EBusiness Eighth Edition Chapter 9 Electronic Commerce Software

E-Business Eighth Edition Chapter 9 Electronic Commerce Software

Learning Objectives In this chapter, you will learn about: • Finding and evaluating Web-hosting services • Basic functions of electronic commerce software • Advanced functions of electronic commerce software E-Business, Eighth Edition 2

Learning Objectives (cont’d. ) • Electronic commerce software for small and midsize businesses • Electronic commerce software for midsize to large businesses • Electronic commerce software for large businesses that have an existing information technology infrastructure E-Business, Eighth Edition 3

Web Hosting Alternatives • Self-hosting – Run servers in-house – Often used by large companies • Third-party Web-hosting service providers – Offer Web services, electronic commerce functions – Often used by midsize, smaller companies • Commerce service providers (CSPs) – Provide Internet access, Web-hosting services – Offer hosting services • Help companies conduct electronic commerce E-Business, Eighth Edition 4

Web Hosting Alternatives (cont’d. ) • Commerce service providers (CSPs) (cont’d. ) – Offer Web server management, rent application software – Also called: • Managed service providers (MSPs) • Application service providers (ASPs) • Service provider hosting arrangements – Shared hosting • Client's Web site on server hosting other Web sites simultaneously • Operated by service provider at its location E-Business, Eighth Edition 5

Web Hosting Alternatives (cont’d. ) • Service provider hosting arrangements (cont’d. ) – Dedicated hosting • Client Web server available • Server not shared with other clients – Service provider responsibilities (shared and dedicated hosting) • Owns server hardware, leased to client • Maintains Web server hardware, software • Provides Internet connection through its routers, other network hardware E-Business, Eighth Edition 6

Web Hosting Alternatives (cont’d. ) • Service provider hosting arrangements (cont’d. ) – Co-location service • Service provider rents physical space to client • Provides reliable power supply, Internet connection • Clients install own server hardware, software; maintain server • Finding service providers – Local telephone directory – Web directories • The List • Google Directory of Web Host Directories E-Business, Eighth Edition 7

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Web Hosting Alternatives (cont’d. ) • Comparing Web hosts – Host. Index site • Web-hosting alternatives and services – Top. Hosts. com and Host. Search sites • Major Web directories – Google Directory of Web Host Directories • Web server-hosting decision: main factor – Scalable • Web server hardware, software combinations adaptable to meet changing requirements when needs of clients grow E-Business, Eighth Edition 9

Basic Functions of Electronic Commerce Software • Software and hardware products to build sites – Inexpensive hosted stores with software tools – Expensive sophisticated electronic commerce software suites • Electronic commerce software needs determined by: – Expected enterprise size, projected traffic, sales – Budget • Online store creation is less expensive than building retail store chain • External or in-house host considerations E-Business, Eighth Edition 10

Basic Functions of Electronic Commerce Software (cont’d. ) • All electronic commerce solutions must provide: – Catalog display – Shopping cart capabilities – Transaction processing • Larger complex sites may include: – Software • Adding features, capabilities to basic commerce tools E-Business, Eighth Edition 11

Catalog Display • Catalog organizes goods and services being sold – Organizes offerings into departments – Web store advantage • Single product in multiple categories • Catalog: listing of goods and services • Static catalog: simple list written in HTML – On Web page or series of Web pages • Dynamic catalog: item information stored in database – Separate computer accessible to server running Web site itself (usually) E-Business, Eighth Edition 12

Catalog Display (cont’d. ) • Large, well-known electronic commerce sites – Include many features; are professional looking • Small electronic commerce site – Simple, inexpensive electronic commerce software – Few features, clean look – Small Web stores (sell fewer than 100 items) • Use simple list of products or categories (static) • Item organization not particularly important • Can provide item photo • Good sites provide alternative ways to find products – Search engine E-Business, Eighth Edition 13

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Shopping Cart • Early days of electronic commerce – Used forms-based shopping • Shoppers selected items for purchase by filling out online forms • Awkward if ordering more than one or two items – Problems • Need to write down product codes, unit prices, other information before ordering • Customers forgot whether submit button clicked – Confusing and error prone E-Business, Eighth Edition 15

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Shopping Cart (cont’d. ) • Electronic shopping carts – Today: electronic commerce standard – Keep track of items customer selected – Customer may view cart contents, add items, remove items – Figure 9 -4 • Shopping cart software – BIZNET Internet Services, Sales. Cart, Web. Genie Software – Figure 9 -5 E-Business, Eighth Edition 17

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Shopping Cart (cont’d. ) • Web is stateless – Unable to remember anything from one session to another – To retrieve shopping cart information later • Information must be stored explicitly • Use cookies – If shopper’s browser does not allow cookie storage • Electronic commerce software automatically assigns temporary number • Example: Shop. Site E-Business, Eighth Edition 20

Transaction Processing • Occurs when shopper proceeds to virtual checkout counter – Click checkout button • Electronic commerce software performs necessary calculations • Web browser software and seller’s Web server software switch into secure communication state • Most complex part of online sale – Web server software must communicate with other software running on seller’s other computers E-Business, Eighth Edition 21

Transaction Processing (cont’d. ) • Most companies use accounting software package – Record sales and inventory movements • Must compute sales taxes and shipping costs – Software: update tax rates automatically – Fed. Ex and UPS • Offer software integrating with electronic commerce software • Other calculation complications – Coupons, special promotions, time-sensitive offers E-Business, Eighth Edition 22

Advanced Functions of Electronic Commerce Software • Large company e-commerce operations – May have substantial business activity • Not related to electronic commerce – Exceptions: Amazon. com and Buy. com • Important – Integrate electronic commerce activities into other operations E-Business, Eighth Edition 23

Middleware • Middleware software – Takes sales and inventory shipments information from electronic commerce software – Transmits to accounting and inventory management software (format systems can read) • Sources – Companies can write own middleware – Purchase customized middleware • Interoperability – Making information systems work together – Important goal when installing middleware E-Business, Eighth Edition 24

Middleware (cont’d. ) • Middleware costs – Primarily consulting fees to make software work – Range: $50, 000 to several million dollars • Depending on complexity • Major middleware vendors – BEA Systems, Broadvision, Digital River, IBM Tivoli Systems E-Business, Eighth Edition 25

Enterprise Application Integration and Databases • Application program (application software, application) – Program performing specific function • Application server (computer) – Takes request messages received by Web server • Runs application program performing action based on request message’s contents • Actions determined by business logic • Business logic – Rules used in the business E-Business, Eighth Edition 26

Enterprise Application Integration and Databases (cont’d. ) • Application integration (enterprise application integration) – Creation of links among scattered applications – Interconnects organization’s business logic – Accomplished by programs transferring information • From one application to another – Various program data formats differ • Must edit and reformat data • Increasingly using XML data feeds E-Business, Eighth Edition 27

Enterprise Application Integration and Databases (cont’d. ) • Types of application servers – Page-based and component-based systems • Page-based application systems – Return pages generated by scripts containing rules • Present data on Web page with the business logic – Work well for small, midsize Web sites – Examples • • Adobe Cold. Fusion Java. Server Pages (JSP) Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) E-Business, Eighth Edition 28

Enterprise Application Integration and Databases (cont’d. ) • Component-based application systems – Separate presentation logic from business logic – Preferred by larger businesses – Logic component created in its own module • Updating, changing system elements much easier – Common Web component-based systems • Enterprise Java. Beans (EJBs) • Microsoft: Component Object Model (COM) • Object Management Group: Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) E-Business, Eighth Edition 29

Enterprise Application Integration and Databases (cont’d. ) • Databases contain business logic information that application servers use • Database manager (software) – Stores information in highly structured way – Database structure allows database manager software to retrieve database information – Smaller electronic commerce sites • Low-cost database (Microsoft Access) – Larger electronic commerce sites • Need power (IBM DB 2, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle) E-Business, Eighth Edition 30

Enterprise Application Integration and Databases (cont’d. ) • Distributed information systems – Large information systems storing data in many different physical locations • Distributed database systems – Databases within distributed information systems • Complexity leads to high cost • My. SQL database software – Maintained by community of programmers – Open source software: downloadable (free) • Software source code freely available (“open”) – Owned by Sun since 2008 E-Business, Eighth Edition 31

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Web Services • Web services (software tools) – Application software in one organization communicates with other applications • Over a network using specific set of standard protocols (SOAP, UDDI, WSDL) • Web services (another definition) – Self-contained, modular unit of application logic – Provides business functionality to other applications – Through Internet connection E-Business, Eighth Edition 33

Web Services (cont’d. ) • What Web services can do – Offer improved customer service, reduced costs – Provide XML data feeds • Flow from one application to another – Provide data feeds between two different companies • Examples – Information portal (J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. ) – Automating communications (Nationwide Building Society) – Generating Web pages (CUNA Mutual Group) E-Business, Eighth Edition 34

Web Services (cont’d. ) • How Web services work – Key element • Programmers write software accessing business application logic units without knowing details – Machine-to-machine communication • Allows programs written in different languages on different platforms to communicate, accomplish transaction processing, and perform other business tasks • Originally accomplished with HTML • Implemented with XML today E-Business, Eighth Edition 35

Web Services (cont’d. ) • How Web services work (cont’d. ) – First Web services • Information sources • Allowed programmers to incorporate information sources into software applications – More advanced example • Company uses Web services purchasing software to obtain vendor price information • Purchasing agent authorizes purchase using software to submit order, track until shipment received • Vendor's Web services software checks buyer’s credit, contracts with freight company E-Business, Eighth Edition 36

Web Services (cont’d. ) • SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI specifications – Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) • Message-passing protocol defining how to send marked up data from one software application to another across a network – Full SOAP specification • W 3 C SOAP Page E-Business, Eighth Edition 37

Web Services (cont’d. ) • SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI specifications (cont’d. ) – Web Services Description Language (WSDL) • Describes logical units characteristics making up specific Web services – More information • W 3 CWeb Services Activity pages – Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) specification • Set of protocols identifying Web services locations’ associated WSDL descriptions – More information • UDDI Web site E-Business, Eighth Edition 38

Web Services (cont’d. ) • SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI specifications (cont’d. ) – Software vendors embracing Web services idea in new technology initiatives • Microsoft. NET • Sun Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition – Advantage • Less expensive to implement than older approaches E-Business, Eighth Edition 39

Web Services (cont’d. ) • The future of Web services – Web services present a major change in business computing – Historically: • IT industry resisted standards; used programming languages unable to communicate with each other • Large businesses hired armies of programmers – Today: • Web services gaining momentum • Web services are in 25 percent of current data integration projects E-Business, Eighth Edition 40

Web Services (cont’d. ) • The future of Web services (cont’d. ) – Potential pitfalls • Many variations of XML; data partners must agree • Software applications becoming dependent on Web services; must include reliable quality of service, service-level agreements • Still developing management standards; subscriber needs detailed agreement – Successful implementation: MSN Money • Com. Stock Web services acknowledgment on page E-Business, Eighth Edition 41

Integration with ERP Systems • B 2 B interactions occur within large firms – Complex systems require security tools • Encryption and authentication • Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software packages – Business systems integrating all business facets • Accounting, logistics, manufacturing, marketing, planning, project management, treasury functions • Two major ERP vendors – Oracle and SAP – Costs: between $2 million and $25 million E-Business, Eighth Edition 42

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Electronic Commerce Software for Small and Midsize Companies • Small and medium-sized businesses – Software to implement online business Web sites • Web site – Stands alone in its business activities – Does not coordinate completely with business’ other activities E-Business, Eighth Edition 44

Basic Commerce Service Providers • Service provider’s shared or dedicated hosting services – Staffing burden shifts from company to Web host • CSPs hosting services – Same advantages as ISPs – Large Web site cost spread over several “renters” – Low cost • Host provider purchased and configured the server • Host provider keeps server working through storms and power outages E-Business, Eighth Edition 45

Basic Commerce Service Providers (cont’d. ) • CSPs offer free or low-cost e-commerce software – – Electronic commerce sites kept on CSP’s server Software built into CSP’s site Cost: $20 per month Designed for small online businesses • Selling few items (no more than 50) • Relatively low transaction volumes (fewer than 20 transactions per day) E-Business, Eighth Edition 46

Basic Commerce Service Providers (cont’d. ) • CSP example: Value. Web – Offers comprehensive e-commerce hosting services • Shared hosting, dedicated hosting, co-location services • CSP example: Pro. Hosting. com and 1&1 Internet – Serving small, midsize company market – Figure 9 -8 • CSP example: Yahoo! Merchant Solutions – Figure 9 -9 E-Business, Eighth Edition 47

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Mall-Style Commerce Service Providers • Mall-style CSPs services – – Internet connection Web site creation tools Little or no banner advertising clutter Costs • Low monthly fee • One-time setup fees • Percentage of (or fixed) amount for each transaction – Online store design tools, storefront templates, easyto-use interface, Web page-generation capabilities, page maintenance E-Business, Eighth Edition 50

Mall-Style Commerce Service Providers (cont’d. ) • Mall-style CSPs services (cont’d. ) – Shopping cart software (or ability to use another vendor’s shopping cart software) – Payment processing services • Allows online store to accept credit cards • Main mall-style CSP: e. Bay stores – Cost: less than $20 per month – Small merchant has its own store E-Business, Eighth Edition 51

Mall-Style Commerce Service Providers (cont’d. ) • Another example – Online merchant selling through Amazon. com – Sells used items on same page that Amazon. com lists new products – Merchants display offerings product by product – Amazon offers a Pro Merchant program – Figure 9 -10 E-Business, Eighth Edition 52

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Mall-Style Commerce Service Providers (cont’d. ) • Basic and mall-style CSPs – Provide data-mining capabilities – Search through site data collected in log files – Data mining • Looks for hidden patterns in data • Businesses find customers with common interests • Discover previously unknown relationships among data – Reports indicate: • Problematic pages in store’s design • Number of pages average customer must load and display before locating desired merchandise E-Business, Eighth Edition 54

Estimated Operating Expenses for a Small Web Business • Small business owner Web store – Use either basic CSP or mall-style CSP – First-year expenses estimate • See Figure 9 -11 • Total omits payment processing charge • Actual costs: somewhat lower or considerably higher E-Business, Eighth Edition 55

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Estimated Operating Expenses for a Small Web Business (cont’d. ) • Self-hosting a Web site – Comparable first year estimated costs • Setup and Web site maintenance ($3000 to $20, 000, one time) • High-bandwidth Internet connection ($1200 to $12, 000 per year) • Secure a small server room ($5000 a year) • Technicians to monitor and maintain equipment ($50, 000 to $100, 000 annually) • Total costs ($60, 000 to $100, 000) • Subsequent years: costs about the same E-Business, Eighth Edition 57

Estimated Operating Expenses for a Small Web Business (cont’d. ) • Costs of larger sites: more difficult to estimate – Largest element • Integrating Web site with existing systems – Midsize businesses: start-up costs • $100, 000 to $500, 000 • Recurring annual costs of about half that amount – Large businesses: start-up costs • Recurring yearly costs: another 50 percent of the launch (operate, maintain, improve site) E-Business, Eighth Edition 58

Electronic Commerce Software for Midsize to Large Businesses • Midrange electronic commerce software products – Provide merchant control • Merchandising choices, site layout, internal architecture, remote and local management options – Differences • Price, capability, database connectivity, software portability, software customization tools, computer expertise required E-Business, Eighth Edition 59

Web Site Development Tools • Adobe Dreamweaver – Includes integrated development environment – Creates elements of dynamic Web pages as easily as static Web pages • Microsoft Expression Web – Builds framework of functional midrange electronic commerce site • After Web site creation – Add purchased software elements • Shopping carts, content management software E-Business, Eighth Edition 60

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • Intershop Enfinity provides: – – – – Search and catalog capabilities Electronic shopping carts Online credit card transaction processing Ability to connect to existing back-end business systems and databases Setup wizards Good catalog and data management tools Built-in storefront templates Management and editing of a storefront • Through Web browser (local or remote) E-Business, Eighth Edition 61

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • Intershop Enfinity provides: (cont’d. ) – Product inventory management module • Tracks inventory levels, shows available item quantity • Creates inventory transactions lists • Enters new products into inventory – Discount rules easy to enter – Database management system bundled • Alternative databases: IBM DB 2 or Oracle databases – Includes automated e-mail facility – Support for secure transactions – Site and customer reports available E-Business, Eighth Edition 62

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • IBM Web. Sphere Commerce Professional Edition – Set of software components • Suitable for midsize to large businesses • Selling goods and services on the Internet – Includes: • Catalog templates, setup wizards, advanced catalog tools to create attractive and efficient sites – Useful for B 2 B and B 2 C applications – Smooth connection to existing corporate systems • Inventory databases, procurement E-Business, Eighth Edition 63

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • IBM Web. Sphere Commerce Professional Edition (cont’d. ) – Runs on many different operating systems – Wizard used to create starter store • Can add more functionality – Large collection of functions, utility programs, commands • Create customized online store experience • Java. Script, Java, C++ expertise required – Connects to existing databases, other legacy systems – Administer several stores through one interface E-Business, Eighth Edition 64

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • IBM Web. Sphere Commerce Professional Edition (cont’d. ) – Standard electronic commerce features • • Tools for a shopping cart E-mail notifications upon sale completion Secure transaction support Promotions and discounting Shipment tracking Links to legacy accounting systems Browser-based local and remote administration – Costs ($20, 000 to $200, 000) E-Business, Eighth Edition 65

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 – Tools included for: • • User profiling and management Transaction processing Product and service management Target audience marketing – Wizards help users build site in several steps – Not an out-of-the box solution • Program code must be written for specific user needs – Microsoft Visual Studio. NET tools bundled • Allows site customization E-Business, Eighth Edition 66

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 (cont’d. ) – Customer-oriented tools help: • Engage customer (marketing and advertising) • Complete order • Analyze sales information (after the sale) – Includes: • Predefined reports: analyzing site activities, product sales data • Storefront templates • Wizards for setting up, initializing store • Ability for database connections • Shopping cart E-Business, Eighth Edition 67

Web Site Development Tools (cont’d. ) • Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 (cont’d. ) – Includes: (cont’d. ) • • E-mail confirmation for completed sales transactions Ability to support secure transactions Ability to connect to existing accounting systems Site administration through Web browser – Runs on Windows Server operating system and SQL Server database system – Costs: ($7000 to $20, 000 per processor) • Usually between $20, 000 and $150, 000 E-Business, Eighth Edition 68

Electronic Commerce Software for Large Businesses • Larger businesses need: – Same advanced capabilities as midsize firms – To handle higher transaction loads – Dedicated software applications • To handle specific elements of their online business • Distinction between midrange and large-scale electronic commerce software – Price – Extensive support for business-to-business commerce E-Business, Eighth Edition 69

Electronic Commerce Software for Large Businesses (cont’d. ) • Enterprise-class software – Commerce software for large systems • Enterprise – Describes system serving multiple locations of one company – Encompasses all areas of the business • Software provides tools for B 2 B and B 2 C commerce • Interacts with wide variety of existing systems – Database, accounting, ERP • Costs: $100, 000 to $10 million E-Business, Eighth Edition 70

Enterprise-Class Electronic Commerce Software • Requires several dedicated computers, Web server system, and firewalls • Enterprise-class products – IBM Web. Sphere Commerce Enterprise, Oracle EBusiness Suite, products from Broadvision • Provides tools for linking to and supporting supply, purchasing activities E-Business, Eighth Edition 71

Enterprise-Class Electronic Commerce Software (cont’d. ) • Provides standard electronic commerce activities – – – Secure transaction processing and fulfillment Interaction with firm’s inventory system Making proper stock adjustment Issuing purchase orders for needed supplies Generating other accounting entries Placing orders explicitly E-Business, Eighth Edition 72

Enterprise-Class Electronic Commerce Software (cont’d. ) • Enterprise-class electronic commerce architecture – Customers use Web browsers • Locate and browse company’s catalog – Electronic goods: download directly or complete order forms – Web server linked to back-end systems • Database management system, merchant server, application server • Purchasing history: way to provide customer recommendations – Merchant server houses e-business system, key back -end software E-Business, Eighth Edition 73

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Enterprise-Class Electronic Commerce Software (cont’d. ) • Additional specialized software – Accomplishes particular objectives – Example: deliver entertainment (music or videos) directly to consumers’ mobile devices • Use Open. Market software product – Customer relationship management software – Supply chain management software – Software automatically managing and rotating Web Site content – Knowledge management software E-Business, Eighth Edition 75

Customer Relationship Management Software • Goal – Understand each customer’s specific needs – Customize product or service to meet those needs • Idea – Customer whose needs met exactly • Willing to pay more for goods or services • Customer relationship management (CRM) software – Obtains data from operations software – Gathers data about customer activities – Uses data to conduct analytical activities E-Business, Eighth Edition 76

Customer Relationship Management Software (cont’d. ) • Basic CRM – Uses customer information to sell more goods or services • Advanced CRM – Delivers extremely attractive, positive customer experiences • CRM business importance – Maintaining customer loyalty – Maintaining positive, consistent contacts at the purchasing company E-Business, Eighth Edition 77

Customer Relationship Management Software (cont’d. ) • CRM software source – Companies create their own • May use outside consultants and own IT staffs – Most companies likely to buy CRM software package – Oracle Siebel CRM Applications • Leading CRM software provider – SAP CRM: another vendor – Costs: $25, 000 to millions of dollars • New developments in CRM software market – Companies offering software for use on their Web site – Example: Salesforce. com E-Business, Eighth Edition 78

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Customer Relationship Management Software (cont’d. ) • 1996 to 2000 – Early days of CRM software implementation – Tool for changing overall customer strategy – Millions of dollars; bad experience • 2000 through 2003 – CRM software sales dropped • Since 2003 – CRM software sales resuming upward trend – CRM used to solve smaller, more specific problems – Popular target: call center operations E-Business, Eighth Edition 80

Supply Chain Management Software • Companies coordinate planning and operations: – With industry supply chains partners • Two general function types: planning and execution • SCM planning software – Develops coordinated demand forecasts • Information from each participant in supply chain • SCM execution software – Tasks: warehouse and transportation management E-Business, Eighth Edition 81

Supply Chain Management Software (cont’d. ) • Two major firms offering SCM software – i 2 Technologies and JDA Software • i 2 Technologies product: RHYTHM – Components managing demand planning, supply planning, demand fulfillment • Most supply chain management software – Developed for manufacturing firms • Manage inventory purchases, manufacturing processes • JDA Software – Successful line of software products for managing retail order entry and sales side of inventory control E-Business, Eighth Edition 82

Supply Chain Management Software (cont’d. ) • JDA Software (cont’d. ) – 2006: JDA Software purchased Manugistics – Now JDA Software • Manages every operation in the supply chain • Cost of SCM software implementations – Varies tremendously • Depends on number of locations in the supply chain – Example: retailer with 500 stores • Pay between $3 million and $10 million E-Business, Eighth Edition 83

Content Management Software • Content management software – Controls large amounts of text, graphics, media files • Rise of wireless devices – Content management even more important • Businesses customize Web pages • Content management software – Test before committing • Ensure straightforward software procedures for performing regular maintenance • Software should facilitate typical content creation tasks E-Business, Eighth Edition 84

Content Management Software (cont’d. ) • Companies providing content management software – As components in other enterprise software packages • IBM and Oracle • Companies providing stand-alone content management software – EMC and Open Text Corporation • Software costs – Between $100, 000 and $500, 000 • Customization, configuration, implementation costs – Three or four times the cost of software E-Business, Eighth Edition 85

Knowledge Management Software • Systems that help manage knowledge itself – Rather than documentary representations of that knowledge • Four main things – – Collect and organize information Share information among users Enhance ability of users to collaborate Preserve knowledge gained through information use • For future users benefit E-Business, Eighth Edition 86

Knowledge Management Software (cont’d. ) • Includes tools to read: – Electronic documents, scanned paper documents, email messages, Web pages • Includes powerful search tools – Use proprietary semantic, statistical algorithms • Collects knowledge elements by extracting them from normal interactions users have with information • Major software vendors: IBM, Microsoft Share. Point, BMC Software, Customer. Vision • Costs: $10, 000 to $1 million or more E-Business, Eighth Edition 87

Summary • Small, midsize, large businesses – Electronic commerce • Software functions, selection decisions • Host provider considerations • Key elements of electronic commerce software • Web services implementation – Basic CSP and mall-style hosting services – Electronic commerce software packages • Special needs of midsize and larger business E-Business, Eighth Edition 88