E-commerce is first introduced in the 1960s for the purpose of exchanging electronic data in long distance, also known as electronic data interchange. It grew explosively during the period of late 1990s to early 2000s with the popularization of Internet and the introductions of eBay and Amazon.
What are the components of a e-commerce program?
For most businesses, e-commerce is powered by a Web-based program called E-commerce Software or Shopping Cart Software. This program usually include several components:Web Hosting: web hosting is a key factor when it comes to managing an online store. It is a server that gives companies the services needed for owning an online shopping website such as space on the server and internet connectivity.
Merchant interface is the series of tools used to manage the website. It is important to take factors such as design and utility into consideration when setting up a merchant interface. A well-prepared merchant interface has just the right amount of design without making the usage of the interface complex.
Product catalog is the presentation of the products. The catalog is what the customers will notice the most and has a great impact on how they view the store. It is important to maintain a well-structured, straight forward catalog to avoid confusions but also to add design to attract customers at the same time.
Shopping cart is what the customers use when they have decided on their purchase. They can add or remove items as they view the website. This is the step where the customers choose payment and shipping options and finalize their order.
Payment processing is where the customers choose the payment option and enter the card information in order to validate the order. The process can be done through services such as PayPal and Google Checkout.
Shipping options can play a huge role in E-commerce. Shipping is a way that online stores can offer incentives to the customers. These incentives include free shipping or fast shipping options. The more convenient the shipping options are, the more customers the store will attract.