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Business Software and e-Commerce
Written by Samuel Blue   
Most businesses today have already expanded to the web and are trying to manage their web businesses, or they are in the process of figuring out how to expand and manage an e-Commerce site by utilizing business software functionality.

It’s a pretty safe bet if you are selling something, you should be trying to do it over the internet. Even if your web presence provides nothing more than a website with an address, your business hours, and a description of what you do, you need to be on the Internet. Expanding into actually using your website to sell your products and services might be easier than you think with an updated business software program with e-Commerce features. Take a minute and think about your commercial habits. Whether its buying goods or services, today it almost always starts on the internet. I’ll give you a few examples:
  • Running late, I want to stop by the bookstore but I’m not sure it’s open - I use my cell phone to access the website and check store hours.
  • Now I want to order a pizza to pick up on my way home, again I access the website and the menu, and then call in my order.
  • A friend recommended a hair-stylist. I get on the website and check the stylist’s portfolio and price structure. Then I print a first-timer coupon and call to make an appointment.
These examples aren’t e-Commerce. But with a little tweaking they could be. Here are some examples of what can be done:
  • The bookstore already has an online website I can order the book from, download it to an e-reader, or tag it to be held at the cashier.
  • The pizza restaurant should have allowed me to place my to-go order right on the site. Once it was paid for they could have sent a text message to my cell phone with a verification number to show the cashier.
  • The hair-stylist could offer a pre-paid option at a healthy discount instead of a coupon. There should be the option of scheduling my appointment online, and maybe an awards program offered that would allow me to receive growing discounts on supplies and services the more often I used the salon’s services.

E-Commerce

Shopping online is not shopping in a store. You have to figure out how to give great customer service remotely. One way to do this is to make it easy. Don’t complicate things and make sure the site works well and does what it is supposed to do without any glitches.

An e-Commerce website is supposed to present the product, offer a way to buy the product and get the product or service to the customer quickly.

You must recognize that ordering online is not the same thing as buying something in a store. In the store you walk out with the goods, online you pay on faith and wait. In order to be successful, you have to make sure your e-Commerce site is secure and that you offer the customer almost immediate verification of the sale in email form along with an expected ship date. And then make sure and follow up at regular intervals to let them know the status and the tracking numbers.

One of the best examples of a retail e-Commerce site is Amazon.com. They keep things simple and easy. Amazon has a “three-click” policy for their site which is a program designed to ensure that if the customer can’t order within three clicks, something isn’t working correctly. They offer refunds and will often expedite shipping on orders that get delayed. They monitor prior orders and your likes and dislikes. The website pages load quickly because they are kept clean and professional looking with few images that are also kept within standard sizes.

One of the biggest reasons that people shop online is because they believe they will find the best price. Make sure your pricing is kept competitive and up to date.

Summary

Business software packages offer e-Commerce options that can help you run this side of the business. Many come with shopping cart software that will help you collect the information to process the sale, and to follow up on the order through the inventory, shipping and delivery stages.  

Many software programs can also help you track customers and keep email lists for future marketing programs. The business software can help automate the e-Commerce process and provide real-time reports and analysis of your website marketing.

Often you can find everything you need to get started in the e-Commerce arena within a single integrated business application. Many business software packages can even help you manage online stores in different languages and currencies. So look to your business software packages to give you the edge in providing this functionality for your business.
 
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