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What Is Electronic Commerce
History of E-Commerce
E-Commerce Definition
Component of E-Commerce
Technology & Business
Why E-Commerce
E-Commerce Market Size & Trends
Unique Feature of E-Commerce Technology
Example of E-Commerce Enabling
Business Goals
This Is How E-Commerce Works
Advantages of E-Commerce
Disadvantages of E-Commerce
Generating The Most E-Commerce
Benefit
E-Commerce Issue
Some Common Terms
Future of E-Commerce
E-Commerce Glossary
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As with any other business decision, carefully considered judgment and
planning needs to be made before execution. Adopting E-Commerce methods
is likely to require at least a modest financial investment, and
certainly time and energy, which could be spent elsewhere. In short,
E-Commerce has to pay for itself.
If direct cost savings can be identified by introducing new E-Commerce
methods, then success can be measured against financial targets, and,
similarly, if profits are boosted from increased business. However,
measuring intangible benefits, which can be equally important, can be
more difficult.
Improving customer satisfaction, strengthening customer relationships,
reducing the response time for quotations, and delivery of promotional
literature, increased flexibility for customised product configurations,
workflow improvement, and so on, also have a value that supports the
rest of the business.
Software, hardware, training, support, maintenance, implementation, and
other on-going costs, should be considered in the
total-cost-of-ownership of an on-going solution. Experience has shown
that payback from E-Commerce activities can take place within 1 to 12
months, and sometimes longer for big projects. Don't forget to budget
for the increased resources that might be required to respond, or to
maintain, an E-Commerce activity. Hopefully, staff in areas where time
savings have been made can be redeployed in the new, busier, areas.
If possible, identify a small E-Commerce pilot project which can give a
quick payback and clear evidence of success. Prioritise projects by
payback or by some measure of benefit to the customer. But, remember,
adopting E-Commerce is a strategic decision, requiring total commitment
to the earning of the benefits and the rewards.
Risks associated with the project, and the implications of going ahead,
and of doing nothing, should be considered. The value of executing the
project should clearly outweigh any possible negatives; otherwise the
project needs a rethink or should be abandoned.
Start simply, with a phased introduction of E-Commerce technology. If
you and your colleagues have very little experience of E-Commerce
methods, begin with E-Mail and surfing the WWW for a few months, before
moving to the next stage of your plan.
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