Commerce Solutions
 Recently, businesses have tried to capture the seemingly unending revenue potential of the Internet. Some companies have been successful while others have not; but through it all one business directive has established itself as a must: interact and transact with customers via the Internet or be left behind by companies that do.
At its core, e-commerce is driven by the need for greater return on investment (ROI). Some research firms predict business to consumer e-commerce revenues will reach $230 billion by 2006, and business to business e-commerce could reach $823 billion in sales. Prompted by these numbers and the need to cut business expenses, leading executives must ask themselves if their company is positioned to maximize the revenue potential available through e-commerce.
Greater Return on Investment
ROI-driven e-commerce solutions require companies to link their online presence with their back-end systems – e.g. data mining, analytics, and strategy formulation – in order to recognize customers, interact with them in a personalized manor, and cultivate the profitable relationships that are built. To successfully turn visitors into buyers and buyers into repeat buyers – firms must collect customer data, mine that data, and truly customize the client experience. This is a multi-channel effort with the Internet at its foundation. By integrating and properly disseminating this data to stakeholders across the enterprise, companies can achieve a panoramic view of their clients and present a unified face to the customer.
An e-commerce solution must be bi-directional. A customers order should be connected directly into the accounting system, and information from the back-office should populate the Web site in real time. The result is an empowered consumer, able to track product availability inventory, shipping status, past orders and price changes.
Any one that has placed an online order only to be notified two days later that the product is no longer available knows how frustrating inadequate data can be. The delay often costs the consumer valuable time and may drive the consumer elsewhere to make the next purchase.
Properly Disseminate the Data
 Smart e-commerce solutions avoid this scenario by responding to customer inquiries and complaints in a timely fashion and integrating this data across the enterprise to key stakeholders and customer-facing employees. E-commerce relies on leveraging customer data and seamlessly integrating the data across the enterprise to gain immediate ROI and identify additional revenue opportunities.
Despite the dot-com problems of the late 90’s, many companies are continuing to turn to the Internet as a way to reach their customers and build a dialog with them. The Internet will remain a robust channel for inexpensive commerce and customer acquisition, interaction and retention. Integration of the Internet has become essential to a ROI-focused, customer-based business.
GPL Integrated IT, LLC employ's professionals certified by Microsoft Business Solutions and can help you implement an e-commerce solution while helping you achieve a greater return on your corporate investment. |
