London School of Commerce: Online and Offline Business Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of online versus offline business models, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each in the context of globalization and technological advancements. It delves into the challenges faced by businesses and individuals when operating online, including security risks like viruses, fraud, and privacy concerns, and suggests mitigation strategies. The report further compares blogs and websites, highlighting their distinct characteristics and functionalities, and discusses various tools used in blogging. It emphasizes the importance of digital marketing, e-commerce, and the integration of professional skills in the digital age. The content covers positive and negative aspects of online and offline business operations, providing insights into how businesses can leverage technology for growth while addressing potential risks. The report is a valuable resource for students studying business and digital skills, offering insights into the evolving business landscape.

Integrated Professional skills
in the Digital Skills

Table of Contents
Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Compare the area of aspects of business being online and offline..............................................1
Challenges faced by business and individuals when they go online...........................................3
Comparison of Blog and website and discuss tools of blog........................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
In an era of globalisation, there are lot of changes takes place in technology, needs and
wants of consumers and it provide immense level of opportunities in future and it bring big
transformation in a business as there are several new methods to communicate such as social
media, blogging and many more (Cavanagh, 2016). This provide a greater convenience and
flexibility to their customers as they have wide varieties of products to choose from as well as
there are number of competitors in this field but at the same time it possesses various threats due
to hackers, virus, malware and so on. This report is based on positive and negative aspects of
online and offline on both business and individuals and consist of privacy and security measures
that is being face by company. This report also comprises of distinguish between blog and
website and several tools to create blog are also showcased in this report.
Compare the area of aspects of business being online and offline
In a modern area of technological world, internet and advancement of technology provide
a greater aspect in an economy as it provides a boom to make revenue and thus help in gaining a
competitive advantage across the globe (El-Nawawy and Khamis, 2016). This provides an
enormous opportunity to every kind of business to promote its products through online platforms
and develop positive image in an around the world. In addition to this, digital marketing is at
boom in today’s era as it helps a firm in making revenue and generate future growth which
provide assistance in every aspect of business. Not only in marketing, but in other sectors such as
finance, marketing and human resources it provides greatest strength and ensure a success in
future.
The introduction of information technology has simplified the working procedure and
facilitate smooth flow of activities as the manager could monitor and control the activities
through Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) as this also aids in taking an appropriate decision of
a firm as well as it also provide the availability of resources which in turn provide greater
success in future. In addition to this, it also allows easy transfer of funds within fiction of
seconds in different parts of the country so it provide an ease of convenience to both individuals
as well as the business enterprises. Another major prospect is that it provides greatest
opportunity to companies to hold meetings at a global level through video conferencing, skype
and so on as it saves both time and travelling cost. For example, the manager of Tesco
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emphasises on providing innovative and new products or services both online and offline so as to
gain maximum customer satisfaction across the globe.
Positive aspects
Quick and convenient method: Online platform provides a quick and convenient method
as it helps both marketers to promote their products online which provide vast opportunities and
growth in future as well as great ease of convenience of 24*7 facilities to their clients.
Wide reach: Several ecommerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart, eBay and many
more provide a variety of merchandise and ensure fast delivery to their customers at a global
level as well as it boost the sales and profitability of business enterprise. This broaden the base of
customers as easy online payment facilities are available to them.
Fast accuracy of speed and save cost: Online facilities help a firm to record transactions
at a faster speed from different parts of the country and also help in conducting market research
and also aids in knowing information about the competitors, various market demand and so on
which save cost in research and development. This provides a greater aspect to every company
and help to gain competitive position across the globe.
Not affected by external factors: Online platforms are not affected by external factors
such as bad weather or climate conditions, earthquake, political conditions and so on as it
provide an easy access to both customers and business enterprise dealing in IT sector.
Negative aspects
Increasing competition: There is an increasing competition as every business is
promoting its products or services online that not only provide an effective solution to their
targeted audience or newly customers but also provide them with great ease of convenience
among them. So, it is essential for the firm to provide unique type of products by maintaining a
reasonable pricing strategy so as to gain maximum customers across the globe.
Lack of physical contacts: Online platform has affected the personal life as it creates
communication gap due to excessive use of internet. Various individuals in business enterprise
are not getting an opportunity to express their point of views as a result reduce their morale due
to excessive use of online platforms. Additionally, it also lacks face to face contact and people
also do not get the opportunity to touch and feel the presence of goods which create confusion
among them.
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Dependent on hardware: This is considered as a major negative aspect as if hardware
fails, it simply affects the overall functioning of business and thus reduce the profit margin as
well as hamper future growth of firm.
Challenges faced by business and individuals when they go online
There are several challenges that are being faced by e-commerce as it creates lot of
difficulties and provide cumbersome to both individuals and business which are described as
follows:
Virus: Several online attack due to virus and malware that tarnish the image of company
as well as hamper the growth as various software programs are designed in such a manner that
harm the computers and lead to misuse of information (Shamir-Inbal and Blau, 2016). It led to
several consequences that affect the overall working procedures and thus hijack the computer
system in an adverse manner.
In such case, companies should implement several guidelines of government and ensure
that all PC’s have firewall and virus protection. Another major prospect is that subordinates
working in a company should not authorised to download unnecessary documents from the
internet as it creates viruses and worms that inject the operations of computer. Additionally, the
firm should maintain passwords and keep back up of essential data in cloud storage so as to
minimise the possibility of threat.
Uncertainty and Fraud: there are high chances of fraud due to the reason of misleading
information as it creates number of adversities and affect the business as well as leakage of
personal details hamper the growth of a company and individual (Guo and et.al., 2016). Another
problem that is faced by individuals as they provide their personal details and credit card
numbers on fake calls which increase the risk for them.
In this regard, lot of awareness has been created among the large group of individuals so that
they could not share their information as well as improvement in business provide a transparency
and success in future. Ensuring proper privacy and protection of intellectual rights to a business
aids in maintain secrecy and facilitate smooth operation of a business.
Security risk: Hackers are the prime reason which lead to unauthorize access to data as they
either steal it or sell it to competitors and they could also alter website in their own way which
decline the reputation of a company which in turn affect the overall operations of a business.
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Furthermore, there is chance of theft of customer’s information by clicking a link on website as it
creates damage to valuation of a company.
Firewalls should be installed in every computer as it prevents external user to access to
information and also proper authentication should be given to username and passwords that help
to ensure a greater level of control and thus provide a warning to hackers for attacking such
websites.
Privacy: this is considered as an essential threat as there is rise of theft which lead to misleading
of information specially in case of ecommerce sites (Liao, Huang and Xiao, 2017). The IT
companies should maintain strong privacy to their business as it helps in securing maximum
customer satisfaction and generate loyalty among them. Phishing create a negative impact on a
company as this affect the brand image and lead to rising of cyber-crimes.
As proper cyber security training should be provided to the staff so that they could not be
trapped very easily and also help in ensuring data protection (Selke, 2016). In addition to this,
adequate planning and effective communication in a workplace would help in developing proper
coordination and generate awareness which provide protection of such threats.
Comparison of Blog and website and discuss tools of blog
Blog can be defined as a website in which newly and updated content are present first in
the form of post as it is presented in a chronological order (Mah, 2016). The nature of blog is
regarded as dynamic as its content is updated very fast. Various firm use blogs to be connect
with clients and promote its several product or services by providing information regarding it.
On the other hand, website contain several web pages and come under the purview of domain as
it has several purposes such as business and for government agencies. Websites does not vary
their content regularly and presented in the form of HTML, JavaScript and so on. Both provide
an enormous opportunity for a business to grow and create an awareness about their products and
thus boos the sale of items.
Distinguish between them are as follows:
Basis Blog Website
Nature It is rigid in nature. It is flexible in nature.
Information It provides large amount of
information.
This provide basic and
essential details.
Place It involves inbound marketing. It could be done interior and
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exterior place.
Development It is developed with the help
of word press and magneto.
Website is developed using
various tools such as PHP,
HTML and so on.
Various tools of Blog:
 Quora: This is one of the effective tools as it generates lot of different ideas which is
related to different subjects and provide content in such a manner that develop a reader’s
interest and provide relevant answers of several questions that is being asked by user.
 BuzzSumo: Once a user enters a particular topic into URL, it provides vast information
and also provide assistance in generating ideas as this grab the interest of reader.
 Twitter: this is one of the trending piece in a modern era as it provide complete
information up to date as well as it grab the attention of large number of individuals
through tweets.
 Yoast SEO: It is regarded as one of the important tools of blog as it is simple to
understand and provide information in an efficient and clear manner. In regard to this,
this help in creating lot of ideas and thus improve the efficiency of business enterprise.
 Dropbox: Whenever there is an idea in the mind of user, they could store in drop box in
the form of files such as word Docs, PDF and many more as it provides vast
opportunities and help in creating a best content.
Yes, a blog can be regarded as a communication tool as it helps in transmission of
information and involve exchange of ideas, thoughts and opinions among one another likewise
radio, television and so on (Nambisan, 2017). It provides large amount of information to their
clients and release news on a regular basis and also help in keeping contact with targeted
customers. In addition to this, Blogging is done by both individuals as well as corporations as
users could share their personal emotions and feelings and then post it while business enterprise
create blog for promoting its products or services and thus maintain reputation in an around the
world.
CONCLUSION
From the above information, it can be comprehended that Digital platform has play a
greater role as it help in business development and ensure a greater success in future. Making a
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business online assist the company to stream more revenue as well as provide greater
opportunities in future. Also, various securities and privacy should be maintained so as to reduce
threat. Blogging and website generate various information and thus help in gaining positive
reputation and facilitate smooth operations.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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.
El-Nawawy, M. and Khamis, S., 2016. Egyptian revolution 2.0: Political blogging, civic
engagement, and citizen journalism. Springer.
Guo, Z., and et.al., 2016. Promoting online learners’ continuance intention: An integrated flow
framework. Information & Management. 53(2). pp.279-295.
Liao, J., Huang, M. and Xiao, B., 2017. Promoting continual member participation in firm-
hosted online brand communities: An organizational socialization approach. Journal of
Business Research. 71. pp.92-101.
Mah, D.K., 2016. Learning analytics and digital badges: Potential impact on student retention in
higher education. Technology, Knowledge and Learning. 21(3). pp.285-305.
Nambisan, S., 2017. Digital entrepreneurship: Toward a digital technology perspective of
entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. 41(6). pp.1029-1055.
Selke, S. ed., 2016. Lifelogging: Digital self-tracking and Lifelogging-between disruptive
technology and cultural transformation. Springer.
Shamir-Inbal, T. and Blau, I., 2016. Developing digital wisdom by students and teachers: the
impact of integrating tablet computers on learning and pedagogy in an elementary
school. Journal of Educational Computing Research. 54(7). pp.967-996.
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