Transcript Instructor: John Seydel, Ph.D.

MIS 6453 – Spring 2006
Electronic Commerce
eBusiness Essentials
by
Michelle Delio
Instructor: John Seydel, Ph.D.
Overview
Intro
Fundamentals
Hardware/Software
Web Hosting
Site Design
Putting it All Together
Intro
Predicted B2B at $6.3 trillion for 2005
It’s about eliminating the middleman
(disintermediation)
Collision between nerds and business!
Still, business is business
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Same basics for ecommerce as for other
Need
 Vision
 Appropriate business model
 Infrastructure
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Physical
Virtual
 Service & support resources
 Operating partnerships
Fundamentals
Basic ebusiness starts as brochureware
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Online presence
Like an ad in the yellow pages
Next step is becoming an electronic catalog
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Convenience for customers (24/7)
Typically tied to a part of the overall business
Then, integrate core business functions with
the website
Hardware & Software
Not a one-size-fits-all situation
Make a careful assessment of needs
Plan as if opening a new branch
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More computers?
Faster ones?
Graphics tools
 Digital cameras
 Software
Appropriate connectivity
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Check with ISP
Research several ISPs
Make sure hardware and services are scalable
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RAM
Processor
Network and graphics cards
Get the appropriate training
Web Hosting
Check the options
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TopHosts.com
HostIndex.com
Be sure the appropriate ebusiness services are offered
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Server-side scripting engines (ASP, CF, PHP . . . )
Database engines (SQL Server, Oracle, Access, MySQL, . . . )
Avoid “free” hosting
Need guarantees
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Uptime percentages
Scalability (supports increasing access levels)
Speed
Security: backup, disaster recovery, who has access, . . .
Other benefits
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Setup electronic payments
Software to support site development
Note:
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Any performance issues will be assumed by customer to reflective of your
business, not of the web host!
Have a Plan B (web host goes belly up)
Site Design
As with building construction, software
development, and quality in general,
investment in design saves much more
money down the road
People can’t buy something they can’t find!
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Sites must be easy to use
Internal search engines must be very effective
Hence, navigability is as important as
aesthetics
Putting it All Together
Getting a basic site online is easy, but getting a serious and effective one is
a challenge
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Implementation
Maintenance
Small firms need to enlist help
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Hosting site
Building site
Integrating site
Focus on core business processes and build alliances with partners with the
appropriate tech skills
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Need to plan for robust site that will grow with the business
Education, service, and support are also needed
Contracting concerns
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Experience and reputation
Service level agreements
Easy to reach help / one-point contact support for problems
Key: use what you already know and look for the proper building blocks