Internet or World Wide Web in recent times has emerged as a source for everything. All one need to do is to open the internet and find the desired in any of the search engines like Google, Yahoo or Microsoft Live. A host of options pops up in front of the eyes in a fraction of second and with a click of the mouse. More consumers are turning to search engines for the product or service of their requirement because of its convenience. Like;

• 365X24X7 Access
• World wide reach
• Easy comparison
• Cost effectiveness for the research
• Authenticity for the information by reference to similar site checks

Over 95% of web traffic is routed from the search engines like Google, Yahoo or Microsoft Live. This fact encourages every site or business owner to have themselves identified with the search engines. There are many options available as to how to promote a website. This is necessary to get an early or top ranking in the indexing method of the search engine. It has been observed that more than 75% of the searches are done only in the top three listings. Search engine marketing takes care of the ranking in the search engines. The basic aim remains the same as in any business organization. To get as many as queries possible by getting as many as visitor clicking in the website detail and convert them to be a customer.

A Business to Business (B2B) purchase decision making process is altogether different from a consumer transaction. B2B purchases are not snap decisions. The complex nature of the purchase gets more people to have influence on the decision. To name a few of them, technology, operations and financial etc have a role to play. A nos.of person gets involved in the decision making and thereby resulting into a considerable time gap between the research and the final closure of the purchase.

For Business to business (B2B) buyers, search engines however remain the primary research source. They all use the web to research, evaluate, or vet the alternatives. The web is also one of the top influences on not only in the purchasing decisions but throughout the purchase cycle, from earliest speculation, awareness, negotiation and the entire purchase phase.

1. Introduction

E-commerce plays a vital  role in the way in which products and services are purchased.

An E- commerce system like your website can be used as a major place where you can advertise your products and sell it to customers. E-commerce can also be important part in strengthening relationships and also helps in improving the efficiency of your dealings with trading partners and the suppliers.

This guide provides advice on various key issues about how to identify the opportunities & solutions for ecommerce. It also highlights the necessity to plan for the ongoing development and maintenance of any e-commerce system..

2. Identifying e-commerce opportunities

There are various ways for identifying the e-commerce for your business:

Direct sales

If you plan to sell online, you have to rethink of your business activities. This will change the entire process of your business like the online query, placing an order online in spite of talking to sales person directly. You need to take lessons how every aspect of transaction is handled including order confirmation, invoicing, payment, deliveries, returns and personal relationship to customers.

Pre sales

You can use your web site for pre-sales activities. The most basic can be through the use of ‘brochure ware’ – i.e having promotional materials on your site. The other methods include email campaigns, sending news letter or online advertising .

Post sales support

You can also use the internet to computerize aspects of the customer support and can reduce the frequency of customer service calls. This can be achieved by using your site to answer the most FAQ, or by putting technical information online.

3. Making an User friendly Ecommerce site

The more user friendly an ecommerce site will be, more are the chances of success of your online brand image.

There are three elements of the shopping process that influence how easy and enjoyable the customer finds shopping on an e-commerce site - the shop front, shopping cart and payment software.

Shop front

The shop front is the interface presented to the customer. This often incorporates an online catalogue that enables them to glimpse for products and recognize those they wish to buy.

Shopping cart

From an ecommerce website once the goods have been chosen, the customer should locate the checkout clearly signposted, so that they can proceed to payment for the goods.

The system should process the order efficient and accurately with all summary including packing and shipping cost with VAT and other taxes. It should also generate a printable receipt and must send a confirmation email to the customer.

Payment software

Most customers pay for their purchase with credit or debit cards. There are three options for accepting such payments - you can:

* open a merchant account
* use a payment processing company
* set up an online shop within a virtual shopping mall

4. Trading partner relationships

Apart from offering new ways of doing business with customers, e-commerce also offers new traditions of building closer links and improving business relationships with key trading partners.

Some of the key technologies are listed below.

• exchange information on stock levels
• fulfill orders more quickly
• minimize excess inventory
• improve customer service
• use a networking infrastructure to ensure good response times and speed

5. Implementing e-commerce

The key tools for e-commerce is that it must be specified, designed, hosted and maintained properly.

Specification

The website specification should be clearly identified, visualize and it must be crystal clear that what the site is trying to achieve and how the various components of the site is contributing to it.

Domain name

Domain name plays an important role in the branding of your business. Your domain name should be simple and easy to spell. It should speak about your business.

Website hosting

If you purchase a domain name, either you will host your website or have an Internet service Provider (ISP) host it on your behalf. While hosting your ecommerce website it is very important that there is a suitable server with fast internet connection, secure network, quick technical support, and suitable bandwidth.

Software options

An important early decision that to be consider is where you want a complete shop package or build the software from scratch.

Shop package allows you to configure product information and the look and feel of the shop. However they have certain limitation when tailoring them.

Alternatively, you can use third party software which suits your budget and process of work.