Customized eCommerce
What is eCommerce?
eCommerce is the online transaction of business - buying & selling of goods & services. eCommerce sites generally focus on either Business-to-Consumer (B2C) or Business-to-Business (B2B) operations, since the audiences for each are often quite different.
On B2C sites, visitors generally 'put' their purchases in virtual shopping baskets, for later checkout. The familiar shopping cart and store metaphor is readily recognized by most people. At checkout, buyers are asked to provide the essential purchase information - name, address and method of payment (usually a credit card). Once that information is confirmed and the payment authorized, the transaction is complete
The Essential Mechanisms of eCommerce
- Online Stores - websites that display online catalogs. Sometimes many 'virtual storefronts' will be grouped together as a 'virtual mall.'
- Data Collection - the gathering & use of demographic data from customers & prospects, generally gathered using site-based forms
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) - the business-to-business exchange of data, to coordinate & fulfill online purchases
- Visitor Retention - the use of e-mail and other media to remind prospects & customers of an online store's existence & activities.
- Business-to-business buying & selling
