E-Business Analysis: Black Fasteners - AMEB600 - Ara Institute

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Black Fasteners' e-business activities, focusing on B2B and B2C strategies, revenue models, and supply chain management. It identifies and evaluates the benefits of e-business for both B2B and B2C customers, discusses barriers to online sales, and analyzes the suitability of current e-commerce offers. The report also explores the advantages of combining e-commerce with traditional commerce strategies and recommends alternative revenue models for Black Fasteners' online store, such as cost-per-click advertising and providing online research access to customers. Furthermore, it explains the value created by suppliers and identifies business strategies for collaborative supply chain activities, including developing better partners and using improved platforms. Finally, it addresses potential anti-competitive issues within e-business functions in supply chains.

Running head: E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
Table of Contents
Task 1.............................................................................................................................3
(a) Identification and evaluation based on benefits provided by e-business for B2B
customers................................................................................................................................3
(b) Identification and evaluation based on benefits provided by e-business for B2C
customers................................................................................................................................4
(c) Discussion based on two barriers faced by Black Fasteners for B2C online sales
................................................................................................................................................4
Task 2.............................................................................................................................5
(a) Analysis based on suitability of the offers provided by Black Fasteners to e-
commerce...............................................................................................................................5
(b) Discussion of advantages of combining e-commerce with traditional commerce
strategies.................................................................................................................................5
Task 3.............................................................................................................................6
(a) Identification and review of suitability of online revenue models for Black
Fasteners.................................................................................................................................6
(b) Recommendation and justification based on two alternative suitable revenue
models for the online store of Black Fasteners......................................................................6
Task 4.............................................................................................................................7
Explanation based on the value created by suppliers.................................................7
Task 5.............................................................................................................................8
(a) Identification of three business strategies for collaborative supply chain
activities for B2B business of the company...........................................................................8
(b) Explanation and justification of three business strategies used by Black
Fasteners.................................................................................................................................9
(c) Discussion of two anti-competitive possibilities that occur in with e-business
functions in supply chains....................................................................................................10
References....................................................................................................................11

2E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
Task 1
(a) Identification and evaluation based on benefits provided by e-business for B2B
customers
Black Fasteners has been successful in its operations with the help of its online and
automated operations that have been developed in order to provide the products to the
individuals and the business organizations as well (Blacksfasteners.co.nz., 2019). The six
essential benefits that are provided by the e-business operations for the B2B customers of
Black Fasteners are as follows,
Scalability – The e-business solutions have helped Black Fasteners to grow in
the industry and meet the demands that exist in the market. The sales channels
have been developed effectively by the organization in order to reach the
customers (Algarni et al., 2015).
Improvement of efficiencies – The integration of e-business facilities is able to
increase operational efficiencies and convenience levels of the customers
More customers – The number of B2B customers of Black Fasteners have
increased after the implementation of e-business operations.
Improved awareness of the brand – The awareness levels based on products
offered by Black Fasteners have increased due to e-business implementation
(Bi, Davison & Smyrnios, 2017).
Increase in sales – The sales of different products developed by Black
Fasteners have increased effectively due to the reach of the e-business based
operations of the organization.
Analytics – B2B based e-business solutions are able to provide effective
platform based on the ways by which Black Fasteners is able to launch a
campaign that is based on high levels of analysis (Cassidy, 2016).

3E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
(b) Identification and evaluation based on benefits provided by e-business for B2C
customers
The B2C based customers of Black Fasteners are facilitated by the e-business based
activities of the business in the following way,
 The visibility levels of search engine can be increased and this is helpful for
Black Fasteners to attract the new customers. The awareness based on the
products can be increased with the help of a search engine.
 The buying habit of customers can be analysed by Black Fasteners with the
help of e-business related operations of the organization (Chi, Zhao & Li,
2016).
 The word of mouth based promotions can be made effectively with the help of
happy customers that have been developed by Black Fasteners. The services
and products of the organization are able to play the most important role in
improving satisfaction levels of consumers (Čiarnienė & Stankevičiūtė, 2015).
(c) Discussion based on two barriers faced by Black Fasteners for B2C online sales
The two major barriers that are faced by Black Fasteners based on the B2C online
sales include,
Converting the shoppers who visit the website into paying customers. The
quality of traffic in driven and nurtured effectively in order to close sales
based activities. The optimization of website of Black Fasteners is considered
to be important for the customers who visit.
The long term based growth of Black Fasteners cannot be achieved easily with
the help of its online sales in the industry. Improvement of market efficiency is
not always supported by the online operations (Grefen & Turetken, 2017).

4E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
Task 2
(a) Analysis based on suitability of the offers provided by Black Fasteners to e-
commerce
The different products that are offered by Black Fasteners to the individual customers
and the organizations include, quality tools and fasteners, Fischer fixings that are mainly
supported by the experienced services teams, engineers, customers and traders. The company
has developed a major position in fastener based industry. The website and online operations
are able to play a major role in the ways by which the company is able to reach the
consumers on a wide basis and understand their needs as well. The data related to customers
are stored in the website of Black Fasteners and it helps the organization to provide them with
products and services that are offered to them (Guo et al., 2018).
(b) Discussion of advantages of combining e-commerce with traditional commerce
strategies
The proper combination of traditional commerce and e-commerce based activities is
able to provide growth opportunities to the organizations. Black Fasteners can also take
advantage of the advantages that are provided by this combination. The two major advantages
that are provided to Black Fasteners are as follows,
The multichannel approach is considered to be a major factor that has an
impact on the sales levels of Black Fasteners. The right approach is based on
the ways by which the organization is able to offer the products to customers
with the help of its online as well as offline channels. This strategy is helpful
for the company to reach the technology savvy and the normal customers as
well (Jeansson et al., 2017).

5E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
The marketing based approach that can be taken by Black Fasteners is based
on the ways by which the digital channels and traditional offline based
channels can be implemented for increasing the levels of awareness related to
the products. The awareness levels can be increased by developing
promotional activities by Black Fasteners. The success level of the retailer is
based on the ways by which it is able to fulfil the demands and needs of
various customers through different channels (Mazzarol, 2015).
Task 3
(a) Identification and review of suitability of online revenue models for Black Fasteners
The online revenue models of different organizations have major potential to increase
the revenues levels while operating on the internet. The business organizations can use a
variety of business models in order to sustain their operations in the industry. Black Fasteners
has also implemented an effective online revenue model that has helped the organization to
high levels of profits. The revenue model that has been implemented by Black Fasteners is
based on the revenues that are earned from the sponsorship of content types or site sections.
The different organizations that are a part of this function of Black Fasteners include, Bosch,
Master Flash, Bostik, Dronco, Avdel, Wera, Fischer Innovative Solutions (Palmer, 2015).
(b) Recommendation and justification based on two alternative suitable revenue models
for the online store of Black Fasteners
Black Fasteners can however implement other revenue based models in order to
increase the revenues that are earned by the organization. The two major alternatives that can
be implemented by Black Fasteners are as follows,
Cost per click or CPC – Cost per click based advertisement is considered to be
a major alternative that can be implemented by the organization in order to

6E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
gain revenues. The number of clicks that are gained by the advertisements of
different companies that are placed in the website of Black Fasteners can
provide revenues to the organization. This will play a major role in the ways
by which revenues of Black Fasteners from the website can be increased
(Putra & Hasibuan, 2015).
Access to the customers for online research – The customers of Black
Fasteners need to be provided with opportunities based on proper generation
of revenues. The levels of effectiveness of different sites and pages are based
on the amounts of revenues that are earned by the organization.
The alternative revenue based models will be able to provide growth based
opportunities to Black Fasteners on the online platform. The organization needs to implement
the models in such a manner so that it is able to gain maximum revenues from the online
operations (Sharma & Lijuan, 2015).
Task 4
Explanation based on the value created by suppliers
The suppliers of Black Fasteners are able to play a major in developing the successful
online operations of the company. The strategies based on supply chain management that are
implemented by the organizations are important for developing value in an effective way.
The value that can be created by suppliers of the organization are based on the following
factors,
The efficiency levels of transactions can be improved with the help of
collaboration that has been provided by the suppliers. The suppliers who are a
part of Black Fasteners also aim at increasing the efficiency of transactions in
order to improve the supply chain. The proper process of strengthening the

7E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
supply chain of Black Fasteners is considered to be important for the ways by
which the organization is able to maintain its position (Tsironis, Gotzamani &
Mastos, 2017). The suppliers are also responsible for the ways by which
convenience levels of the customers can be increased. The transactions that are
made with the help of the website of Black Fasteners are affected by the
suppliers in a huge manner. Fast services that can be provided by suppliers to
the organization are able to increase the speed of operations in the industry
(Van der Wee et al., 2015).
The stickiness levels that can be developed in the website are important for
increasing the number of repeat transactions that are performed. The repeat
transactions are helpful in the development of a loyal customer base for the
organization. Black Fasteners will be able to develop a loyal base of customers
if the satisfactory services can be provided to them. Levels of satisfaction of
the employees can be increased effectively with the help of timely production
of raw materials by the suppliers (Wirtz et al., 2016).
Task 5
(a) Identification of three business strategies for collaborative supply chain activities for
B2B business of the company
The supply chains that are effective need not be dynamic always. The supply chain
based activities that are performed by B2B organizations are based on the processes that are
performed. The organizations need to develop specific strategies in order to ensure that the
excellence levels of supply chains can be maintained. In case of the B2B marketing activities
supply chain is able to play a key role in the ways by which supply chain can be managed.
Black Fasteners also needs to develop effective strategies for maintaining the operations of

8E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
the organization (Tsironis, Gotzamani & Mastos, 2017). The three major strategies that can
be implemented by Black Fasteners are as follows,
Developing better partners – The potential partners in the supply chain process
are important in order to develop an efficient process. The partners need to be
chosen based in their capability levels and services that can be provided by
them as well. The work process and speed of the partners have an impact on
the operations that are performed by the organizations (Sharma & Lijuan,
2015).
Using the better platforms – The platforms or software that are used by the
suppliers are also able to affect the speed and productivity levels. The latest
software will be able to help the suppliers so that they can provide the best
quality raw materials to Black Fasteners. The levels of reliability on suppliers
will also increase with the help of the quality of services that are offered by
the organization (Jeansson et al., 2017).
Making the transportation prices more affordable is considered to be an
effective way by which B2B based customers can be managed by Black
Fasteners. The organization can reduce the costs based on services with the
help of reduction in the transportation based costs. This will help Black
Fasteners to reduce the prices of products that are offered to the customers
(Guo et al., 2018).
(b) Explanation and justification of three business strategies used by Black Fasteners
The three strategies that are implemented by Black Fasteners can be justified in the
following way,

9E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
The development of partners is important for increasing the speed and quality
of operations and raw materials.
The choice of suitable platforms is based on the ways by which efficiency of
the organization can be increased.
The transportation costs need to be reduced in order to reduce the prices of
products that are offered to the customers (Čiarnienė & Stankevičiūtė, 2015).
(c) Discussion of two anti-competitive possibilities that occur in with e-business
functions in supply chains
The anti-competitiveness of organizations has an impact on the ways by which
organizations are able to operate in the industry. The two major anti-competitive possibilities
that can affect the e-business based functions in supply chains include,
Monopsony – This a major factor that can reduce the levels of competitiveness
within the organization. The entire control of the market is in the hands of a
buyer. This factor has an impact on the ways by which the organizations are
able to operate and manage the levels of competitiveness as well (Wirtz et al.,
2016).
Ethical requirements – The ethical guidelines that are set by the organization
need to be followed in the e-business operations. The lack of ethical
operations is considered to be a major factor that can affect the
competitiveness (Algarni et al., 2015).

10E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
References
Algarni, F., Cheung, Y., Lee, V.C. & Ullah, A. (2015). Customer Satisfaction: Moderator of
e-Business Performance and e-Business Liveability. JSW, 10(5), pp.524-537.
Bi, R., Davison, R.M. & Smyrnios, K.X. (2017). E-business and fast growth SMEs. Small
Business Economics, 48(3), pp.559-576.
Blacksfasteners.co.nz. (2019). Blacks Fasteners supply a superior quality fasteners and tools,
including Fischer fixings, supported by an experienced sales and service team to
builders, engineers, trades and customers throughout New Zealand. Retrieved from
https://www.blacksfasteners.co.nz/
Cassidy, A. (2016). A practical guide to planning for E-business success: how to E-enable
your enterprise. CRC Press.
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11E-BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
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