Integrated Professional Skills: Online and Offline Business Report

This report provides a comprehensive comparison of online and offline business models, highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages. It delves into the challenges businesses face when transitioning online, particularly concerning security risks such as fraud, phishing, and malware, and offers practical solutions including the use of HTTPS protocols, secure payment gateways, and antivirus software. The report also distinguishes between websites and blogs, exploring different tools for blog creation. It emphasizes the importance of employee training and the implementation of firewalls to mitigate cyber threats, ultimately aiming to provide a holistic understanding of digital business strategies and security measures.

Integrated Professional skills
in the Digital Skills

Table of Contents
Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Comparison of positive and negative aspects of creating business online and offline................1
Challenges and measures that are faced by business when it undergone online.........................3
Distinguish between website and blog and discuss different tools to create a blog....................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
In an era of innovation and creativity, the business environment is dynamic so there is
change in technology, taste and preferences of customers, latest market trends and many more as
it provide new approaches to do business in an efficient manner through making judicious use of
resources (Bradshaw, 2017) . In addition to this, the emerging modes of digital skills provides an
effective solution to their clients within less time and lead to proper organising of work as it
increases the productivity and efficiency of a business. This report is based on both positive and
negative aspects of an individual and corporations that are online and offline. This report
comprises of several challenges of security and privacy that are being faced by business when it
goes online. Also, this report includes comparison of blog and website and consider several tools
of blog which aid in creating blog.
Comparison of positive and negative aspects of creating business online and offline
In today’s era, every company is trying to promote their business online as it provides an
enormous growth opportunity and aids them in making revenue and increase the productivity
(Cavanagh, 2016). As Digital Marketing is at boom in era of innovation and advancement as this
helps business to promote their merchandise or services through online platforms such as
Amazon, Flipkart, eBay etc, as it provides great ease of convenience to their clients. The
company control and monitor the activities of subordinates through a prominent tool such as
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) that help to make appropriate decision and fulfilment of
task in a short span of time. Online business has taken place at every sector such as Finance,
marketing. Human resource and so on. In case of finance, it help in conducting fast recording of
transactions in a fair manner and simplify the working procedure and it help customers to make
online payments through Paytm, UPL, Google pay and so on in a proper manner (van Wyk,
2018). In addition to this, it helps firms to conduct meetings through video conferencing, skype
and so on at a global level which save time and travelling cost and it increase efficiency of
operation and facilitate smooth flow of activities.
Through online platforms, the human resource manager could recruit an efficient employee
that help company to grow with introduction of new ideas and skills. Furthermore, various firms
provide online training to make them capable of acquiring them with an appropriate skill and
inculcate confidence among them. This promote vast opportunities and ensure a greater success
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in their career prospects and thus increase their capabilities in future. Therefore, this help
company for accomplishment of task in a short period of time as online business provide greater
flexibility. For example, the senior manager of ALDI promotes its products through online in
order to gain maximum opportunities as well as competitive advantage across the globe as it
renders fast and efficient delivery at a reasonable cost.
Making business online and offline both are different from each other but at the same time
proper planning and coordination is necessary to make business successful as there are several
mode of promoting business offline such as television, print media, outdoor advertising and so
on. In this relation, promoting business online consist of several modes such as social media
marketing, websites, blogs, You Tube etc. which is considered as appropriate in a modern era as
it save cost in hiring sales people (Zhang and Cabage, 2017).
Pros of Offline
Presence of Tangibility: This is one of the greatest advantages as consumers could touch and
feel the presence of goods as well as it helps to create a personal approach and generate more
satisfaction. This aspect attracts maximum users towards offline shopping and increase the sale.
Better option for illiterates: This method is convenient especially for older generation and for
poor people as they are not aware of accessibility of internet which proves to be a benefit mode
of offline shopping.
Large access of Visibility: Advertising through offline source through television, newspapers,
poster create attention of large number of individuals from different parts of the country as their
slogans, taglines and repetitive nature persuade customers to buy.
Cons of Offline
Costly: This method is very costly and require more time and labour in handling such
operations of advertising.
Complex process: It is regarded as a lengthy procedure as it requires various formalities and
proves to be challenging in conducting business offline.
Pros of online
Quicker and convenient source: Conducting business online is considered as a quicker and
convenient method as provide an ease as it does not require huge sum of resources and can be
started early, and it does not require many formalities.
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Wide reach: Online platform help a company to expand their operations nationally and
internationally which allow an easy access of marketing as there are variety of customers from
different areas that allow them to buy and thus increase sales of products.
Greater choice: there are variety of products that are available to customers as they would
have greater choice to choose from and allow them to shop at any time 24*7 facilities are
available to them.
Flexibility: Conducting business online provides more flexibility and also save other
operating cost and also online stores are not affected by weather and cumbersome traffic which
create a more reliability and authenticity to their customers.
Cons of online
Increasing rivalries: There are large number of players who have conducted their business
online which possess a big threat for a company. This reduce the productivity and profitably of a
firm but at the same time it proves to be benefit for individuals as they would prefer merchandise
by comparing cost and quality from various websites.
Lack of tangibility: This aspect proves to be disadvantageous as customer could only see the
product but does not touch it or feel the presence as they have to think twice before acquisition of
product.
Depend on hardware: Online operations are too much dependent on hardware if it fails, the
entire operations of business get affected and thus reduce the sales and growth of a firm. This
could also lead to break down of trust of customers and delay in working of business.
Challenges and measures that are faced by business when it undergone online
Conducting business online undertake greater risk as it involves various challenges such as
security risk, lack of privacy, malware, Trojan and so on that affect the business in an adverse
manner and hamper the growth of a firm. In addition to this, it also tarnishes the image of
company and create a bad impression towards the customers across the globe (Damghanian and
et.al., 2016). In an era of globalisation, customers prefer online shopping rather than traditional
method of shopping but sometimes it become vulnerable and loss of data as well as unauthorised
and misleading information.
Several threats and security issues
Various threats and online issues in case of ecommerce is due to the reason of hacking,
misuse of personal information, credit cards fraud and many more which are prescribed below:
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Frauds related to finance: This is one of the major aspects as hackers develop such
software that affect the internal operations of system and also it could lead to misuse of
information and conduct fraud (Ferguson, Makarem and Jones, 2016). Hackers hack the
computer systems and steal all data and information and allow operation to run in their own way
which affect the brand image of a company and lead to delay in working procedure.
Phishing: This is one of the common practice that is being practice today as it allow
company to send fake and irrespective mails to their clients through hackers and when customer
go through towards it and login to such details, it lead to exploit of information and affect the
internal operations of a company in an adverse manner. In this relation, unauthorize access of
data would affect the internal procedure of a company and also customers would not trust easily
and thus reduce the brand image in an adverse manner. This decline the sales and productivity of
business enterprises.
Spam: Several companies use common forms of medium such as email, blog for
marketing of products or services in order to boost sales is being practice today as it affects the
internal operations of a company. In this, fake messages and emails are being sent to several
users and by clicking on any button on such messages could affect the security of website and
decline the overall growth of company. Also, when customer fill their personal details and also
provide credit card numbers and OTP on fake calls which lead to theft of information and funds
in an adverse manner.
Viruses and Malware: This is one of the major challenge that is practiced by business
when it goes online as it reduces the overall growth and software’s are designed in such a
manner that allow users to download unnecessary apps that hang the operations of computers due
entry of virus and Trojan and also there is chance of stealing of data (Guo and et.al., 2016).
Visiting unauthorised access of websites not only decline the image of company but also affect
the overall working procedure of a company. In addition to this, lack of privacy affects the
business in an adverse manner and lead to decline of reputation across the globe.
Solutions regarding such security issues:
Use of HTTPS protocols: This is regarded as one of the effective solutions that is being
provided to firm as updated HTTP protocols not only save the personal information of user and
firm but also provide an effective solutions to their clients as it provide warning among their
users that website is unsecure as a result, lead to misuse of information. It is crucial to obtain
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SSL certificate and updated HTTP protocol which provide great sense of security to both
individuals and businesses.
Payment gateway security: When hacker is access to important information related to
credit cards which lead to stolen of money in unfair manner (Gupta, 2017). So, payment gateway
security is helpful in such unauthorised work as it led to carry out the payment process in a fair
and efficient manner and thus allow business to facilitate smooth flow of activities.
Installation of antivirus software: This is one of the best methods to provide customers
with possible solution by minimising the risk of unauthorize access of information and thus
provide protection to a system and also ensure great transparency in a business operation. In
addition to this, it is essential to protect the business with intellectual rights and maintain proper
secrecy by facilitating smooth flow of activities in an efficient manner.
Proper training: The employees of company should be provided with proper training in
order to make them aware of several cybercrimes that are taken place as it affects the internal
operations of a company. The staff should protect their username and passwords to ensure a
greater control in their respective system and does not allow to leak privacy of company. This
could be done through effective planning and communication in organisation that provide
protection of such threats.
Firewalls: this is very essential feature which should be installed in every computer
system as it provides innovative and effective solution to their clients as well as provide
protection against cross site scripting (Legner and et.al., 2017). This prevent external or hackers
to get access to information and provide proper authentication to such users by using such
programmes in a computer.
Therefore, these are some measures which provide protection to business when it goes
online and also help in presenting the information in a fair and efficient manner. Plus, this ensure
greater degree of control and transparency in the overall functioning of working procedure.
Distinguish between website and blog and discuss different tools to create a blog
A blog is used to display information and it provide a platform to writers to express their
views and opinions regarding a particular subject (Marx, 2019). One of the advantages of using
blog is that it creates visibility of large number of audiences with attractive information and also
aids company to promote their products in an efficient manner. Greater blogging help business to
create credibility and thus gain positive reputation at a global level and thus increase the
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productivity of business enterprise. The blogger writes the content in a fruitful manner to gain
attention and provide reader to engage in reading.
A website consists of several webpages that render information about particular topic, and it
has domain name such as google.com, amazon.com and many more (McKnight and et.al., 2016).
As website does not change their content regularly and provide an opportunity to a business to
grow by enabling them for high sales and thus accelerates the profitability of business enterprise.
Comparison of Blog and Website are given below:
Blog Website
It provides latest and updated information
daily.
This provide same information as it has no
resistance to change quickly.
All blogs are treated as website. All websites are not blog.
They are dynamic in nature. They are static in nature.
Blogs create positive image and credibility
among the users.
In case of website, there is lack of authority
among the users.
It is considered as an informal presentation of
information as user express their opinions and
suggestions related to particular topic.
It is considered as formal method as
information is presented in a genuine and
factual manner.
Various tools to create a blog
 Sumo: It is considered as a free blogging tool in which it allows various operations to be
conducted with additional features such as email forms, sharing buttons and many more
and it allows an easy accessibility to their users (Shirazi, Seddighi and Iqbal, 2017).
 Quora: This is one of the efficient tool that allow writer to write with great content and
provide fair information to their users and also aids in rendering fast and efficient
services to their clients and also gain the attention of readers.
 Canva: this tool makes use of several custom images in such a manner that are eye
catchy and pleased the reader with their content. It is best tool to create a blog and thus
allow users to read the content with attention as it appears to be in a visualised form.
 Yoast SEO: This aspect usually covers large information and also it provides reliable and
authentic details of particular topic to their users in a best possible manner (Shah, 2016).
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Additionally, it generates ideas and create analytical thinking so as to maximise the
effectiveness and efficiency of corporations.
 Google Keyword Planner: This is an excellent tool to create a blog in which it provides
an appropriate keyword to a business which help to achieve competitive advantage at a
global level.
Yes, blogging is a powerful communication tool as it generates information regarding a
particular topic and it also involve exchange of information, ideas, thoughts, and opinions and
thus help to maintain contacts with users from different parts of the country (Selke, 2016).
CONCLUSION
From the above presented information, it can be summarised that digital platform play an
important role in an economy as it provides vast opportunities to a business and increase revenue
operations and thus improve the efficiency. Also, increasing use of online websites and aids
company in making their business online provide a great ease of convenience among the large
group of individuals. But at the same time, various threat and security issue possess a big
challenge to both individuals and business. Also, the contrast of blog and website has been
analysed and tools to create a blog are also being discussed in this report.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bradshaw, P., 2017. The online journalism handbook: Skills to survive and thrive in the digital age.
Routledge.
Cavanagh, M.F., 2016. Micro-blogging practices in Canadian public libraries: A national
snapshot. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science. 48(3). pp.247-259.
Damghanian, H., and et.al., 2016. Impact of perceived security on trust, perceived risk, and acceptance
of online banking in Iran. Journal of Internet Commerce, 15(3), pp.214-238.
Ferguson, J.L., Makarem, S.C. and Jones, R.E., 2016. Using a class blog for student experiential
learning reflection in business courses. Journal of Education for Business. 91(1). pp.1-10.
Guo, Z., and et.al., 2016. Promoting online learners’ continuance intention: An integrated flow
framework. Information & Management. 53(2). pp.279-295.
Gupta, N., 2017. Cash on delivery: Issues and challenges. Asian Journal of Management. 8(2). pp.201-
203.
Legner, C., and et.al., 2017. Digitalization: opportunity and challenge for the business and information
systems engineering community. Business & information systems engineering, 59(4), pp.301-
308.
Marx, D., 2019. Patient Safety and the Just Culture. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North
America. 46(2). pp.239-245.
McKnight, and et.al., 2016. Teaching in a digital age: How educators use technology to improve student
learning. Journal of research on technology in education. 48(3). pp.194-211.
Selke, S. ed., 2016. Lifelogging: Digital self-tracking and Lifelogging-between disruptive
technology and cultural transformation. Springer.
Shah, R., 2016. An empirical analysis on challenges and opportunities faced by higher education system
with special reference to management institutions. Available at SSRN 2735440.
Shirazi, F., Seddighi, A. and Iqbal, A., 2017, July. Cloud computing security and privacy: an empirical
study. In International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (pp. 534-549). Springer,
Cham.
van Wyk, M.M., 2018. Blog phenomenology: Student teachers' views of learning to teach
economics. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies
(IJWLTT), 13(2), pp.62-77.
Zhang, S. and Cabage, N., 2017. Search engine optimization: Comparison of link building and social
sharing. Journal of Computer Information Systems. 57(2). pp.148-159.
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