|
Introduction
Electronic commerce is revolutionising the way organizations conduct business transactions in the twenty first century. It is forcing traditional offline companies to adopt an e-business model or face losing market share to competitors. One of the best examples is Internet start-ups that are well supported financially and can quickly gain market share by alternative means of value adding services, that is unmatched by its competitors.
Purchasing an e-commerce hosting account is the first steps to conducting business online. Below we will examine several e-business models and features to look for in an e-commerce market place.
1. Strategy
Some businesses will benefit more from an electronic commerce strategy than others. Electronic commerce strategies benefit businesses that have a product or service that are not unique to a specific locale and want to grow their business beyond a local market the most. To maximize the benefits of global selling and distribution, a strategy is required to find out how the Internet can add value to the purchase. Secondly, in what ways can the business differentiate from its competitors? Thirdly, what is the focus and growth source of the business? Planning in advance will assist in putting the business organization in the right direction and focus on the bigger picture.
Before venturing into any situation, it is vital to define a clear strategy of how the business will capitalize the opportunities of electronic commerce.
2. Web Host Provider
To host your product database or web pages, a web host provider have to be located to service your business organization. Fortunately, Host Byte Directory have compiled quite an extensive selection. The cost involved is usually between $25 to a few hundred of dollars monthly depending on the features and options required. If you wish to minimise the monthly fees, choose features that you are likely to use presently and in the near future only. As you require more features and tools, you can always upgrade to another plan later.
3. Shopping Cart
One of the most common e-commerce models is a shopping cart system. As buyers browse through the lines of products, it can select and store (multiple) items in an electronic "shopping basket". The stored list of items can then be purchased when the buyers checks out. This will then prompt for the buyer's credit card information. However, before transferring any credit details over the Internet, it is crucial for the connection to be secure so intruders cannot gain access to the buyer's credit card details. One solution is to implement SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocol on the web server so all details are encrypted when data is sent from the client's PC to the web site.
|
