IT_Chapter_10B

Consumer E-Commerce

• Online shopping

– Purchasing through a web site

– Also called Business to Consumer (B2C)

– List of products is nearly endless

– Features

• Searchable catalog

• Secure checkout

• Customer support page

• Online stores versus brick and mortar

– Brick and mortar implies a physical store

– Brick and mortar properties

• Limited hours

• Salespeople can offer assistance

• Customers can handle the merchandise

– Online store properties

• Store is open 24 x 7

• Salespeople usually not available

• Can only view the merchandise

• Using online catalogs

– Good online stores have a catalog

– Products are often arranged by category

– Products can be found by keyword

• Paying for purchases

– Vendors accept several payment methods

• Credit cards

• Paypal

• Electronic Fund Transfer

– May need to create an account

• Simplifies shipping

• Encourages repeat shopping

• Getting customer service

– Needed to resolve problems

– Understand the policies before ordering

– Contact information

• How you contact the vendor

– Return policies

• Availability and fee for returning items

– Shipping policies

– Charges and fees

• Convenience fees

• Online banking

– Most teller services handled online

– Balances can be obtained

– Bills can be paid

– Access is typically very secure

– Not available at all banks

• Online finance

– Broker and investment services

– Costs less than a traditional broker

– Stocks and bonds can be traded

– Loans can be procured

– Tax returns can be filed

Business E-Commerce

• Business to business (B2B)

– Business transaction between companies

– Accounts for the majority of e-commerce

– Initially private networks were used

– Common transactions

• Reorder inventory

• Purchase stocks

• Credit checks

• Intranets and extranets

– Business partners must work together

• Networks must work together

– Intranet uses Internet technologies

• Only internal workers can access resources

• Use a standard browser to access resources

– Extranets open the Intranet to clients

• Clients have password level access

• Allows the same abilities as employees

– Very simple to use and setup

• Telecommuters

– Employee working outside of the office

– Connects to the office through technology

– Several technologies are used

• Home computer and the Internet

• Key card changes passwords often

• Encryption is used to protect data

Security

• Improved security measures

– Before 1998, Web security was nonexistent

– Now safer than restaurant purchases

– All reputable sites protect their customers

• Secure web pages

– Allows safe transmission of credit card

– Use the secure socket layer (SSL)

• Encrypts data transmission to the server

– Secure pages are easily identified

• URL uses https://

• Browser status bar shows a closed lock