Business uses of eCommerce
Every business must decide how ecommerce should be used to add value. There are many different ways to use eCommerce and as there is no one-size-fits all solution. Ecommerce typically uses electronic communications technology such as the Internet, extranets, e-mail, Ebooks, databases, and mobile phones. The following are some of the business use of ecommerce.
• Email:
This is a quick, cheap, and effective way to communicate with customers, employees, and partners who may be located locally or globally at anytime.
• Payment systems:
Payment systems, such as EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale), which enable your business to accept credit card payments.
• World Wide Web (WWW):
This is used to market, promote, and sell your products and services to a global market place 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Intranet:
This can be used as a cost effective method to publish information internally, which can be accessed easily through a standard web browser. This uses the same technology as the Internet.
• Business Benefits:
eCommerce and smart business technologies can be used to add value to new and existing business processes. The following are the common business benefits derived from eCommerce applications:
• Have a global presence 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at a reasonably low cost.
• Advertise products to a worldwide audience.
• Accept payments online and in real time.
• Reduce operational costs.
• Improve existing business processes.
• Reach more customers.
• Communicate directly with customers via email.
• Order inventory from suppliers quickly and easily.
• Create a competitive advantage over your competitors.