" So, you want to sell
your products and services online?"
What is the best method for you to transact
business on the web? That's a good question. Dependent on the number of items
you have to sell or different services you offer, here are some options for you
to consider:
- Simple form
Best fit: For a relatively low number of products and/or services.
Description: Items are usually displayed in a list and customers/clients simply
check-off or click on their choice(s). Fields for collecting name, address,
phone number and credit card or billing preference are also present.
Must
have: A method of receipt.
Additionally recommended: A secure server
certificate.
Advantage: Forms are standard on the web and they are familiar
to most Internet users.
Expense: A simple form is usually the most
inexpensive method of implementing e-commerce.
- Simple form with
calculating ability
All of the above with the addition of having order
total, shipping and handling and tax automatically calculated and presented to
customer.
Expense: This form usually requires a bit of customization and
can cost more than a simple form.
- Shopping Cart
Best fit: For more than 10 products or services.
Description: Items are
displayed over multiple pages and customers/clients check-off or click on their
selections. The shopping cart "remembers" customer choices and displays them
all at check out. Fields for collecting name, address, phone number and credit
card or billing preference are present at check out. Shopping Carts can also
calculate order total, shipping and handling and tax automatically.
Must
have: The ability to access a database, software required and/or provided by
shopping cart manufacturer, and a method of reciept.
Additionally
recommended: Real-time credit card validation service and a secure server
certificate.
Expense: Dependent on preferred functionality. More than a
simple form or simple form with calculating ability.
- Order Tracking (Add-on
to options presented above)
Best fit: When shipping and handling
requires up to a week or more for delivery.
Description: Custom-designed
software or carrier provided integration that allows customers to track the
location of their purchase in the shipping process.
Must have: Dependent on
preferred functionality and integration.
Expense: Dependent on preferred
functionality and integration.
- Inventory Management
and Fulfillment (Add-on to options presented above)
Best fit: For large
volume and multiple locations.
Description: An application used "behind the
scenes" that allows companies to maintain inventory control in real time from
remote and/or multiple locations. For example, Company A enjoys a large volume
of product sales. For economic and convenience reasons, they warehouse their
products in multiple locations. The inventory of product available in all their
locations is maintained on one, central processing computer, or server. All the
company's sales are cleared through the same central processing server and
orders for fulfillment are forwarded to the most appropriate warehouse
location. Simultaneously, inventory is updated as sales are made.
Must
have: Dependent on preferred functionality and integration.
Expense:
Dependent on preferred functionality and integration.
Ever wonder how Amazon.com does it? You
don't have to be a large company to make e-commerce work for you. Work with
your developer to find the right solution that best fits your
need.
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