Initially we should perhaps define what we mean by e-business or e-commerce. This terminology does not relate to purely enabling online credit card purchases - as is commonly referred - it is more about the whole way your company performs electronic business online.
Everything in your strategy is part of your e-business strategy and is usually defined as B-U / B-C (business to user - or business to consumer), B-B (business to business) & U-U (user to user).
What process will best suit my business?
It's an important question to consider before any new development...
To follow are some suggestions from Paradigm4 of what sort of things are useful to discuss at the planning stage. After that it is a good idea to meet with a web development team - as they can provide you with an overview of the sorts of options available to deliver your individual business needs.
1) What do you want your web site to do?
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Resource saving:
Reducing call costs and staff time in terms of addressing FAQ's online.
Providing regularly sourced information for download online - rather than office staff compiling and posting out.
Advertising purposes (niche advertising available).
Accessibility for suppliers and distributors etc...
- Client Perspective:
What do you think your clients would like to see online?
Internal forecasts relating to your major business lines in the future.
How does your business attract your existing clients & new clients?
How do you think the Internet could bring new ways of attracting clients and facilitate their needs within your intended development?
Do you have a long-term strategy for achieving this future development?
Who is your target market?
How do they relate to the current Internet demographics?
How does this relate to your information and e-commerce development?
- What are your competitors doing?
Why do you think they are doing these things?
What do you think was missing from their sites?
What do you think worked?
Have you noticed what they have invested in their site over a period of time?
Have you noticed any elements they have developed over time or declined?
Why do you think they have done this?
What did you like most about their sites?
- What is your e-business/e-commerce strategy?
Do you have short term and long term plans for e-commerce development?
Where would your development lie - B-U (business to user), B-B (business to business), U-U (user to user)?
What method suits the operation concerned?
Will it involve: online transactions (direct debit or otherwise), security, order-tracking, administration, delivery and budget considerations?
What do you think you want to do and what options do you think are available to you?
How does your primary product offline system relate to your online proposal?
Where is your focus - are you planning local, national & global distribution - 24hours a day delivery?
- Develop Internet Strategy:
Don't be caught into purely 'mirroring' your offline development. Research suggests that Internet users are looking for more ease and 'new ease' when it comes to what they want or what they are required to do.
Successful business trends online include:
a) Businesses that find new ways of delivering existing business online (in terms of usability and flexibility for clients).
b) Businesses that seek new business online within their own field of operation and expertise.
- In-House Management:
What part(s) of your site would you like to maintain yourself?
Many of our clients manage the content of their websites, ranging from page content text to larger databases that run various client applications. Management interface is 'windows' like in style and can be multi-managed with individual (customised) access for staff members.
2) Client Input Following Site Release?
- Online surveys / Newsletter Surveys - asking people directly what they would like to see. Offering a prize for surveys or instigating 'Partner Groups' for feedback, for example.
- Where are clients going on your site?
Study statistics of existing development.
Where is the heavy traffic?
This also presents a key location for an online survey to facilitate further development requirements.
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