Enabling E-Commerce Success in the Digital Age: Key Strategies and Insights
Explore the evolution of e-commerce and the pivotal role of the internet in shaping business dynamics. This chapter outlines various types of e-commerce, including B2C, B2B, C2C, and G2C, while highlighting the key capabilities of the web like information dissemination, integration, mass customization, and interactive communication. It discusses different business strategies such as brick-and-mortar, click-only, and click-and-mortar. With insights into transaction support and collaborative tools, this guide aims to equip businesses for successful online engagement and improved operational efficiency.
Enabling E-Commerce Success in the Digital Age: Key Strategies and Insights
E N D
Presentation Transcript
5 COIS11011 WEEK 6 Chapter Enabling Commerce Using the Internet “There is no physical analogy for what Amazon.com is becoming.” Jeff Bezos Cofounder and long-time CEO of Amazon.com Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Learning Objectives Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Learning Objectives Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Electronic Commerce • Online exchange of goods, services and money • Second quarter of 2006 • 2.7% of total retail revenue • $24.8 billion in revenue Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Most Common Types of E-Commerce • Business-to-consumer (B2C) • A person buys a book from Amazon.com • Business-to-business (B2B) • Retailer like Wal-Mart ordering from distributors • Business-to-employee (B2E) • Employee uses the Web to change employee benefits • Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) • One person purchases from another on eBay Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Other Types of E-Commerce • Government-to-citizen (G2C) • A person filing income taxes online • Government-to-business (G2B) • Government purchases supplies using Internet-enabled procurement system • Government-to-government (G2G) • Foreign government accessing U.S. federal regulations Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Key Capabilities of the Web Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Information Dissemination • Firms across the world have access to customers • Economical medium for marketing products and services • Increased geographical reach Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Integration • Integration of information via Web sites • Real-time access to personalized information • No time lag between company decisions and customers’ ability to access these Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Example: Integration • Alaska Airlines customers can access their mileage program any time • Real-time link between company database and customer Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Mass Customization • Meeting particular customers’ needs on a large scale • Timbuk2.com • Custom Messenger Bag Builder • Customers create a virtual bag • Preference-tracking helps Timbuk2 in marketing efforts Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Interactive Communication • Immediate feedback between company and customers • E-mail notifications • Customer service online chat • Best Buy • Geek Squad • 24-hour computer support Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Collaboration • Virgin Entertainment Group • Microsoft SharePoint • Managers: spend more time selling products • Head office: more time for strategic planning Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Transaction Support • Internet and the Web: • Reduced transaction costs • Enhanced operational efficiency • Dell – automated transaction support • Cost savings per sale • Disintermediation Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
E-Commerce Business Strategies • Differentiated based on levels of physical/virtual presence Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Brick-and-Mortar Business Strategy • Physical locations only • Traditional stores • Cons: Limited geographical reach Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Click-Only Business Strategy • Business conducted in cyberspace - no physical location • Virtual companies • Cons: Customers uncomfortable with online transactionsNo face-to-face interaction with customers Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Click-and-Mortar Business Strategy • Bricks-and-clicks business strategy • Hybrid strategy • Cons: Added complexity combining 2 different environments Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Example: Click-and-Mortar Company Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Ingredients of a Business Model • A plan of how to achieve EC success Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Common Revenue Models for EC • Most important ingredient of business model • How will the firm earn revenue? Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Learning Objectives Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Business-to-Business E-Commerce • Extranet • Enables firms to do business together (B2B) • One of best ways for organizations to gain return on technology-based investments • Boeing • 1,000 authorized business partners • Nearly all Fortune 1,000 companies deploy some type of B2B applications Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) • Used prior to the introduction of the Internet • EDI used for B2B systems • Digital or electronic transmission of business documents between organizations • Value-added networks (VAN) • Dedicated circuit between companies Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Advantages and Disadvantages of EDI • Advantages • Streamlining business processes • Reduction of error rates • Disadvantages • Costly • Mid-size and small companies disadvantaged Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Extranets • New, more affordable alternative to EDI • Advantages • Improved timelines and accuracy of information • Central management of documents • Cross-platform nature • Low cost of adoption • No specific user training required Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Extranet System Architecture • Internet-based application • Virtual private network (VPN) used to secure information transmission • Used to manage supply chains Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Intranets • Business-to-employee (B2E) electronic commerce • Internet based private network using Web technologies • Boeing • More than 1 million pages • 200,000 employees Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Intranet System Architecture • Internet-based application • Firewalls used for security • Software placed between LAN and the Internet • VPN used to access intranet from remote locations Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Intranet: Training • Boeing Company • 200,000 employees get trained • Quality eTraining program • Catalogue of courses • Online course content • Standardized courses • Business improvements • Cost reduction • Eliminated travel cost Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Intranet: Application Integration • Information from separate applications can be consolidated and presented to the user Netegrity SiteMinder Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Intranet: Online Entry of Information • Use of Web browsers to enter information online • E.g., Microsoft MSExpense • Prior to MSExpense • 136 different report templates • Outdated versions • With MSExpense • Online submission of expense records • Easy and centralized updates to templates • Savings of $4.3 million a year • Shortened period for reimbursement from 3 weeks to 3 days • Etc. Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Intranet: Real-Time Access to Information • Manage, update, distribute, and access corporate information • Boeing • News releases uploaded to the Intranet • Previously sent to all corporate offices as video tapes • Reduced distribution costs • Efficient information sharing • Company-wide access Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Intranet: Collaboration • Boeing • Information shared between employees across the world • Reduced product development cycles • Ability to stay current on projects • Ability to stay current with the changing market conditions Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Learning Objectives Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Use of Internet Technologies • Characteristics of the Internet, intranet and extranet • B2B, B2E rely on extranet and intranet • Internet provides an opportunity for B2C commerce Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Stages of B2C E-Commerce • Websites range from passive to active Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
E-Tailing • Selling goods and services online • Click-and-mortar • Walmart.com • Click only • Amazon.com • Virtual company • Priceline.com • Reverse pricing vs. menu-driven pricing Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
E-Tailing Benefits • Product benefits • Unlimited number and variety of products • Easier comparison shopping • E.g., AllBookstores, BizRate, or SideStep • Place benefits • Anywhere, anytime • Purchasing on global scale • Price benefits • Higher inventory turnover rate • No expenditures for physical retail space Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
The Long Tail • Traditional stores • Focus on mainstream needs • Target the average customer • E.g., Blockbuster • E-Tailers • Can focus on niche markets • E.g., Netflix Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
E-Tailing Drawbacks • Product delivery drawbacks • Delay between product order and delivery • Except for products that can be downloaded • Direct product experience drawbacks • Lack of sensory information • Smell, taste, feel • Lack of the social element • Cannot replace going to the mall with friends Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Attracting and Retaining Online Customers • Basic rule of commerce • Offer valuable products/services at fair prices • Additional e-commerce rules • The Web site should offer something unique • The Web site must be aesthetically pleasing • The Web site must be easy to use and fast • The Web site must motivate people to visit, stay and return • You must advertise your presence on the Web • You should learn from your Web site Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Web Site Rules: Rule 1 • Offer something unique • Offer hard-to-find goods • Global audience • Reasonable prices Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Web Site Rules: Rule 2 • Website must be aesthetically pleasing • Use of color schemes, backgrounds, high quality images • Clear, concise and consistent layout • Increases chances of return • Can separate a Web site from the competition Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Web Site Rules: Rule 3 • Website must be easy to use and fast • Easy navigation • Fast download speed • Average user will wait only a couple of seconds for a website to download • Present brief summary information with hyperlinks • Allows users to “drill down” Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Web Site Rules: Rule 4 • Web site must motivate people to visit stay and return • Create a community • GardenWeb • Users share tips • Buy from each other Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Web Site Rules: Rule 5 • Advertise your presence on the Web • Pull marketing • A passive method of attracting to a specific site • Include the Web site address on all promotional materials • Advertise your Web site on other sites Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Web Site Rules: Rule 5 Advertise your presence on the Web (II) Pay-per-click Only pay for advertising when user clicks on it Affiliate marketing – Web site owners post ads on their site Problem: click fraud – artificially clicking on ads to create revenue Network click fraud Competitive click fraud Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World 5-48
Web Site Rules: Rule 6 • Learn from your Web site • Who are your customers? • What are they doing? • Web analytics • Analyze behavior of visitors • Path the visitors take • Length of the visit • Number of pages viewed • Page from which they exit Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World
Search Engine Marketing • Paid inclusion • Fee paid to the search engine to appear in the results • Cannot influence order, thus companies may use: • Search engine advertising • Search engine optimization Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World