E-Commerce websites are web portals that facilitate online sales of products and services via the electronic transfer of funds and information over the Internet. In the earlier days, e-Commerce used to be done mostly through phone calls and emails. Today with the advent of advanced technologies, the Internet has opened up a whole new world of business opportunities for all kinds of companies that are willing to establish an internet presence and reach out to the market. Big Commerce is one such company that is able to leverage the full potential of the Internet to expand their horizons.
With a wide array of electronic commerce tools such as shopping carts, shopping lists, payment systems, and facilities to accept credit cards and pay later, a company can build up a strong business network that can be leveraged to increase sales. With the help of e-commerce websites, companies can also process invoices and accept payments from clients with whom they do not have a regular business relationship. This enables them to concentrate on core activities such as product development, product marketing, and service provision without being bogged down by minor details such as accounts receivable or customer service queries.
In today’s globalized market, almost every organization ranging from small businesses to multi-national corporate conglomerates has found itself battling to survive in a cut-throat economy where competition is stiff and cash flow is tough. Many companies have resorted to making investments in online stores and other forms of e-commerce solutions. However, there has been a tendency among these organizations to neglect quality when equipping their websites with inadequate tools and features. This has led to their websites becoming outdated quickly, resulting in reduced sales and profits. To ensure that this does not happen to your company, it is important that you equip your website with the right kind of tools that will allow it to compete with the likes of Shopify, eBay and other reliable e-commerce portals available online.
One of the foremost requirements of e-commerce websites is to have a shopping cart system. Without one, it is impossible to process payments, display product information, manage product reviews, and categorize products. Without this, your customers will find it difficult to place orders online and thereby, reduce the chances of making sales. The carts should feature an extensive range of products. These should include a variety of items for different types of consumers, including clothes, accessories, shoes, toys, computers, and more.
Another crucial requirement for all e-commerce websites is to have secure payment gateways that will allow buyers to pay for the goods they wish to purchase without having to reveal their financial information. This allows them to place the order immediately. Moreover, the payment gateways should be enabled with sophisticated fraud management systems that will automatically convert the buyer’s credit card details into secure codes. These codes will then be sent to the suppliers, with the aim of reducing any forms of charge backs. These codes will ensure that the buyer’s money is not lost, while still allowing the seller to process the payment.
Another facet of successful e-commerce business is to have a customized shopping cart set up for your specific business-to-business transaction. For instance, you can integrate PayPal payment gateway with your e-commerce website. This way, you will be able to accept payments from both buyers and sellers, and can provide more convenient ways of booking, tracking inventory, and handling returns.
Ecommerce websites can also take advantage of online shopping cart software that will help them process online purchases. In this case, the online shopping cart will not only incorporate the latest features and add-ons for better organization, but also be able to offer discounts and special deals to buyers. Buyers can search for products online, add items to cart, check out and make payment using a credit/debit card, and then complete the transaction. This helps the seller to focus on selling more goods in the same time and allows the buyer to go back and shop from the comfort of their home without having to leave the page they initially arrived on.
There are many online web hosting service providers available in the market, with each offering different packages for small businesses. Before choosing a web hosting service provider, it is best to assess the needs of your particular e-commerce website. In this way, you will know exactly what kind of support and maintenance you will require. For instance, some e-commerce websites run on open source platforms such as PHP, while others require more advanced technologies. For example, some websites may need database support from third party vendors, and others may simply require web development platforms from the likes of Adobe and Microsoft.
