IM 418 E-commerce (Activity 09.13.12)

QUESTION #1

List technologies and applications that could be covered by this list and decide, in discussion, if they are usefully / appropriately classified as e-Commerce.

ANSWER:

The following are the applications covered in this chapter;

The four applications covered in this chapter

1. Electronic Markets - typically for trade transactions in a
   commodity market.
2. EDI - used for regular, repeat, business to business transactions
   such a components for assembly of stock for retailers.
3. Internet e-Commerce used for retail transactions of goods or
   services.
4. Internet e-Commerce used for business transactions.

The Three technologies covered in this chapter\
       
      1. Interactive teletext - the French Minitel being the only significant example     
      2. Interactive television used for e-Commerce.
      3. The use of (web enabled) portable telephones for e-Commerce.

Other technologies and applications that appear (Or could appear) to fall
within the EU definition are:

• Tele-sales.
• Electronic Point of Sales Terminals (EPOS).
• Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) (Bank Cash Machines).
• The use of e-Mail for commercial purposes.

As with many terms in IS and IT, e-Commerce is ill-defined, the study of e-Commerce needs to be cognisant of related technologies but too broad a definition of e-Commerce is probably not helpful. It is noted that some writers, in practice at least, reserve the term e-Commerce for the business use of the internet and exclude (or ignore) technologies such as EDI.

QUESTION #2

Suggest where and in what form Higgies' Potted Beef could implement
e-Commerce.

ANSWER:

The most obvious opportunities for Higginbottoms of Heckmondwike to use e-Commerce are:

• An EDI system for trade with the supermarkets. Getting the supermarkets to stock the product is not necessarily going to be easy (there are more products available than the supermarkets have room for). If the supermarkets do accept the product, EDI could be a condition of trade. EDI will not be cheap for Higging- bottoms to install (although there are short cuts that small firms can use).
  
  
• A web site for business to consumer sales of the firms products Expatriate Yorkshire folks who have possibly accumulated 'a bit of brass' would very possibly be prepared to pay a premium price for a taste of their home county. A web site could be set up reasonably cheaply and could do very well. Hampers including Yorkshire specialities such as curt tarts and Hendersons Relish could be a new line (Eh lad, you can't beat a splash of Hendersons on your bangers and mash).
  
  
• EDI could also be appropriate for use with suppliers, particularly for regular supplies such as the firm that makes the jars.

e-Commerce could have further applications, possibilities include other supplies (although items such as beef might require the buyer to inspect the product to ensure quality) and, for instance, office stationary (although this is arguably unnecessary for a small firm which might want to use a small local office supplier).