ECommerce Mechanisms Platforms and Tools 2 1 ELECTRONIC

E-Commerce: Mechanisms Platforms and Tools

2. 1 ELECTRONIC COMMERCE MECHANISMS: AN OVERVIEW n n n n information system databases, networks, security, software server software, operating systems, hardware (Web servers), and hosting services electronic markets, shopping carts, e-catalogs, support services such as payment order

2. 1 ELECTRONIC COMMERCE MECHANISMS: AN OVERVIEW n The Online Purchasing Process n n n The buyer may return to the seller’s catalog to choose more items. pay by credit card, Pay. Pal, check after billing The place where buying and selling occurs is called an e-marketplace

2. 2 E-MARKETPLACES n n n Markets (electronic or otherwise) have four major functions: (1) enabling transactions to occur by providing a meeting place for buyers and sellers; (2) enabling the flow of relevant information; (3) providing services associated with market transactions, such as payments and escrow (4) providing auxiliary services such as legal

2. 2 E-MARKETPLACES Types of E-Marketplaces n Private e-marketplaces are those owned and operated by a single company. starbucks. com , dell. com target. com and united. com sell from their websites.

2. 2 E-MARKETPLACES Public E-Marketplaces n n They often are owned by a third party (not a seller or a buyer) or by a group of buying or selling companies (referred to as a consortium ) and they serve many sellers and many buyers. They are open to the public and usually are regulated by the government or the exchange’s owners.

2. 3 CUSTOMER SHOPPING MECHANISMS: WEBSTORES, MALLS, AND PORTALS n n Webstores The most common tools are an electronic catalog ; a search engine that helps the consumer find products in the catalog; an electronic shopping cart for holding items until checkout; e-auction facilities where auctions take place; a payment gateway where payment arrangements can be made; a shipment center where shipping arrangements are made; and customer services ,

2. 3 CUSTOMER SHOPPING MECHANISMS: WEBSTORES, MALLS, AND PORTALS n n n Electronic Malls The mall charges commission from the sellers based on their sale volume. https: //www. etsy. com/

2. 3 CUSTOMER SHOPPING MECHANISMS: WEBSTORES, MALLS, AND PORTALS Web (Information) Portals n A Web (information) portal is a single point of access, through a Web browser, to critical business information located inside and outside of organizations.

2. 4 MERCHANT SOLUTIONS: ELECTRONIC CATALOGS, SEARCH ENGINES, AND SHOPPING CARTS EC Search Activities, Types, and Engines Types of EC Searches n Search Engines n n search engine is a computer program that can access databases of Internet or intranet resources, search for specific information or keywords, andreport the results. www. ask. com

2. 4 MERCHANT SOLUTIONS: ELECTRONIC CATALOGS, SEARCH ENGINES, AND SHOPPING CARTS n n n Voice-Powered Search The first product was included as part of i. Phone’s mobile search application. personal assistant Siri

2. 4 MERCHANT SOLUTIONS: ELECTRONIC CATALOGS, SEARCH ENGINES, AND SHOPPING CARTS n Video and Mobile Search n There are dozens of dedicated search tools and sites that will search for videos and other images.

2. 4 MERCHANT SOLUTIONS: ELECTRONIC CATALOGS, SEARCH ENGINES, AND SHOPPING CARTS n Social Network Search Engines n n a class of online search engines that help people find material about social networking activities, such as in user generated content, discussion groups, or recommendations. Examples socialmention. com – ‘real time social media search and analysis,

2. 5 AUCTIONS, BARTERING, AND NEGOTIATING ONLINE n n An online auction is an electronic space where sellers and buyers meet and conduct different types of transactions. http: //www. 100 auctionsites. com/

2. 5 AUCTIONS, BARTERING, AND NEGOTIATING ONLINE

2. 6 VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS n A virtual community n n n is one where the interaction takes place over a computer network, mainly the Internet. Virtual communities parallel typical physical communities, such as neighborhoods, clubs, or associations, but people do not meet faceto-face. Instead, they meet online.

2. 6 VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS n Characteristics of Traditional Online Communities and Their Classification

2. 6 VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS

2. 6 VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS

Examples of Social Mobile Commerce Applications There are several types of social mobile applications. Illustrative examples are provided next. Example Coca-Cola created a social network under its Sprite brand (Sprite Yard), which is only accessible via cellphones. n The network is aimed at the youth market, and members can set profiles, meet friends, share photos and so on. n The idea is to use the site mainly for promoting the brand. To attract visitors, the company offers free content (music and video clips). However, the free access requires a PIN code found under Coca-Cola bottle.

2. 7 VIRTUAL WORLDS AS AN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PLATFORMS n n A virtual world is a site for online communities in a computer-generated setting , where users socialize and work with one another through the use of avatars.

2. 7 VIRTUAL WORLDS AS AN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PLATFORMS n jetstar. com/au/en/customer-service n n “has launched a new virtual assistant called ‘Ask. Jess, ’ Natural Language Understanding (NLU) technology allows applications like Ask Jess to understand a customer’s intent through an interactive

2. 8 EMERGING EC PLATFORMS: AUGMENTED REALITY AND CROWDSOURCING n Crowdsourcing utilizes crowds to collectively execute tasks such as solving problems, innovating, or getting large projects completed by dividing the work among many people.