E-Commerce: Software, Security, Payments, & Planning


E-Commerce Software & Business Size Depending on the size of a business, its software requirements may differ from another business. There are three classifications of business sizes, which are small to midsize, midsize to large, and large. Small and midsize businesses may benefit from basic or mall-style CSPs. Basic CSPs offer hosting services at a low rate or even free. The service provider keeps the server up and running, allowing for the company to focus mainly on their Web site. Mall-style CSPs offer extra services such as a site builder, a shopping cart, and limited or no advertising. There is usually a low monthly rate, and some also charge a one time setup fee. For those Web sites that are doing buisness, there may also be a percentage or fixed charge per transaction that occurs. For midsize to large businesses, the software allows for control over many options of the site that include the site layout and remote and local management options, amongst others. The biggest difference in this software and that of smaller businesses is that it is more expensive, can server a larger number of people, and is customizable. Some of the different software options include Intershop Enfinity, IBM WebSphere, and Microsoft Commerce Server. Intershop Enfinity provides numerous services including "search and catalog capabilities, shopping cart, online credit card transaction processing, and connectibility to business systems and databases." It also offers the capability of managing the site either locally or remotely. It also allows for ease of use with various other business operations. IBM WebSphere offers many of the same functions of Intershop Enfinity, but also allow for a custom online store experience. To do this, a knowledge of JavaScript, Java or C++ is required for best results. On average, it can cost anywhere from $20,000 to over $200,000 to set up, depending on the number of servers and options chosen. Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 is a third option for midsize to large businesses, especially a business with someone who has experience coding. This is because of the fact that, even though the program offers wizards to set up the site, coding must be used to make it meet specific needs. A typical installation will cost between $20,000 and $150,000.	For larger businesses, there are many different programs available to make running the business go as smoothly as possible. They cover all the different aspects of the business, such as customer relationship management, supply chain management, content management, and knowledge management. This software is often known as enterprise-class e-commerce software since it does cover so many aspects of the business. Customer relationship management software is used to gather information about the customers of a particular company and try to tailor their experience to the needs and wants of that customer. Often times this is done by gathering information on their activities, and basing changes on this information. This software can help to keep the customer coming back in the future because they feel they are number one in the eyes of the company. Supply chain management software is used to keep a running record of what items the company has and allows for communications with their suppliers. It also allows them to track what items seem to be requested the most in order for the company to know that they need to change things around. Content management software is used to keep the content of their Web site updated with various changes that occur in business operations, such as changing prices of items when they go on sale. On average, this software costs between $100,000 and $500,000, but can be much more with customization and implementation. Knowledge management software is used to gather information that is gathered from various sources to accomplish four basic goals. They are: Collect and organize information share the information among employees enhance the ability for employees to collaborate on the data preserve knowledge gathered for future use. This is done in many ways, but mainly by going through electronic documents that contain various pieces of information.
	Alternatives	Functions	Next Topic: Security
Copyright 2010, Albert Smarowsky	Site Map	Home	Contact

E-Commerce Software & Business Size

Depending on the size of a business, its software requirements may differ from another business. There are three classifications of business sizes, which are small to midsize, midsize to large, and large.

Small and midsize businesses may benefit from basic or mall-style CSPs. Basic CSPs offer hosting services at a low rate or even free. The service provider keeps the server up and running, allowing for the company to focus mainly on their Web site. Mall-style CSPs offer extra services such as a site builder, a shopping cart, and limited or no advertising. There is usually a low monthly rate, and some also charge a one time setup fee. For those Web sites that are doing buisness, there may also be a percentage or fixed charge per transaction that occurs.

service_provider

For midsize to large businesses, the software allows for control over many options of the site that include the site layout and remote and local management options, amongst others. The biggest difference in this software and that of smaller businesses is that it is more expensive, can server a larger number of people, and is customizable. Some of the different software options include Intershop Enfinity, IBM WebSphere, and Microsoft Commerce Server.

Intershop Enfinity provides numerous services including "search and catalog capabilities, shopping cart, online credit card transaction processing, and connectibility to business systems and databases." It also offers the capability of managing the site either locally or remotely. It also allows for ease of use with various other business operations.

enfinity

IBM WebSphere offers many of the same functions of Intershop Enfinity, but also allow for a custom online store experience. To do this, a knowledge of JavaScript, Java or C++ is required for best results. On average, it can cost anywhere from $20,000 to over $200,000 to set up, depending on the number of servers and options chosen.

websphere

Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 is a third option for midsize to large businesses, especially a business with someone who has experience coding. This is because of the fact that, even though the program offers wizards to set up the site, coding must be used to make it meet specific needs. A typical installation will cost between $20,000 and $150,000.

microsoft

For larger businesses, there are many different programs available to make running the business go as smoothly as possible. They cover all the different aspects of the business, such as customer relationship management, supply chain management, content management, and knowledge management. This software is often known as enterprise-class e-commerce software since it does cover so many aspects of the business.

Customer relationship management software is used to gather information about the customers of a particular company and try to tailor their experience to the needs and wants of that customer. Often times this is done by gathering information on their activities, and basing changes on this information. This software can help to keep the customer coming back in the future because they feel they are number one in the eyes of the company.

crm

Supply chain management software is used to keep a running record of what items the company has and allows for communications with their suppliers. It also allows them to track what items seem to be requested the most in order for the company to know that they need to change things around.

supply_chain

Content management software is used to keep the content of their Web site updated with various changes that occur in business operations, such as changing prices of items when they go on sale. On average, this software costs between $100,000 and $500,000, but can be much more with customization and implementation.

Knowledge management software is used to gather information that is gathered from various sources to accomplish four basic goals. They are:

Collect and organize information
share the information among employees
enhance the ability for employees to collaborate on the data
preserve knowledge gathered for future use.

This is done in many ways, but mainly by going through electronic documents that contain various pieces of information.

km_software

Alternatives

Functions

Next Topic: Security

Site Map

Home

Contact