Very Small Enterprise and E-commerce

Résumé du document

In France, for the year 2002, online shoppers represented 7% of total population and 19% of Internet users. Latest forecast evaluates that the online buying market reached 2.35 billion euros, which would represent a growth of 62% comparing to the year 2001. You probably remember one of the IBM television advertising which was showing an Old Italian woman making olive oil answering to an American couple that she was also selling her products on the American market with the existence of the internet. Regarding the Internet Revolution even small enterprises are interested in going online to extend their businesses. Nevertheless, could the Internet be a really powerful growth tool? I will try to highlight a couple of particularly important aspects, general rules and advice to small enterprise managers.

Extraits

[...] Regarding to the Internet Revolution even very small enterprise (VSE) could be interested in going online to extend their businesses. Nevertheless, could the Internet be a really powerful growth tool ? What I will try to do is to highlight a couple of particularly important aspects, general rules and advise to VSE managers so that they could lead their own Internet projects and be successful. Part 1 : Opportunities on the Internet The Internet environment 1 Web user profile In France web users number has reached 17 millions in July 2002. [...]

[...] You will give the opportunity to buy your products online, which implicate to secure the payment process, to respect a couple of rules and laws, to build a logistics delivery process, etc. Making up your mind between those possibilities must be done considering your means, your activities, and your strategy. What I can advise is to take the time to define your objectives : do you want to provide information ? to sell products ? to sell all your products or just some of them ? [...]

[...] Public display and paper supported campaign are said to be the most efficient one, but they also cost much. Most of VSE cannot afford them such hard selling. Nevertheless, speaking of your website to your partner, adding your address on all your supports, and why not publishing an article in a newspaper, can be a good start to promote your online presence. Banners and links are the common ways use to promote tour website. Judiciously placed, it can increase the traffic on your website significantly. [...]

[...] There are many possible solutions like CyberMut, and your bank probably has its own one. As there is no authentication with the personal code, any person in possession of a stolen card can buy online. And if the owner of the card make opposition on a transaction it is to the solder to prove that the buyer is the real owner. But in this case it is impossible Logistics Stocks and delay of delivery are also highly important in the buying acceptation : - stocks must be kept up-to-date in real time so that you will never sell products you do not have in reserve - delay of delivery must be as short as possible, and in all case must be respected Communication You could have the best and nicest online shop ever build, if no-one comes and visits it, it is useless. [...]

[...] Display or e-commerce website ? 5 Part 2 : e-commerce : specificities of a commercial website 6 Basic components of any e-commerce website 6 a. Finding the best provider 6 b. Managing the project 7 c. Merchandising 7 Legislation 8 Exploiting the online shop 8 a. Payment security 8 b. Logistics 9 Communication 9 a. Search engine optimisation 9 b. [...]