E-Commerce Strategies and Technologies

This document discusses the importance of understanding customer expectations in deploying an e-commerce strategy, how e-commerce has improved Next's business processes and profitability, the advantages and disadvantages of deploying an e-commerce strategy, and the technologies required for developing a secure e-commerce site. The document also provides insights into the role of database technology and the need for an integrated communications platform in e-commerce solutions.

E-Commerce Strategies and
Technologies

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1. Importance of understanding, addressing and meeting customer expectations when seeking
to deploy an e-commerce strategy. .............................................................................................3
2. E-commerce has allowed Next to improve its business processes and profitability. .............5
3. Advantage and Disadvantage of deploying an e-commerce strategy......................................6
4. Broad range of technologies that are required to develop and deploying a secure e-
commerce site..............................................................................................................................7
5. The need to have an integrated communications platform when developing an e-commerce
solution. .......................................................................................................................................9
6. Role that database technology currently plays in the provision of an e-commerce solution.10
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
REFERENECES............................................................................................................................12
.......................................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
E-commerce is the act of technological purchasing and merchandising of trade good or
assistance over the cyberspace. It is also popularly known as internet commerce. It helped
businesses establish a wider market presence by supply inexpensive and more cost-efficient
distribution channels for their products and services. E-commerce scheme is just the operation of
agreeable a web development agency or creative agency to build a website that allows them to
interact with customer over the internet. Next is a British multinational which is serving
footwear, home products and clothing. It has it headquarters in Enderby, England, UK and was
founded by Joseph Hepworth. It is the largest clothing retailer by sales in UK and also listed on
London Stock Exchange. In the further report light will be put upon the scheme engaged and
consequence of e-commerce on business organization. Also analysis on the hardware,
software,web-based and database technologies involved in setting up a unafraid e-commerce site.
1. Importance of understanding, addressing and meeting customer expectations when seeking to
deploy an e-commerce strategy.
A well-planned e-commerce strategy for the online business is vital to its ongoing
success. Understanding, addressing and meeting customer experience plays a vital role when
seeking to deploy an e-commerce strategy. The following are some e-commerce strategies:
increasing the e-commerce search usability, using high-quality photographs and good
commodity set forth, modify home page, focus on consistent and incomparable content, building
e-mail list, improving social media strategy, creating landing page etc..
These days finding great products to sell on the e-commerce website and using SEO and PPC ads
to drive traffic is not enough. To stand out among other competitors, Next focus on their
customer expectations. To understand and meet customer expectations Next tries to find out
customer experience. Customer experience involves how a customer interacts with Next's e-
commerce website. The goal of being hyper-focused on the shopping experience is to build
brand loyalty.

Understanding the customer expectations and providing the customers a good experience
can enhance the referral business of Next.
Understanding customer expectation helps the e-commerce website or business to
personalize their home page and ad campaigns.
Understanding, addressing and meeting customer expectation helps the e-commerce
website to offer subscriptions as it benefits both the customers and also e-commerce business. As
Next is a fashion website so it can offer a monthly accessories box as the per taste and preference
of the customers.
If Next understand their customer expectations then it helps them in improving their
social media strategy. As posting, promotions and offers will be provided keeping in mind the
customer expectations.
Through understanding and addressing the customer expectation, Next could focus on
consistent and unique content which will enhance the customer experience will ultimately lead to
increased the website sales.
The business is at a well-defined discriminate without a good perceptive of difficulty that
users intimate within their piece of land. It is indefensible to require creator to produce superior
work if they do not realize how their masses think and will in reality activity their piece of
ground for. Cognition of users behavioural variation can be a leading factor in flourishing
website carrying out.
Site creator need to realize needs and preference of the customers as they creating by
mental acts the pattern of the message to be delivered.
Key aspect which the web developers or site developers process should include usability
testing.
If developers understand and address the customer expectations then they will be able to
make users act at the internet site and make their searching gratifying, cultivable and as
easygoing as manageable.
If the business before deploying their e-commerce strategy understands, employs and
meets customers expectations then it will be able to meet customers service expectations which
adds in the success of their e-commerce strategy. Without understanding customer service, Next
cannot attract the people whom they want to buy their products and services.

2. E-commerce has allowed Next to improve its business processes and profitability.
E-commerce gives the customer a special feature of easily browsing the products through the
website.
Through the feature of reviews provided by Next, customers can know about the features
of the products and their feedback which was not possible in case of traditional business. In this
way businesses are able to build trust among the customers.
E-commerce has allowed convenience and ease to the customers, as customers can select
products through an online store, put them in an online cart and pay through net banking or
online mode and the product is delivered at their doorsteps. This facility of e-commerce helped
Next to improve their business processes. This can add up to business sales and customers can
easily browse and get a variety under one roof and payment mode is also convenient.
As this platform provides companies with the opportunity to expand their pool of
customers and target groups. In e-commerce there is no geographical boundaries, the
marketplace is so wide therefore it adds on to business profitability and processes.
As e-commerce does not require infrastructure and heavy investment in stores and spaces
therefore this fixed costs is been reduced and eliminated. This has improved Next profitability as
there is reduction in cost and increase in revenue (Madhukar. and Sharma, 2019).
E-commerce triggers a chain reaction that increases the Next profits, reputation and
speeds up the branding process of the business.
One more key benefit to Next by running enterprise interactive is they can well perfect
and standard budget in conformity with all other feature of enterprise.
E-commerce helps Next in understanding their market better so that they can content
fresh and advanced commodity to their consumers. Search engine optimization is key and
extremity merchandising scheme can be a huge when it comes to client inquiry and mark your
merchandising.
Through e-commerce, Next saves on staff it does not have to pay in-person faculty and in
fact could regard integrating chat-bot into their cultural media and client company.
Entering into the e-commerce platform it helps Next in staying competitive as online
trend will only grow and will not slow down.

Through e-commerce Next has able to enhance their branding which helps in creating
customer loyalty which ultimately leads to profitability of the business. Commitment is
merchandise of incessantly gathering and exceptional the necessarily and wants of customers.
The interface of the website also improves processes and profitability of Next, it includes
colour coordination and their categories of products within their webpages (Hjort. and Lantz,
2016). The choice of colour is important as colour acts as a filter and directly affects the
psychological response. Therefore, an integrated approach of E-commerce must be followed to
improve process and profitability.
3. Advantage and Disadvantage of deploying an e-commerce strategy.
Advantages
Incur lower financial costs – One of the major advantage of deploying e-commerce strategy is
that it lowers the start up costs.
Advantage of 24*7 potential income – Online business are always open and provide 24*7
hours services. By being accessible at all hours, Next can pull in group who would usually
choice up a product in mercantile establishment if the physical stores are not open. It can also
draw in those who may have unusual work schedules or who don't have period of time to shop
in-person (Deng. and Wang, 2016).
Helps in retargeting the customers – Deploying e-commerce strategy helps Next to easily
retarget their customers by sending e-mails which are motion up sale and cross-sell and also be
done finished customized figures of meeting to a particular industrialist with a certain period.
Providing the best quality of service in reasonably low operational cost – Deploying
appropriate e-commerce strategy can help in providing the best quality of service in reasonably
low operational cost.
Able to gain customer data – By deploying e-commerce strategy Next can gain access to
customer data easily for analysis on their customers. The business has various platforms to
communicate with their customers and build relationship with them (Hua. and et.al., 2019).
Can grow business organically- through proper deploying of e-commerce strategy Next is able
to grow organic traffic and also monetize those customers with retargeting ads.
Disadvantages

Improper strategy can lead to site crash – if the deployment of e-commerce strategy is not
proper then it can lead to site crash therefore Next ensures that website is hosted on the right
platform.
Customers become impatient – Improper deployment of e-commerce strategy leads to delay in
answering questions and customers become impatient because of this. Customers expect the
response from the business within certain hours of their enquiry if there is any delay in
responding then they become impatient and angry and in this way business can lose their
customers.
Security issues – Ineffective e-commerce strategy can cause security issues. As the website have
the personal details of the customers and if it does not have proper cybersecurity ten it can lead
to misuse of their information and can hamper the trust of customers from their website
(O’Raghallaigh, 2017).
High risk of failure – Although e-commerce strategy seems like a sure thing but has a advanced
hazard of non accomplishment.
Fulfilment problems – Improper e-commerce strategy leads to fulfilment problem even after
command is located there can be difficulty of transportation, transfer, mix ups etc. this leaves
customer miserable and dissatisfied.
Sometimes can feel impersonal – If the deployment of e-commerce strategy is not proper then
the customers can feel neutral. Sometimes it miss the warmth of an social kinship.
4. Broad range of technologies that are required to develop and deploying a secure e-commerce
site
E-commerce is essential for all businesses in the industry to make the sales and impact on
the customers effective for higher outcomes. Next can use a wide range of technologies to be
able to develop an e-commerce site which is going to be discussed in the further report.
 Database system
This is an constitutional part of an e-commerce computer which is present and is used to
mercantile establishment and collect information of the good and services. This has to be very
secure by Next so that hackers will not be able to misuse this information and customers are
going to get affected due to this factor.
 Networking

IP and TCP of computers should be connected so that it is going to be easier to share
information. For example, HTTPS, HTTP and FTP and these are used by NEXT to be able to
create a secure access for the customers. There is going to be secure communication in business
which is good for working in the market of the business and compete with other.
 Browser compatibility
To be able to receive, locate and display content from web servers there has to be a
software application used. Web browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox or internet
explorer. There can be a lot of traffic which can be present on these web browsers but these are
effective and easier ways to be able to operate effectively.
There are a lot of ways through which an e-commerce site can be secured and these
measures must be taken so that there is going to be higher outcomes of business in industry and
the further report is going to discuss these factors in detail.
 Trusted e-commerce platform
The e-commerce provider must make sure that all the stores of company are benign
monitored so that the problems which are rising can be solved which is good for the performance
of NEXT. There should be good investment so that the stores can be hosted well.
 Always keep site up-to-date
The back end of the e-commerce site should always be up to date so that there is going to
be the latest security present in the business. Hackers love low and slow updates in businesses to
be able to misuse this factor. Small businesses are attacked upon by the hackers the most because
they have lack of experience which is not good since this factor is misused the most and the
company is going to face a lot of troubles (Schiff, 2016).
 Trademark your company name and logo
Brand name and for protection of the site it is important for the owners to ensure this
factor. NEXT is having a trademark on the brand name so that there is going to be higher
security which would be present and the brand reputation in the market can increase. The local
secretary of State has to be involved so that there is going to be higher security of the brand
name and logo which others can not use.

5. The need to have an integrated communications platform when developing an e-commerce
solution.
E-commerce communication is much more than merely a collection of words. The e-
commerce communication of Next website should be impressive, conformable and builds
assurance in the minds of people in case of pre-sales. With the carrying out of an internal
communication platform, Next can digitalize and contour workflows which will increase their
overall skilfulness and productiveness. Internal and integrated communication platform is
necessary when developing an e-commerce solution. Intranet is preferred platform for internal
communications but its sometimes reasoned undependable, unnecessarily complex and only
useful in sharing on a out of use networks.
Digital change is taking place and the centring is to promote invention whilst developing
skilfulness of business organization processes. Internal human action level aims to computer
code experience of enterprise processes and workflows, through integrating single interface
where all project can be complete. Reasons of integrating an internal communication platform :
Streamlining – Utilize a individual merged advancement level allows business to contour
dispersed functionality of double channels. Users can spend less time logging in, inquiring and
rearrangement different user interface. It also provides chance to section users and present
content that is personalised to each special user needs. It results in saving companies both time
and money, authorise worker to work expeditiously, streamlining workflows through platform
implementation (Wanganoo, 2020).
Increased operational efficiency – Group action an interior human action level offers business
flexibility and comfort of accession establishment content anytime, any place and on any frailty.
Optimizing employees advancement and co action is necessary for the growing number of
workers working off site. Businesses can therefore develop efficiency and productiveness of
their workers.
Improves security – The top high status when implementing a remarkable advancement
platform that is reachable on aggregate platforms is of protecting intellectual property and
confidential business information.

6. Role that database technology currently plays in the provision of an e-commerce solution.
Database is an inbuilt portion of any e-commerce request and without a well-organized
and well right database, it would be unfeasible to store, analyse and bring off big mass of
information about products, sales and customers. Database or cloud database's basic function is
to digitally store information that can be captured, retrieved and distributed easily at a later time.
Through this scheme, content such as interact or scheme adjusted data can be arranged and
tracked based on selected cobblestone. This afford Next the quality to analyse and track content
about the commodity, income and client that have been stimulation into database.
Database supply constitution to vast amounts of store data. An stock is required for all
the gathered content whether the online store is big or small to form awareness and provide
helpful display. Structured data can be accessed more efficiently by e-commerce application.
Database system assist e-commerce sites like Next to pinpoint expected consumers
based on compiled information. Selling team can use clients information that is mercantile
establishment inside the information to create targeted lists that will be used for directing
marketing efforts. The more content marketing team of Next has, the better they can identify and
adapt human action with them. This method not only helps to hold clients but also assist to
addition new consumers as well.
Database track and manage transactions as it need to keep track of every order along
with inside information that Next needs to procedure transactions and it also organizes products
based on the mix of options (Rojas, 2019).
Database gives the convenience of sharing information with suppliers and logistics
partners to improve the skilfulness of e-commerce operations.
Database can keep merchandise description, customer connection, cost, particular offers
and campaigns to give you quick access to the necessary information in minutes saving the
time and mental state of the customers.
Through database, content such as connection details, names, outlay patterns and more
information can be used for later selling use. The collection of this data helps to create
distinguishes mark activity and allows for built client subject area, inspiriting Next to focus on
consumers needs and wants.
So database is very important to an efficient and successful e-commerce site and it helps to
digitally store and organize important data.

CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that there are various importance of knowing, addressing and
gathering consumers requires when seeking to position an e-commerce scheme of Next such as it
intensify referral business, personalize their home page and ad campaigns, improving their social
media strategy etc. E-commerce have allowed Next to improve their business processes and
profitability by expanding their pool of customers, giving customers convenience which will
create brand loyalty on the part of customers. When deploying an e-commerce strategy there are
both point and disfavour of it. To create and position a unafraid e-commerce site there are a
broad range of technologies such as information scheme, networking etc. there is a demand to
have an merged discipline level when development an e-commerce solution and lastly there are
various roles that the database technology currently plays in the condition of an e-commerce
mixture like providing structure, track and manage transactions, quick access to the necessary
information, used for later marketing use etc.

REFERENECES
Books and journals
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commerce case. Journal of Business Research, 69(11), pp.4980-4985.
Hua, N. and et.al., 2019. The power of e-commerce. International Journal of Contemporary
Hospitality Management.
Kayikci, Y., 2019. E-Commerce in logistics and supply chain management. In Advanced
Methodologies and Technologies in Business Operations and Management (pp. 1015-
1026). IGI Global.
Madhukar, V. and Sharma, D., 2019. The role of information technology applications in
profitability. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes.
O’Raghallaigh, E., 2017. Security issues in e-commerce. Available from: Crossref. Date
accessed, 15(02).
Wanganoo, L., 2020, June. Streamlining Reverse Logistics through IoT driven Warehouse
Management System. In 2020 8th International Conference on Reliability, Infocom
Technologies and Optimization (Trends and Future Directions)(ICRITO) (pp. 854-858).
IEEE.
Zinder, A., Nasdaq Inc, 2018. Systems and methods of secure provenance for distributed
transaction databases. U.S. Patent 10,097,356.
Online
Rojas, N., 2019. The Role of the Database in E-Commerce. [Online]. Accessed through
<https://trellis.co/blog/the-role-of-the-database-in-e-commerce>
Schiff, J.S., 2016. 7 ways to protect your ecommerce site from fraud, hacking and copycats. [Online].
Available through: <https://www.cio.com/article/3137222/7-ways-to-protect-your-
ecommerce-site-from-fraud-hacking-and-copycats.html>.