Famous Business To Consumer Sites example essay topic

The global information society has transformed the way we do business. One of the most widespread changes is the use of the Internet to develop more efficient communications between suppliers and users of goods and services. This process is called intermediation. In this module we will look at how new Internet-based technologies have revolutionized business communications.

First we will define intermediation. Then we will examine how technology has affected business communications. Finally, we will look at some of the online technologies that are helping businesses communicate better, faster and more cost-effectively. e-Commerce: A Guide to How Technology has Affected Business as We Know It Today! Glossary: 1.1.

Transaction processing -- Completing a transaction online-such as when a consumer uses a shopping cart to make online purchases. 2.2. e-Procurement -- All purchasing activities plus all of the monitoring of all elements of purchase transactions 3.3. Procurement -- The purchase of goods for resale 4.4. Snail mail -- mail sent and received via the US Postal Service 5.5. B 2 B (Business to Business) -the activities conducted online between two businesses 6.6. Shopping cart-an electronic tool used by online consumers to purchase goods and services 7.7. Fulfillment company-offers services to other companies such as transaction processing, providing security, etc. 8.8.

HR (Human Resources): the division of a company which hires employees and takes care of all employee-related matters. 9.9. EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) - when one business transfers computer-readable data into an agreed-upon format to another business. 10.10. ISP (Internet Service Provider) -a business that provides access to the Internet via modem, DSL, or TI. They also provide other services such as e-mail, web hosting, and web design. 11.11.

Logistics-o o Consumer-Browsing for information from multiple sites for comparison shopping purpose so o Business-Delivery and warehousing activities that will provide the right goods in the right quantities in the right place at the right time. 12.12. GPS-Global Positioning System-an access mechanism which allows the tracking of vehicle location through satellite 13.13. Web auction-a site which provides a forum for buyers and sellers to trade items. An auction site normally charges both buyers and sellers; many web auctions sell advertising on its pages 14.14. Intranet-a web-based private network that hosts Internet applications on a local area network; used for security purposes-Commerce: Changing Face of Business At the dawn of the new millennium, if we look back at the last century, we will realize the changes the world has seen.

And even the changes are becoming rapid. The main reason of changes is technological innovation. The ever-changing technology has affected business as well like it has affected all other walks of life. Here are some of the key changes in today's business environment which would include the following facts: The world is more competitive We are all competing in a global economy. Geographic boundaries have become almost incidental.

Competitors are coming from outside traditional core business. Margins are thinner, with severe impact on cost structures and profitability. Customers are less loyal, but more sophisticated and ever more demanding. Labour and primary input related cost competitive advantages are short lived at best. Technological shifts in information availability and processing power have virtually eliminated the information float from business processes.

Why E-commerce Before we go on to discuss the utility of e-commerce we have to see what e-commerce is? Gartner Group has defined it as 'electronic communication among enterprises, including customers, suppliers, business partners, government organizations, and financial institutions.'s o ultimately e-commerce is a business strategy, which uses technology to achieve business goals. It is basically an evolution in the way companies interact. It provides information to facilitate delivery of goods and services and supports change initiatives and reinforces business process re engineering.

It improves external business relationship also. Types of business on net There are two types of companies that do business on the Internet. One type of company is that which exists solely on the Internet. These types of companies do not have stores or do business in the traditional way.

Two notable examples of this type are Amazon. com and Cd Now. com. The other type of company that uses e-commerce is one that uses the Internet to complement their existing business. e.g. -Barnes & Noble. In addition to selling books at their stores across the country, Barnes & Noble operates a website in which consumers can search for books that they may be interested in buying and purchase them through their website. There are three types of businesses that can take place on Internet. They are: Business to consumer (B to C) Business to business (B to B) Consumer to consumer (C to C) Business to consumer In this segment, we have the businesses that directly sell to end customers. Typically, the per customer volume of transaction is low but the number of customers serviced is large.

To draw a large number of customers these sites need to do a lot of advertising, both on and off the net and are thus much more visible than other segments. Business to business As the name indicates, this means businesses that sell to other businesses. e.g. -Intel sells it's chips to other businesses-which make computers, motherboards and other digital devices. This serve a limited number of people but the turnover of many a business-business site would be many times that of most famous business to consumer sites. And most importantly, they make profits.

Today, Intel takes orders from its customers over the net and makes billion dollars a month. Consumer to consumer There are very few sites available under this segment. The most visible example of this kind of sites is auction sites. These sites depend on more and more people visiting their site. Problems Privacy and safety The most common fear among the Internet users in indulging in transaction on line is that their credit card information may fall in wrong hands. Some alternatives have been suggested like: E-cash Digital coins can reside on your hard drives in a password protected digital wallet linked to your bank account E-cash is a special electronic transaction mechanism in which your money stored in a bank is stored in the form of digital coins.

Digital coins are primarily used when paying for goods that you receive on the Internet, like software, reference materials, and access to play a game, download songs etc. they are pre-authorized for instant transfer and are anonymous unlike credit cards. Wallet becomes the interface that ensures a secure monetary transaction. The wallet opens, gives OK and exchanges necessary information between you and the merchant's server. The server verifies currency available; the coins are transferred and the goods are received at the user end. Impersonal nature of doing business Another problem with buying on line is the impersonal way of doing business. Buying on World Wide Web may be easy but many people miss the person-to-person contact, which is a part of traditional shopping.

E-commerce in India-commerce in India is still in a very early stage. It is facing some problems in India like low penetration of computers, cultural problems, and legal issues. Another reason is the language. The language prevailing on Internet is English and a very small percentage of our population is comfortable with English. Another major factor hampering the growth of E-commerce in India is the high entry cost. It requires a huge investment in terms of hardware and software setting up cost.

But still there are reasons to be hopeful with more and more are getting connected to the Net. In the words of De vang Mehta, the Nass com chief 'E-commerce activities in India will increase and transactions worth ten thousand crores of rupees are likely to take place by 2001-2002 on the Internet'. No doubt the future is bright but still a lot needs to be done. E- commerce in India will not be restricted in the near future. It can be useful for Indian companies who want to reach the international markets where penetration is high.

Various policies regarding -enhancing infrastructure, building trust and maximizing benefits need to be formulated. A beginning has been made and the enthusiasm generated by e-commerce will hopefully carry India forward towards becoming a major global player in the digital world of e-commerce.