An e-commerce strategy and architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

An e-commerce strategy and architecture - Essay Example According to the research findings it can therefore be said that the Secure-Car Business deals in such systems along with other accessories which can help secure our vehicles from illegal intrusion. Up till now, this firm has been running its business using tradition business management structure. For instance, it has a store where people come to shop. They shop for the desired product and pay instantly. The firm has adopted a paper based approach to keep the record of its products and services. In this IT based era where people want to shop by remaining at their homes, Secure-Car has been using a traditional business approach. Once the manager/owner of the firm was using the Internet to locate information on a specific device, he was shocked to see the support of the Internet for delivering the required information in a few seconds. Manager/owner of the firm decided to implement an e-commerce platform for their business. The basic purpose of implementing this e-commerce business is to promote their business and let the other people shop by sitting at their homes. This e-commerce web site will allow the customers to place an order online by filling an online form. In this scenario, the order details will be received by the Secure-Car firm and they will deliver the product to their customer. Though, it is a proposed scenario and for the actual implementation of this idea, the manager/owner of the firm must be familiar with the terms associated with e-commerce. 2- Introduction to E-commerce Concepts A lot of the ways business organizations and individuals perform their daily tasks and continue to exist in the twenty-first century are measured with the huge web of electronic networks that is normally acknowledged as the Internet (Turban, Leidner, McLean, & Wetherbe, 2005). In addition, the across-the-board existence of the Internet for performing transactions between sellers and buyers is the fundamental motive behind the development of electronic commerce or simp ly (e-commerce). According to (Laudon & Laudon, 1999, p. 25; Stair & Reynolds, 2003, p. 19), â€Å"electronic commerce is the process of selling and purchasing services and goods and products is carried out electronically by means of computerized business transactions over the Internet, networks, and other digital technologies†. In addition, e-commerce also encompasses the operations behind those business transactions, such as business marketing advertising, offering customer support, and processing payment. Additionally, by replacing old and rigid paper-based and manual techniques with electronic processes, and with advanced information flows in up to date and active manners, e-commerce does not only offer the business organizations a capability to accelerate the process of ordering, delivery, and payment for products, services and goods but also minimizes the operating and inventory expenditures of the organizations (Laudon & Laudon, 1999, p. 25). Moreover, the World Wide W eb (WWW) has turned into a common platform for performing e-commerce, building and implementing latest tools and technologies for the organizations to communicate with each other and their customers.

The most effective channel structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The most effective channel structure - Essay Example Specification of distribution tasks in order to achieve the set objectives was done using the five task groups namely physical distribution, after sale service, channel support, selling and risk assumption. The next stage involved selecting alternative channel structures using the channel levels, intensity and intermediary levels after which evaluation of the alternatives was done using the weighted factor score approach. This helped to determine the effective channel strategy which was to provide accommodation services so as to reduce costs for tourists hence attract them. This is to differentiate Webjet from the competitors and gain sustainable competitive advantage. An implementation plan was then designed to achieve the results needed. Table of Contents Executive summary 1 Table of Contents 2 List of Tables and Figures 4 1. Introduction 5 1.1 Authorization 5 1.2 Limitation 5 1.3 Scope of Report 5 2. Case Background 6 2.1 Company Background 7 2.2 Channel Design Decision Paradigm 7 3. Major Case Issues 9 4. Situation Analysis 9 4.1 Internal AND EXTERNAL Analysis 9 4.2 INTERNAL ANALYSIS 10 4.3 External Analysis 11 4.4 Setting and Coordinating Distribution Objectives 11 4.5 Distribution Tasks 12 4.5.1 Selling 12 4.5.2 Channel Support 13 4.5.3 Physical Distribution 13 4.5.4 Product modification and after-sales services 14 4.5.5 Risk Assumptions 14 5. Identifying Alternative Channel Structures 14 5.1 Number of Channel Levels 15 5.2 Intensity at Each Level 16 5.3 Types of Intermediaries 16 5.4 Alternative Channel Structure Strategy 16 6. Evaluation of Alternative Channel Structure 17 6.1 Company Variables 17 6.2 Market Variables 18 6.3 Product Variables 19 6.4 Intermediaries Variables 20 6.5 Weighted Factor Score Approach 20 7. Recommended Strategy 21 8. Implementation plan 21 9. Conclusion 22 10. List of References 24 List of Tables and Figures Figure A- Channel Design Paradigm Adapted from (birch, 2006) 9 Figure B - Channel levels in travel agency Adapted FROM ( Holma, 2010) 15 1. Introduction 1.1 Authorization This report has been authorized by Mr. David Clarke to outline the most effective channel structure for Webjet Limited. In the production of the report, the seven steps of the channel decision paradigm will be utilized. 1.2 Limitation Various limitations were noted while conducting research and producing the report. One of the major limitations was not having a clear timeline for completion of the report. This meant the report could be delayed due to lack of urgency and timeline leading to outdated information which has been overtaken by events and also delays in implementation which could lead to severity of the problem. Another limitation was lack of useful and relevant information from the literature and inability to obtain timely communication from Webjet. 1.3 Scope of Report This report examined a number of ways on how to create or modify the channel design of Webjet Limited. This involved looking into the existing channels and determining if they are suitable for the organization and what could be done to improve on them. This was to assist Webjet to recognize the need to make a decision on the channel design. This involved undergoing the seven channel design stages to come up with the right channel for Webjet. Firstly, a brief background was given for the company selected (Webjet) containing company profile, locations, products and company history together with the channel design