E-Commerce Strategies and Technologies

This document discusses the importance of meeting consumer expectations and the pros and cons of using e-commerce. It also explores the technologies required for a secure e-commerce site and the role of communication and database technology in e-commerce.

E-Commerce Strategies and
Technologies

INTRODUCTION
E-commerce is a wide sector where purchase, exchange, product, service and sale are some
of the key aspects. It can be explained as a bridge for exchanging the products and other actions
that mainly considers transfer of supplies from the producers to the target audiences. E-
commerce basically indicates to several kinds of business transactions within product data and
service information are exchanged over the internet (Shemi and Procter, 2018). For the
completion of this written document, Amazon is the firm which is considered. It is an American
international technology organisation which concentrates on e-commerce, cloud computing,
digital flowing and artificial intelligence etc. This venture was incorporated in 1994 by Jeff
Bezos and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, US. The document will consider information
about the importance of meeting consumer expectation and pros and cons of using e-commerce.
Further, it will include about technologies concerned in establishing a secure e-commerce site,
significance of communications technology in e-commerce propose and the function of database
technology plays in growth and sustainability of e-commerce.
TASK 1
P1.
To address and meet consumer expectations and requirement is crucial in different manner
by offering them online shopping services and employing e-commerce strategy. In Amazon, the
organisation offer e-commerce and online shopping service to its target audiences so that they
can take benefits of these kinds of services. The importance of offering these kinds of facilities in
term of meeting customers’ expectations is as under in reference to Amazon:
Maximisation in the sales, profit and productivity- Use of e-commerce strategy is
essential for venture in term of meeting customer needs because it assist in maximising sales,
revenue and efficiency of venture. In Amazon, administration use e-commerce strategy and
provide the service of online shopping and taking the benefits of online purchasing (Hussein,
2019). In current era, most of the people are working so they have no time and prefer online
shopping so by offering online buying service, respective company assist in fulfilling their
demands which is essential for the venture in term of maximisation of sales. When the sale of
commodities increase the revenue of the enterprise also increase which is crucial for the
establishment. Another essentialness of employing e-commerce strategy is development in
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productivity. In current time, entire world suffering with the problem of COVID 19, cause of
which people buying goods and commodities. This can assist in enhancing efficiency and
productivity of business establishment. By offering this kind of service the firm can make
development in the consumer base.
Positive brand image- By employing an E-commerce strategy, Amazon meets consumer
expectation in term of offering online products and services. Now these people also prefer use of
e-commerce strategy due to working and saving their time. By employing this strategy, the firm
can create positive brand image because addressing consumer demands in this form is significant
(Aithal, 2019). Amazon offer effective delivery of commodities on time which getting attention
of people and make them faithful regarding brand and when people able meet their expectation
they show their loyalty and reuse or again take the benefits of services like e-commerce which is
offered by a business venture. If the people get effective benefits and fulfil their need in
appropriate manner then it create optimistic impact over organisation and customer’s also show
their faithfulness by repurchasing and taking benefits of services again and again.
Business growth and expansion- It is another kind of importance which can be gained y
venture like Amazon in term of fulfilling target audiences needs through e-commerce service and
facility. The respective firm offer online shopping and e-commerce services in term of fulfilling
customer need like buying products and taking benefits of services which is offered by particular
venture. With the help of it, the firm can make expansion in its business in operate in those areas
and nations where it is not exist. In another word, the establishment can offer its services and
goods cross wise the work with the help of e-commerce strategy by meeting consumer needs.
This will also assist in developing and growing business of business firm in more effective
manner.
M1. Examine how E-commerce has been utilised to develop an element of business operations
An e-commerce business intrinsically relies on other enterprises to complete each phase
required to get the commodity to target audiences (Troshin and et. al., 2020). In business
organisation like Amazon, e-commerce has been utilised and developed as an aspect of business
processes in different form. The description is as under:
Shipping- In the venture, e-commerce used for reliable and timely deliveries so that the product
can be reach to consumer’s hand timely. In Amazon, the management use e-commerce to ship
their commodities to target audiences which are offered by the consumers so that the needs of
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people can be fulfilled by making an effective delivery on time (Vakulenko, Hellström and Hjort,
2018). This form of use of e-commerce work as a business operation in term of making effective
consumer relation.
Marketing and advertising- With the help of e-commerce, enterprise can promote their
goods and services which work as a business operation. In Amazon, the company also promote
its goods and services in term of images and video etc. so that visitors can get brief detail about
the commodities and services that are offered by the venture.
Consumer service & PR- Perception is reality, especially in the online market where one
bad review can pre-emptively end their relation with a consumer. By using e-commerce as a
business option, the firm like Amazon can build effective relations with target audiences by
offering them effective online shopping service, timely delivery and many more. With the help
of it, the firm can generate optimistic push and administrate unfavourable publicity regarding
brand.
D1.
There are several advantages and disadvantages of using e-commerce. Some of them are
defined as under in reference to Amazon:
Advantages:
A large market- E-commerce permits the firm to reach consumers all over the nation and
around the globe. The target audiences of establishment can create a buy anywhere and anytime,
particularly more individual are reaching utilised to shopping on their mobile devices (Holland
and Gutiérrez-Leefmans, 2018). Along with thus, it also captures and covers a large market size
in term of offering and fulfilling consumer needs and demands.
Fast response to consume trends and market demand- The rationalized logistics,
particularly for vendors that do fall ship permit commerce to react to marketplace and e-
commerce developments and customer needs in a quick form. Organisation like Amazon can
also make publicities and contracts on the fly to get attention of target audiences and generate
mire sales and make maximisation in it.
Lower cost- With the proceed in e-commerce platform tools, it has become very
straightforward and reasonable to establish and manage an e-commerce business with a low
transparency (Turban and et. al., 2018). In Amazon, with use of this strategy, the firm will no
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longer have to expend great finances on TV ads and advertisement, as well as not worry about
the expenditure for employees and real estate.
Disadvantages:
Lack of personal touch- Some customer worth the individual feel they obtain from visiting
a corporeal outlet and relating with sales connections (Sohaib, Kang and Nurunnabi, 2019). Such
personal feel is especially crucial for commerce selling elevated end goods because consumers
not only desire to purchase the product but also have huge information at the time of procedure.
Lack of tactile experience- It is one of the major drawbacks that to matter how well a video
is completed but customers till cannot tough and consider the manufactured goods. So it is not
easy to bring a brand knowledge that could often consider the sense of touch, smell taste and
sound through the two dimensionality of a display. Lack of tangibility of goods also influences
the buying behaviour of people in unfavourable manner.
Need for internet access- This is attractive observable but do not forget that target
audiences do require Internet entrée before they can buy from the business enterprise. Many e-
commerce display places have characteristics and functionality that need high speed Internet
contact for a best consumer knowledge; there is an option that the enterprise can exclude those
visitors who have slow connections.
TASK 2
P2.
There are several e-commerce tools and techniques needed to construct an e-commerce site
and function a flourishing online commerce. Bothe software and hardware technology must be
required to set up a safe E-commerce site. The description of implements is below:
Web server- It is utilised to host e-commerce website. All the Html, JavaScript, PHP
files, database, media records which make up the whole website are accumulated on this server
(Štefko¹ and et. al., 2019). The web server operates on Windows or Linux operating method. The
website improvement ventures host the site on their own web server or expend a hosting
establishment to offer room on a protected web server.
Server software- When a consumer stays any website on a web browser, the web server
acknowledges the customer is demanding some particular data so it progressions that request and
provides the accurate records to the customers. There are several styles of server software
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accessible considering submission software, database server, file server software and cloud
computing software. Highly usable web server software is Apache and Windows IIS.
Web tools- It is utilised to design the front of an e-commerce site. There are different web
tools from basic HTML text editors to more complex graphic authoring techniques and CMS
with built-in structures and correcting techniques (Wongkhamdi, Cooharojananone and
Khlaisang, 2020). Other tools are CSS which develop the visual appearance of the site and
Visual Studio.net which can be utilised to create the sites that have included databases in it.
Graphic design packages are also web authoring implements that design the skin for a user
boundary.
Database system- It is an essential fraction of an e-commerce website. The catalogue is
utilised to store data about the goods and facilities of the websites like pricing, explanation,
picture, particulars and sales etc. Along with this, the consumer facts are also stored in the
database such s what they ordered, their payment information, delivering particulars and contact
data.
Networking- TCP and IP are some networking tools which defined as how computers
should attach with each other with the help of internet and how they deliver data. Common TCP
or IP protocols are HTTPS, HTTP ad FTP. For an e-commerce website, it is included important
to offer a protected association. SSL and TLS are the practice connected with faith and safety of
any e-commerce website.
Browser compatibility- It is a software application which is utilised to establish, be given
and show information inward from the web servers. Main web browsers consider Firefox,
Google, Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari etc. Before using these tools, web developers test
the website see how it exhibit on numerous browsers crosswise numerous strategy and screen
dimensions before initiation the website.
Ports- Ports permit one contrivance to attach with the other by a dissimilar and exclusive
IP address. A gadget can have more than one harbour (Kayikci, 2019). It is basically utilised to
transmit data from remote email servers. If the port is blocked n mail can be delivered.
Domain names- It link and connect to a business venture or a brand. Successful e-
commerce ventures like Amazon has recognisable province names. If a commerce becomes
flourishing online it is crucial to defend the brand through doing numerous registrations of
domain names like .com, .net, .uk, .org, .co etc.
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M2.
Communication technology plays an significant role in E-commerce design. There is
several communications tools that are essential in E-commerce venture like Amazon as under:
Social CRM- It is one of the most essential equipment that an e-commerce firm like
Amazon can have. By involving a dynamic social CRM schemes and managing an open dialogue
with target customer base, the venture can far better position to build the right progress that will
assure development for respective business enterprise (Farooq and et. al., 2019). By using this
tool, firm can offering information about the commodities and services that are offered by the
establishment as well as getting attention of target audiences regarding products. So using it, the
firm can also listen market and respond them and it also assist in begins a personable relation
that can only be accomplished by superior consumer service.
Follow-up Email communication- It is another tool of communication which is essential
and play an effective role in e-commerce business. In a track up email, the venture can enquire
for response or response on whether the consumer is fulfilled with their buy and shopping
knowledge if they would be willing to engrave reconsider declaring that fact for the company
site and review them a coup to be utilised on their next buy if they do so. This build the target
audiences consider like their commerce is valued and that someone care about how their
knowledge was.
D2.
In e-commerce, the main role and reason of a database is to store data for contacting the
manufactured goods transactions, consumer care and inventory administration (Kwilinski and et.
al., 2019). By utilising a database, programming a dynamic e-commerce website becomes simple
because the firm now has to centre on the appearance and performance of website while all
connections are being administrated through database architecture. Other roles of database
technology are as:
Track transaction- It is the main role of database technology to track information selling
and buying. Moreover, managing the inventory is also a crucial role of database. It is ordinary to
see billions of data entries for the very same purpose.
Organise products- It also assist in organising product inventory which is critical as it is
totally showcases the range of several methods and variety of goods variety. It becomes harder in
parting and assists to acknowledge the behaviour of codes when functioned on.
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Database offer structure to venture’s store data- A database offers its system with an
effective structure design (Dahbi and Benmoussa, 2019). It creates creating the code to contact
the data simpler & effective in its functioning. The e-commerce firm like Amazon just need to
manage and hold this framework.
CONCLUSION
This has been summarised form the above defined information that e-commerce is an
effective technique and tool which s crucial to selling, buying and promoting goods and services
of a business venture. By using e-commerce needs, the firm can meet its customer’s expectations
in effective manner which is crucial for the venture in term of enhancing sales, profits,
improving brand images and maximising customer base. Along with this, to set up a e-commerce
site, there are several technologies which are essential and play an effective role in creating e-
commerce website.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Shemi, A.P. and Procter, C., 2018. E-commerce and entrepreneurship in SMEs: case of
myBot. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.
Hussein, Z., 2019. The Gamut of e-commerce: between online fraud and trust towards
technology among generation Y. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and
Technology, 10(1), pp.830-836.
Aithal, P.S., 2019. Information Communication & Computation Technology (ICCT) as a
Strategic Tool for Industry Sectors. International Journal of Applied Engineering and
Management Letters (IJAEML), 3(2), pp.65-80.
Troshin, A.S. and et. al., 2020. Information technology in tourism: Effective strategies for
communication with consumers. Journal of Environmental Management &
Tourism, 11(2 (42)), pp.322-330.
Vakulenko, Y., Hellström, D. and Hjort, K., 2018. What's in the parcel locker? Exploring
customer value in e-commerce last mile delivery. Journal of Business Research, 88,
pp.421-427.
Turban, E. and et. al., 2018. Intelligent (smart) E-commerce. In Electronic Commerce 2018 (pp.
249-283). Springer, Cham.
Sohaib, O., Kang, K. and Nurunnabi, M., 2019. Gender-based iTrust in e-commerce: The
moderating role of cognitive innovativeness. Sustainability, 11(1), p.175.
Štefko¹, R. and et. al., 2019. Analysis of consumer preferences related to the use of digital
devices in the e-commerce dimension.
Wongkhamdi, T., Cooharojananone, N. and Khlaisang, J., 2020. E-Commerce Competence
Assessment Mobile Application Development for SMEs in Thailand.
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.
Farooq, Q. and et. al., 2019. A review of management and importance of E-commerce
implementation in service delivery of private express enterprises of China. SAGE
Open, 9(1), p.2158244018824194.
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Kwilinski, A. and et. al., 2019. Formation of the entrepreneurship model of e-business in the
context of the introduction of information and communication technologies. Journal of
Entrepreneurship Education, 22, pp.1-7.
Dahbi, S. and Benmoussa, C., 2019. What hinder SMEs from adopting e-commerce? A multiple
case analysis. Procedia Computer Science, 158, pp.811-818.
Online
E-commerce advantages and disadvantages. 2020. [Online]. Available Through: <
https://blog.apruve.com/e-commerce-advantages-and-disadvantages>.
What Technologies Are Needed To Build An E-Commerce Website?. 2020. [Online]. Available
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Why Communication is Essential in Ecommerce. 2020. [Online]. Available Through: <
https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/why-communication-is-essential-in-
ecommerce#:~:text=Being%20able%20to%20communicate%20with,and%20fulfill%20your
%20business%20goals.>.
Roles of Database in E-commerce. 2020. [Online]. Available Through: <
https://brandlitic.com/role-of-database-in-ecommerce/>.
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