E-commerce solutions in Glasgow, Scotland, and UK

So what does e-commerce actually mean. Sometimes people talk about e-business, e-commerce, e-solutions, - it doesn't really matter what it is called.

It is about doing business via the internet or internet technology. It is about doing things more effectively, more economically, more streamlined, and adding value to your customers and clients through the use of the internet.

E-commerce does not necessarily mean selling online as many people believe. Check out the following examples of e-commerce situations.

Adding value to your customers through your website

You may already have an established business with an established website and client base. You continue to do things as you always have done because that is how it has always happened and it works.

Recently though you discover that one or two of your clients are testing out the service provided by a new player in your field whereby the customer has 24/7 access to their files and progress reports online through the new players website.

They have a login username and password and their files are securely protected using 128 bit encryption offering a sense of security and comfort.

Do you decide that the way it has always been done manually and via the telephone and fax is going to be good enough. The simple answer is no.

This is the start of the e-commerce route for your business.

This is not selling online. This is about offering your customers a new more readily accessible way of doing business with you through the internet.

If you do not embrace this technology then your established business will soon be swept aside by the new kids on the block who have no regard for the way it has always been done.

Of course the example given above is generic and non-specific, but it is a real situation across many different sectors of the business community and it will continue at a faster and faster pace as new technologies appear.

The important thing is to make suitable changes to your business that are not reactionary, but visionary. As sometimes you do not get a warning that things are about to change.

Building an online contact base

One of the simplest forms of e-commerce you can embrace is building an online base of contacts that want to hear from you regarding services and / or products you provide. How do you do this ? Well first of all you have to have a decent website that outlines the value your business offers, and it has to be appealing enough to make the site visitor want to complete the registration form you have that will collate the informationn on the site visitor. Lets assume they register through your online form - what happens next?

The data collected through your form goes into the database attached to your website. Someone from your organisation performs a database search based on a certain search criteria. This returns a list of people / businesses that meet the search criteria and you compose an email, via your website administration area, and distribute this to the relevant people / businesses.

They get the type of information they are after and you keep your business at the forefront of their minds.

Not all customers are the same

Many businesses have different relationships with different clients of theirs. Some clients buy their products or services more often than others and as a result they may perhaps be offered better terms for the products or services.

Systems can be set up in such a way that each individual client not only has their own username and password but they also have different parameters associated with those usernames and passwords. In its simplest form Client A may get a 10% deduction on prices for products due to their semi-regular purchasing, whereas Client B may get 30% deduction of prices due to their contracted arrangement to make so many purchases per week, or month or whatever.

If you or I as a one off buyer comes to the site we do not have login privileges and as a result we do not have % deductions on advertised prices. therefore we go through the purchasing route as any other new buyer would and pay full price. There is no gaurantee we will return to make purchases therefor we do not receive a discount.

Having said that, this can actually work 2 ways. Your website could state that by registering you would automatically receive a 5% discount on advertised prices. This can act as an incentive for people to register and allow you the opportunity of marketing to these people who otherwise may only purchase once.

Want to find out more ?

Call us on 0141 332 7144 or alternatively contact us through our online contact form