Understanding e-Commerce

Details: E-Commerce: A Modern Approach to Entrepreneurship

Introduction

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Simply explained, e-Commerce is a business model which allows individuals and companies conduct business over the Internet by selling or buying different kind of goods and services. e-Commerce operates in all four major marketing segments – B2B (Business to Business), B2C (Business to Consumer), C2C (Consumer to Consumer) and C2B (Consumer to Business).

The role of the e-Commerce becomes stronger and more important over the last years due to the specific benefits it offers to its customers, e.g. security, convenience, delivery to the front door, ease of payment, etc. The e-Commerce has no geographical barriers and allows making purchases and other similar transactions 24/7, every single day of the year. Moreover, it ensures greater interactivity with customers and the provision of special personalized offers, thanks to the large amount of information which is made available by Google Analytics and social media that identifies the individual preferences of each client.

However, as in any conventional business, e-Commerce also has its disadvantages. It easily allows new players to constantly enter the market which generates more competition since consumers have a wider range of services and products to choose from and makes differentiation more difficult – and this is the main reason that makes marketing a fundamental element of the e-Commerce culture. In addition, users may not trust the online seller, which makes it difficult to convince traditional users to switch from physical stores, where they can see and touch the products before buying, to online-based sales platforms.

Task

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To be involved in e-Commerce as a seller might seem a simple and easy task, but in fact, there are a lot of things that you must consider before even start to think what your niche would be. In fact, when you think about it, you will probably remember for at least a couple of online shops, that did not succeed.

So, it is more than clear, that to have an idea for online business does not make you a successful entrepreneur. Also, it is not enough to have just an idea which you think will be successful. In order to evaluate the chances for survival of your idea, you need to consider certain things and go through several points which, at the end, will guarantee that your business idea is viable and has future potential to actually become "something".

To do so, you will have to use the old and well-known SWOT Analysis which, if used properly, might be able to evaluate the relevancy of your idea, as well as its strengths and weaknesses that may cause troubles at a later stage of your business idea development.

You will be able to find detailed instructions on how to use the SWOT Analysis for evaluation of your initial idea in the next "Process" section.

Process

In order to be able to execute your task properly, we strongly recommend you to:

Go through the "Resources" section and have a look at the additional readings and videos that will help you familiarize with the main e-Commerce concepts.
Go to the "Resources" section and find the document called "SWOT Analysis Template" which contains detailed instructions on how to properly use the analysis for evaluation of your idea. You can download it and try to fill the template with your reflections. Once you are ready, summarize the information and draw some general conclusions. You will be surprised to see things, that you did not think of until this time.

Conclusion

Years ago, businesses wondered if it made sense to invest in online stores and if it is a good idea to spend their time developing an e-Commerce channel. Everyone was used to working only in an environment through physical sites, and the opportunities for business growth were only limited to opening new sites or finding new partners.

In recent times, especially during the last year, no one even dare to questions e-Commerce and its potential. The numbers have proven that e-shops are meaningful, flexible and convenient, people like them and they continue to generate more and more sales. The attention of the "modern consumer" is focused less on the physical stores and more and more on the social networks and the Internet. For many "digital people", Facebook and Google seem to be the main channels for learning the latest from the world around them. And online shopping is becoming an increasing necessity - for both customers and companies.

Upon the completion of this part of the scenario, you are probably already convinced about the importance of online shopping. You are aware of both its advantages and disadvantages, and you even were able to evaluate the potential of your idea through the SWOT Analysis done. So, do you think that your idea has a future? If the answer is "yes", you can continue to the next point of this scenario, where you will have the chance to learn more about the niche market and define the specific niche for your product/service.

Learning Outcomes

Competence Area 1: IDEAS & OPPORTUNITIES

1.2) I can identify opportunities to solve problems in alternative ways.
1.12) My vision for creating value drives me to make the effort to turn ideas into action.

Competence Area 2: RESOURCES