masters Information Technology (Web Engineering & Design)

University of Western Sydney