WEEK 1 QUESTIONS

1)      Internet risks – give examples of four things that could go wrong with a transactional web site?

Goods not arrivingMost websites now accept payment methods such as Paypal and Western Union. These services offer some protection against no show goods.

Fraudulent Payments Extensive insurance is now provided by most credit card companies who take the brunt of the majority of fraud on line. Fraud is an issue on line but it is such a low percentage that it would be a pity to deter honest shoppers and sites. If you follow common sense and basic rules fraud can be avoided.  If the website asks for details over and beyond what is required for a normal transaction i.e. DOB - back out. Another good idea is to have one specific credit card for online use with a low credit limit – minimising the risk should your details fall into unscrupulous hands. Never use a card that is linked directly to your bank account – as you could face the prospect of an empty account.

Price and add-ons
Web sites should indicate what is included in the purchase without the fear of add-ons and additional costs to the customer. Some companies will start with a low price to hook the interest of the client and then inflate it with extras such as – Measuring costs, Installation costs, Additional Items required, Travelling costs, delivery and insurance.  The pricing structure should be clear, simple and concise.

Packaging Goods can be damaged on route to customers address, numerous vans, trucks, post offive handling etc. Goods should be packed suitably, even tried and tested by the retailer. Do not want customers complaining about quality of the goods and replacement needing to be sent out.

Shudders Direct (2012) Buying Products Online – Risks and Benefits, Retrieved Tuesday 6^th February, 2012 from, http://www.shuttersdirect.nl/articles/Buying%20Products%20online%20-%20Risks%20and%20Benefits.html

 

2)      Write down a definition for each:

a) E-commerce:
Is the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet, especially the World Wide Web. In practice, this term and a newer term, e-business, are often used interchangeably. For online retail selling, the term e-tailing is sometimes used.
E-commerce can be divided into:

• E-tailing or "virtual storefronts" on Web sites with online catalogues, sometimes gathered into a "virtual mall"
• The gathering and use of demographic data through Web contacts
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the business-to-business exchange of data
• E-mail and fax and their use as media for reaching prospects and established customers (for example, with newsletters)
• Business-to-business buying and selling
• The security of business transactions

Search CIO (2012), Definitions, Retrieved Tuesday 6^th February, 2012 from, http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/e-commerce

b) E-business:E-business (electronic business), derived from such terms as "e-mail" and "e-commerce," is the conduct of business on the Internet, not only buying and selling but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners.

Search CIO (2012), Definitions, Retrieved Tuesday 6^th February, 2012 from, http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/e-commerce

 

3)      What is the difference between buy side and sell side eCommerce?

Buy-side e-commerce refers to transactions to procure resources needed by an organisation, whereas sell-side refers to transactions involved with selling products to customers.

4)      Describe the different types of eBusiness

Business to Business (B2B) Commerce: Involves a firm or business selling products to another firm or business via the internet.
Business to Consumer (B2C) Commerce: Involves a business selling to a customer via the internet.
Consumer to Consumer (C2C) Commerce: Both parties involved are customers trading with each other.
Intra B Commerce: Both parties involved are two persons or departments of a business unit, whereby the use of a computer network makes it possible to interact constantly.
Consumer to Business (C2B) Commerce: Involves a customer’s requests a certain product online.

Digit Smith (2012), EBusiness, Retrieved Tuesday 6^th February, 2012 from,  http://www.digitsmith.com/ebusiness.html

 

5)      Which digital technology has the highest penetration rate? Explain and source your answer.

Mobile phones have the highest penetration rate. During 2007 almost one out of two people had a mobile phone, that number presumably has only increased since.

ITU, (2011) Statistics, Retrieved Tuesday 6^th February, 2012 from, http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/ict/index.html

6)      List: Four drivers to adoption of sell-side e-commerce by business

Content- There is more detailed and in-depth information regarding the purchasing process.
Community- People can discuss anything through forums, chat rooms and blogs.
Convenience- It is available anytime.
Cost reduction- Online sales are generally priced lower.

7)      List: Four barriers to adoption of sell-side e-commerce by business

Content- There is more detailed and in-depth information regarding the purchasing process.
Community- People can discuss anything through forums, chat rooms and blogs.
Convenience- It is available anytime.
Cost reduction- Online sales are generally priced lower.

8)      How might a restaurant benefit from an online presence?

Cheap form of advertising that is available to world any time of the day. Today people like to search for places to visit and eat, as well as see reviews and photos of restaurants and view menu before visiting. By having a user friendly, impressive website with lots of customer feedback, will enhance business.

9)      What are some examples of Digital information?

Cd's
Internet
Mobile phones
DVD's

10)   What is the semantic web? Are we there yet?

The semantic web is information that is all linked in a way that it is easy to process by machines on a global scale. The semantic web is out there, however I don't think the idea of it has caught on very quickly.