Electronic Commerce - Essay Example

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE al Affiliation) ELECTRONIC COMMERCE The current society is characterized by massive technological advancements that have improved the quality of life on a wide range. These technologies are currently applied on different types of human activities from production to consumption of resources. Owing to the increasing numbers of business investors, there have been cases of high level of competition leading to the need of identifying and implementing better and improved marketing techniques. One of these techniques is the electronic commerce or the e-commerce (Schneider & Perry 2000). The concept of electronic commerce as described by various marketing experts encompasses the aspect of purchasing and selling of different kinds of products and services through electronic systems such as: Programmed computer networks as well as through internet services. The use of electronic systems to conduct various business activities has increased tremendously overtime owing to the rapid rate of using computer systems in the current society (Schneider & Perry 2000). There are various business activities conducted through the use of electronic commerce and they include; data collection systems, marketing through the internet, electronic information interchange, control and management of supply lines as well as the management of inventory system. The contemporary electronic commerce services basically applies the concept of World Wide Web where people can access information concerning their services; however, some have taken an improved dimension by include their emails in order to provide a way whereby the customers can contact their suppliers. The Amazon Website Description This is one of the most common electronic marketing websites that has played a crucial in the society through provision of important information concerning various goods and services. Basically, the website provides pertinent information concerning the sale of different products and services. Among these products and services advertised by the Amazon Site are: Stationary i.e. books, electronic equipment such as cameras, computers, mp3 players as well as audible audio books. The website also provides crucial information concerning services like beauty, therapy and health. Other pertinent information available on the website is; current movies, computer games and music. Products such as grocery are also advertised in the web together with toys and other baby products such as clothing. Additionally, there are also advertisements concerning services ascribed to recreational services such as cycling, sports, fishing, team sports, boating, golf and fitness services. Moreover, there is information concerning clothing and jewelry for adults for instance: Shoes, clothing, handbags as well as other accessories. The website also indicates information that describes pertinent products on automotives such as industrial supplies, janitorial, safety equipment and laboratory materials. Pricing Method: The currency used for pricing most of the goods and services in the website is United States Dollars. Most of the prices indicated on each product and service have been given in a manner that shows the amount of initial and current price after been discounted. In this regard, the type of pricing used on the website could be penetration pricing whereby the goods and services are sold at the lowest prices compared to other goods in the market. Distribution of products and services: There is no clear information on how goods are distributed on the website but there are contacts provided for interested customers to access the service providers with an intention of acquiring goods and services of their choice. Products that are actively promoted: In relation to the layout of the site, the most actively promoted goods are the electronic products that appear to be randomly placed on various parts of the website for instance; there is a phone at the top of the site and a big picture at the right side of the website. Additionally, there is also a long column of watches followed by a long row of different types of cameras. Apart from electronics, stationary i.e. books are the actively advertised depicted by the long rows of books just below the row of cameras. Target Market According to the information on the Amazon Website, it is evident that the market targeted is general ranging from children to adults (Men and women). This is displayed by the provision of information that depict the provision of services and products that can be used by both adults and children for instance baby clothes, adult clothes, machinery, toys for children as well as other adult accessories. Therefore the target market is general in nature ranging from children to adults. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Site Strengths: The Amazon Website targets a wide range of market; it provides information concerning children product for instance; baby clothes, toys and games. It also targets adults, both, men and women, by provision of information regarding adult clothing, machinery that is usually used by adults such as industrial equipment. This information is crucial in the sense that it attracts a larger market for goods and service providers. Moreover, the Amazon Website advertises different kinds of products and services; this includes clothing, accessories, electronics, recreational services, health and food products, machinery as well as information regarding stationary, movies, music as well as games. This is also crucial to the target market; it enhances customers’ efforts of searching for goods and services hence attracting a wider market target. Consequently, the mode of pricing on the Amazon Website is penetration pricing; it indicates relatively lower commodity and service prices by showing the customers the amount of discount provided on the available goods and services. This also an important strategy of attracting customers who in most cases tend to shift their focus on goods and services offered at lower costs. At the bottom of the site, there is information concerning the regions where interested customers may access the goods offered at the Amazon Website. This is pertinent as it enhances the dissemination of information concerning Amazon Website. The Amazon Website also provides clear pictures of different products and services; the first clear picture is a picture of a phone, other pictures include; pictures of cameras, book covers as well as other machinery available on the site. These pictures are appealing to the idea and may be attractive to most customers hence may attract a large number of customers. Weaknesses Despite the fact that the site has various strengths in relation to the attractive features, there are a few weaknesses that may hinder its success. To begin with, the site requires one to undertake several navigation activities in order to access the entire information on any commodity and service. This may be cumbersome for some customers who may be in a hurry to access urgent information. Additionally, there is lack of clear information on how one can access any good and commodity; the access of this information requires that one navigates through the site in search in order to access. This may be quite challenging for persons in a hurry to access the goods therefore creating a major barrier to the success of the site in advertisement. The general appearance of the site is not perfectly pleasing to the eye at an instance; for instance this can be compared to the OLX website which is currently rising in terms of advertisement. Comparing the general appearance of OLX and Amazon, a person would opt for OLX for its physical appearance rather than Amazon. Most parts of the site are covered be electronic information such as cameras, phones and books therefore making one wonder whether the site is only meant for advertising electronic equipment. This may create misleading information to customers who may be in a hurry to access pertinent information i.e. regarding clothing. Recommendations The above weaknesses may create a bigger challenge to the success of the Amazon Website in relation to other competitive sites like OLX, EBay et cetera. It is therefore imperative that the physical appearance of the site be improved to a more attractive level to meet the current market competitive standards. Additionally, there should be information concerning the quality of each good and service in a manner that can be accessed at an instant. Information regarding each service and product should be relatively equally spread on the website in order to avoid instances of customer being mis-informed. Proper and easy navigational procedures is also important for the success of the site, it is imperative that appropriate measures be taken into consideration to ensure that the navigation is made easier for customers who may be in a hurry to access certain specific important information. The Ebay Website Description of the Site The Ebay Website can be regarded as information as well as a sales website it provides pertinent information relating to the sale of different kinds of products and services. It offers different information concerning different goods and services this includes: Information concerning automobiles such as, cars, boats, motor bikes, automobile accessories et cetera. Sales of fashion products are also advertised on this site including; men’s fashion, women as well as kids; this information includes various accessories that may be used by the three groups i.e. bags clothing, beauty together with health issues. Additionally, the site gives sales information on products like electronics such as; phones, mp3 players, cameras, computers, electronic games, television and surveillance systems i.e. CCTV cameras. Other pertinent information that a customer may access from the site include collectibles and art; this includes products like kitchen ware, antiques, sports, memorabilia for entertainment and sports. Customers have an opportunity to access information of home and garden products and services; specifically, this information includes aspects like pet supplies, decors used at homes, gardening and yard services as well as issues related to home entertainment. Recreational information is also available on this site: This information includes sporting products and services like hunting, cycling and even fitness and golf. There is a specific section that provides information of accessories like watches for men and women as well as jewelry. Other products available on this section are wedding rings, engagement rings, beads and antique jewelry. The site also offers kids’ products like toys, video games, clothes, dolls, radio control lines and rail control toys et cetera. Information regarding products that can be used in matters of beauty and health are also available on this site. Different beauty products are advertised on this site and they include: Skin Care products, fragrances, hair care products, weight control services as well as nail care services, make up and dietary services. Additionally, there are products and services dealing with gifts and deals advertised on this site; for instance life style deals, cards (love cards, wish cards et cetera). The probable pricing method used on this site is the penetration pricing technique; most of the products available on the site are indicated with discounted profits. It is apparent that the prices of the products offered on this site are at a relatively lower price than any other products in other markets. Information regarding the distribution of products can be found at the bottom of each product; most of the products are shipped on a free basis. The layout of the website indicates that the most actively advertised products are electronics; at the top of the website, there are pictures of electronics such as cameras, television as well as a phone. Such pictures are also found on other parts of the website for instance; at the bottom of the site, there are pictures of an Ipad phone, camera, television as well as a diamond earring indicating that it is also an actively advertised product on the site. Target Market The information available on the site shows that apparently the target market of the site ranges from kids to adults discussed here in: There are products specifically meant for kids for instance: Clothing for kids, toys, dolls, video games, rail control systems et cetera. On the other hand, information that indicates that adults are also targeted include; presence of adult clothing, fragrances, make-up information, health as well as beauty information. Other information that depicts the targeted market includes availability of information regarding automobiles like cars, motor vehicles, spare parts and other accessories. Specifically, women are also targeted by information regarding their clothing and other make-up accessories available on the web. To be specific, people with a great taste and interest on electronic equipment especially cameras, televisions, mobile phones and audio players are a good market for the site and it is apparent that they could be the targeted market in this situation. The target market could also be fashion oriented persons who are usually attracted to current fashion especially the youth and women. Persons with a great taste on sporting activities are also a potential target market for the site; the site offers various sporting services and products for various sporting activities. This includes; golfing, fishing and hunting, boating, cycling, fishing, fitness and health. The site also provides information regarding team sport as well as memorabilia for sports persons or persons interested in keeping such material. Strengths and Weaknesses of the site Strengths Ebay Website has a number of strengths that have contributed to its success; one of these strengths is the existence of a wide range of information regarding various products and services. The site provides information on products and services such as recreational services and products, machinery such as vehicles, machinery accessory, clothing, children products, make-up as well as health products and services. The above factors promotes the success of the website in that they attract a wide range of customers i.e. fashion oriented persons, people with a great taste of machinery and other accessories, persons with a great taste on sporting activities et cetera. Additionally, the site is divided into different sections; each section deals with a specific product; prices of the product are indicated at the bottom of each item. This gives the customers an easy time in locating and identifying a product of their choice; indication of the prices at the bottom of each product also gives the customers an apt time to make their decision regarding the product. Clear pictures of certain products especially electronic products are also provided on the site to create an appealing emotion to the target customers. This a great strength of the site as it may encourage a customer to take more time on the site hence increasing his/her chances of checking out other products. The prices of each commodity are indicated at the bottom, each of these price tags indicates that there is a discount provided on the purchase of any commodity. This is another method of attracting a large numbers of customers who may be attracted to commodities offered at lower prices. Moreover, at the top of the site, on the left there is information indicating that customers will be offered with free shipment of any product. This is important as it will assist in attracting customers who may not be in a position to access such products due to long distances of lack of adequate time as a result of other commitments. Weaknesses One of the weaknesses of the Ebay Website is lack of explanatory information that can be used as a form to attract customers looking for certain qualities that may be important. This may discourage customers who are in a hurry to look for some information hence reducing its marketability. Additionally, the overall appearance of the site may be considered relatively not appealing to the eye hence may reduce marketability of the site. On the other hand, navigation to access some of the information is quite cumbersome; this may discourage some customers who may not have adequate time to undergo the long processes of navigation to access some of the information. Recommendation It is imperative that the layout of the site be redesigned in a manner that navigation is made easy for customers who may not have plenty of time to navigate through the web to access some imperative information. The site should also be designed in a manner that it appeals to the client; that is, improving the general appearance of the site hence attracting more customers. Information concerning the qualities of different products should be provided in an easily accessible manner so that it encourages customers to use the site. References Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more. (n.d.). Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more. Retrieved April 5, 2013, from http://www.amazon.com Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles, Coupons and More Online Shopping | eBay. (n.d.). Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles, Coupons and More Online Shopping | eBay. Retrieved April 5, 2013, from http://www.ebay.com Schneider, G. P., & Perry, J. T. (2000). Electronic commerce. Cambridge, Mass.: Course Technology. Read More