Why An E-Commerce Webste Is Vital For Your Online Business

The word E commerce is derived from the word electronic commerce, it can also be referred to as website eCommerce, e Business, eTailing, online eCommerce, ecom or EC. This is the method of selling or marketing goods and services while transferring funds or money online through electronic communication or networks.

An eCommerce website does not share the same traits as that of a typical business website. The features of an eCommerce website makes it easier to distribute goods and market services easily to consumers.

The online related features include shopping carts, online product catalog, automated inventory database, statistics tracking and the ability to use credit cards while providing product warehousing and shipment as non-computer related tasks.

Functions Of An E-Commerce Website

This functions include:-

1. The customer – buys products
2. The Website owner – ships products bought by the customer & gets paid
3. The eCommerce Application – interface between the customer and website owner
4. The payment Gateways – handles payment transactions using various methods i.e. PayPal, Mpesa etc.
5. The Vendor/Merchant Business Bank Account – Website owner’s business bank account

There are several benefits to having an eCommerce website for both the vendor and customers. One of the main benefits of conducting an online business to a vendor is that its cost friendly since it is easy to set up an eCommerce website even from an ordinary existing website or having one designed for your specific needs from scratch.

Customers on the other hand can easily browse and shop at any given time or day at the comfort of their own home or anywhere that has internet availability, saving on time and resources while visiting physical stores or markets. This also benefits the vendor, as they can easily add products anytime of the day making standard business hours irrelevant and paving way for a 24hour economy.

The Main Buying Process OF An ECommerce Websiite

1. Customer browses product catalogue – The product catalogue is where all your goods-for-sale data lives. The product name, description, cost, stock level, pictures etc. are all stored in here providing detailed description for each item to inform more costumers on what you are selling. .
2. Customer adds product to basket
3. Customer buys product and enters check-out process
4. E-commerce Application contacts a Payment Gateway
5. Payment Gateway provides secure customer shipping and payment details entry form
6. Customer securely enters shipping and payment information
7. Payment Gateway contacts Website Owners’ Merchant Bank Account
8. Merchant Bank Account processes payment transaction and returns control to Payment Gateway
9. Payment Gateway returns Customer to E-commerce Application
10. E-commerce Application notifies Customer of successful (or failed) payment
11. E-commerce Application notifies Website Owner of purchase
12. Website Owner ships product to Customer

It is also important to consider design whenever you choose to place products in your website, as it can greatly affect your consumer’s impression about your website’s credibility and affect your sales as well.

E commerce websites are also built with secured payment methods to benefit the vendor and customers enabling safe and secure transactions.

The old fashioned way of business would require payment of rent, utilities, salaries and taxes as a cost of doing business while having an E-commerce business qualifies you for tax deductions and saves more compared to selling from a physical store or market.

For one to become more successful in the online business world, they should focus on customer satisfaction by ensuring that their platforms are safe and secure from hackers or other threats that come with transacting online.

Are you looking for a website eCommerce solution? Soft web masters provides you with an insider look at eCommerce and web development services at reasonable prices. Turn your site into an E commerce Website within minutes and start selling online today.