Contrast between ASDA's and Tesco's Websites - Essay Example

Website Comparison Introduction Since the emergence of technology humans have been developing and inventing new gadgets that help them in their every day work. These new gadgets keep getting old as new and better technology replaces the old one, for the new technology new gadgets and electronic devices are created. If a man from the 18th century returns to the present world he won’t be able to recognize anything. The world has taken an entirely new shape and form. One of the major inventions of humans is Computer also known as the invention of the century. Computers take many physical forms. The first devices that resembled modern computers date to the mid-20th century, although the computer notion and various machines analogous to computers existed previously. Early electronic computers were the size of a huge room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers. Modern computers are based on reasonably tiny integrated circuits and are millions to billions of times more competent while occupying a small space. Today, straightforward computers may be made as small as to fit into a wristwatch and be powered from a watch battery. Personal computers in various forms are symbols of the Information Age however, the most common form of computer in use today is the embedded computer. Embedded computers are small, simple devices that are used to control other devices for example; they may be found in equipment ranging from aircraft to industrial robots, digital cameras, and toys. Computer has a number of benefits and advantages. It also helps humans in their daily tasks and supports a lot of activities. Some benefits that the computer provides are only due to the computer, and if the computer wasn’t there these should have been impossible. Due to the invention of the computer world has turned into a global village, and globalization has become very easy. One of the supporting accessory or a completely independent invention that the humans have created is the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide, openly accessible series of interconnected computer networks that transfers data. It can be called a network of networks that consists of millions of smaller domestic, academic, business, and government networks, which together consists of information and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer, and the interlinked web pages and other resources of the World Wide Web. The Internet has helped this world in globalization and has helped businesses spread globally. One of the concepts of the Internet is E-Commerce or running a business on the Internet (Kevin Potts August 29, 2007). This can carry a physical existence of the back end operations of the business or an entirely electronic business without a physical existence (Kevin Potts August 29, 2007). I will compare the websites of such two e-businesses that are related to the selling of different accessories online (Scott Mitchell October 6, 2006). These two namely ASDA and TESCO are online shopping stores selling different consumer goods. The layout of the websites will be compared and on the other end any errors that are present regarding the business will also be put under consideration. ASDA ASDA is an online shopping store which deals in consumer goods that are Books, CDs, DVDs, Games, Electronics, Flowers, Furniture, Gift items, Mobile phone accessories, Optics, Medicines, and Travelling. The website has an interactive interface with colorful pictures and different working links that can attract a customer. The website also provides an interactive online media streaming option in the form of a radio service. Its part of the Wal-Mart chain of stores and provides a section on the website gives information about the company plus how to apply for a job and different views of the organizational culture being followed at the organization. The website also has different promotional schemes that give out rewards and gifts on buying from the online store. The website is designed using Java and does not have any error links. The website is fully functional and simple to use. The color scheme that has been used is pretty attractive and is eye catching for a first time visitor. The about ASDA page explains different operations of the website plus a help section is there to provide guidance to a user. The about ASDA page also highlights the policies of the company and the mission and vision statements (http://www.asda.co.uk/corp/home.html). TESCO TESCO is another online shopping store that provides the same type of goods that ASDA is providing but has a shorter range of products but the shorter range is covering more products than ASDA. The website is quite interactive but not as creatively designed as ASDA and is not as eye catching as the website of ASDA comparatively. The products available are Groceries and Wine, Entertainment and Books, Finance and Insurance, and Phones and Broadband these are further divided into smaller categories. TESCO provides its own finance and insurance services plus a Mobile Phone SIM of their own brand. Another additional section is provided highlighting the deal of the day. The website is designed using Java for the coding. The user interface is very easy and simple to use plus the website has no dead or error links. The website also provides a site map for first time users and a complete guide for using the website effectively. For being a regular user of the website a portion for creating an account is also provided. The website also provides a career section to help the people who want to apply for a job at the company. TESCO operates in a slightly different way as they have different stores for the different broad categories of products mentioned above. The website also provides the policies and terms and condition of the company. Comparing to ASDA the TESCO website has a special section that provides investor information, which is the financial reports of the company plus information about the company share and about the history, culture, and the company strategy (http://www.tesco.com/). Conclusion To conclude I would like to mention the fact that both websites are of a high standard and are selling products that are quite same but there are difference which have been highlighted above. ASDA has a much more interactive usage method and is much simpler to use than TESCO but than on the other hand TESCO is providing much more detailed information about the company. Works Cited 1. ASDA, http://www.asda.co.uk/corp/home.html (Accessed February 27th, 2008) 2. Betty Richmond Morrow, Lillian Griffith Wargetz, Kathleen Werner, R.B. Donald. (August 29, 1995). Writing Clear Essays. Prentice Hall; 3 edition. 3. Joy Wingersky, Jan Boerner, Diana Holguin-Balogh. (February 15, 2005). Writing Paragraphs and Essays: Integrating Reading, Writing, and Grammar Skills. Heinle; 5th edition. 4. Kevin Potts. (August 29, 2007). Web Design and Marketing Solutions for Business Websites. friends of ED. 5. Michael Harvey. (September 2003). The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing. Hackett Publishing Company. 6. Scott Mitchell. (October 6, 2006). Create Your Own Website. Sams; 3 edition 7. TESCO, http://www.tesco.com/ (Accessed February 27th, 2008) Read More