DH39 34: Internet: Introducing E-Commerce

Table of Contents

1. What is E-Commerce?
2. Business Processes
   1. Obtain Product/Service Information
   2. Activity 2
   3. Placing an Order
   4. Activity 3
   5. Paying for Goods and Services
   6. PayPal
   7. PayPal Account Types
   8. Delivery
   9. Activity 4
   10. Customer Support
   11. Benefits of E-Commerce
   12. Drawbacks of E-Commerce
3. Role of the Internet in E-Commerce
4. Business Models

Obtain Product/Service Information

Traditionally, your sources of information would probably have been:

• local/national newspapers
  
• specialist magazines
  
• local retailers.

We can now add the Internet to our list! What benefits do we gain from this as far as information is concerned?

Firstly, we get more choice. We're not limited to local/national suppliers.

More choice means more competition, which in turn means cheaper prices!

Often you get more information as well.

This might take the form of colour photographs, detailed specification, comparisons of models/features, tutorials in the use of the product etc.

Generally speaking, you'll find more information on the World Wide Web (WWW) than you'll find using all of the traditional information sources, and all without leaving home - assuming of course that you have a computer and an Internet connection at home!

Sometimes, however, you'll find too much information, which can make it difficult to choose.

Next: Activity 2