Soma Supermarket as a New Way to Conduct Business - Literature review Example

Soma Supermarket Literature Review Introduction E-business is referred to as the use of the internet by various businesses in their effort of improving their business operations and their customer services. In addition, it refers to the online applications used in improving business operations and includes any e-commerce applications (GRANT, HACKNEY, & EDGAR 2009, p. 20). The main concerns of e-business settle on the issues of application, technology, and organizational performance and its impact to the business. The grocery industry has not been left behind from the internet’s touches, thus has become the latest delivery channel being adopted by several grocers. In this case, the main issues of implementing the e-business in SOMA SUPERMARKET are to maintain their customer range and, in addition, increase the range of its customers, which might be affected by the fact that they shifted their operations to another location (CRAIG 2013, p. 15). The main purposes of the paper are to develop a literature review that will enable the owner has a clear view of how to implement the drafted online shopping proposal for the business. Research carried over the years indicates that the internet is the world’s largest networked community and growing day-by-day thus becoming the new platform for a global e-business for several types of businesses. Substantially, it has lowered the barriers to a global business also offering a new way to conduct business, for instance, SOMA SUPERMARKET through launching the online shopping will provide their current customers disadvantaged by the distance, to have an easier way to shop. Literature review The literature review will establish the relevant literature and create the research framework for the establishment of the online shopping. This section will highlight on the main objectives of the online shopping. First, is creating an online presence for the store, make customers aware of the store’s online presence, survey the customers on the idea of an online shop, and lastly, the methods to be used in driving the project through to accomplishment, that is, agile methodology and Dynamic Systems Development method (DSDM). Creating a website When carrying out an e-commerce business, creating a website is the first step to successfully venturing in the business thus creating an online presence for the store. The nature of the website, for example, the easier it is and maintaining a superb presence in the internet will enable the customers have an easier time while shopping for groceries (ELLIS-CHADWICK, DOHERTY, & ANASTASAKIS 2007, p. 702-727). However, there is software needed to ensure the domain offers the customers effective and easier services. The software includes functions such as catalog display, transaction processing and shopping cart. Nevertheless, the size and the objective of the electronic software varies greatly thus why some hardware and software products are used to develop the sites. The software performs a range of important operations to a satisfactory solution from the catalog display to the notification fulfillment (SCHNEIDER 2013, p.25). These functions of the software are important to the business customers since they offer convenience and usability to the customers. Catalog display in the software organizes the goods and services the business offer (SCHNEIDER 2013, p. 25). Small business such as SOMA SUPERMARKET sites has simple and small static catalog that lists the goods and services available for sale. The catalog is displayed in HTML format and appears on the web page and sometimes all web pages. The catalog is simple to operate since the web operator only changes, adds, and deletes products and services by editing the HTML. A dynamic catalog also offers the website a storage site of the items in the database mainly on a different computer accessible in the server. Besides, a dynamic catalog allows customers to search a product or service and determine its availability (SCHNEIDER 2013, p. 25). A Shopping Cart has been there from the past, where customers used to select products they needed to purchase by filling out online forms (SCHNEIDER 2013, p. 25). These have provided ways to the present shopping carts. It is usually called a shopping basket or bag and keeps track of the products that customers has decided to purchase, also allows customers to view the contents in their carts, remove, or add products. The shopping gives the prices of the items offered, and just by clicking on the item, the customer is able to order the product. This will help SOMA SUPERMARKET track on those products its customers are purchasing more, therefore; deciding on where to invest more. Lastly, transaction processing is the other important function of the electronic software. This function occurs when a customer has finished shopping, and there is the calculation of sale tax, discount, or shipping costs. This is the most complex and important part of the online sale since the administrator of the software must continually check the updates on the shipping tables or check tax rates to ensure they are current. Therefore, customers will get what they want, saves time by shopping online since the website is accessible 24/7, and can do it from any place since SOMA SUPERMARKET is also offering delivery services to its customers (SCHNEIDER 2013, p. 25). Making Customers know of the online presence Building an online presence is time consuming and sometimes can be frustrating, but it is the most important when establishing online shopping business. Understanding your customers is one of the steps of getting closer to notifying customers about the online shopping (STERNE 2001, p. 5). It is probably safe to understand that mobile is everywhere, no matter where a person is; they are on their either phones or tablets. This might be important for SOMA SUPERMARKET to make known of its online presence to its customers. Mobile advertising has certainly grown over the past few years mainly for the small businesses (El-Gohary 2010, p. 214-220). For example, the targeted messages are quick to reach the customers thus making them measurable thus making them one of the effective ways for SOMA SUPERMARKET to advertise its online presence. Social media are the other effective method used in developing an online presence for a business new in the market or an existing one. Developing profiles in different social media platforms such as facebook, twitter, blogs, and LinkedIn will increase the online presence of your consumers (GAMSE 2011, p. 10-15). For example, finding a group or an online community made up of people who share the same interests or running the same kind of businesses, followed by developing a relationship with them and the chances are these people will help introduce you other people you are in the same industry. Creating a lasting relationship with the online community will help you lay a strong platform for your business, not only for the existing customers but also for the potential customers (GAMSE 2011, p. 10-15). Moreover, tracking the progress of our online presence is the other important aspect, for instance looking on the number of likes on facebook and followers on twitter. This will help the owner to understand, recognize, and identify the trends of customers or the reasons for the large spike in traffic, in the website. This will help establish what is working for the online shopping and what is not working (El-Gohary 2010, p. 214-220). Survey the customers on the idea of an online shopping (Agile methodology) For a successful establishment of an online shopping and get the attention of the customers, it is important to carry out a research that will you get feedback from the consumers on what should be done on the website, to ease their experience in online shopping and the delivery strategies. The main methodology to use in this case will be the agile methodology. Agile development methodology is commonly used in software development where it provides the opportunity to assess the direction of the project throughout the development lifecycle, which can also be applicable in our case where our aim is to develop a working system for SOMA SUPERMARKET (Waters 2007, p. 3). First, the methodology assumes that all requirements of the project can be identified before any designing occurs, and this ensures that the product is relevant even before it is completed. In this case, the developer of the website will put into considerations all the aspects such as requirements, what the owner and consumer has needs, and design, how simple or intense the system will be, throughout the lifecycle of the system development. The major characteristic of agile methodology is “inspect-and-adapt” approach, and this reduces both the development costs and the time to develop the system. When using the “inspect-and-adapt” approach, the developers will work on the first phase of the system and present it to the owner and where changes can be made or adapt to some new suggestions. Some of the major advantages of agile methodology include allows changes to be made after planning if clients requests changes, new features and technology can be used, and stakeholders work collaboratively (Brimton 2012, p. 6). In this case, first, the owner will first get feedback from the consumers on how they would embrace the idea of an online shopping of their groceries. Developing questioners can do this where the customers will give the feedback concerning the idea and what they want included to ensure they have an easy time while shopping in the website (RAMUS & NIELSEN 2005, p. 335-352). An analysis is done thus paving the way to understanding how far you will invest in the online shopping business. Second, the developers will work on the first phase of the website that will entail on the products and services offered, and later get feedback from the consumers on what should be and what should not be in the website considering the timeframe provided by the client (Brimton 2012, p. 6). On the other hand, Dynamic Systems Development method (DSDM), a methodology on its own is also important in the success of the project (Prosky 2011, p. 1). It contains all the principles of agile methodology, and because of its straightforward framework based on best principles to start implementing a project structure, it will easy to use when developing the online shopping project for SOMA SUPERMARKET. The reason why the method will also be important in this case is because is embraces the active involvement of the users which in this case are the consumers and it ability of consumers to affect the project direction. The method also acts a ridge in eliminating bureaucracy and breakdown the barrier of communication between the business owner and the consumers (RAMUS & NIELSEN 2005, p. 335-352). Using the two methodologies will lead to a successful accomplishment of the project, which is developing an effective website for SOMA SUPERMARKET that customers can use to do their grocery shopping online and have them delivered to them. Consequently, it leads to a successful expansion of the business if the owner decides it worth undertaking and has the funds available to finance the project. References Brimton, A. (2012). Agile & Waterfall Methodologies – A Side-By-Side Comparison. Available: http://www.base36.com/2012/12/agile-waterfall-methodologies-a-side-by-side-comparison/. Last accessed 17th January 2014. CRAIG, R. (2013). The Everything guide to starting an online business: the latest strategies and advice on how to start a profitable Internet business. Avon, MA, Adams Media. ELLIS-CHADWICK, F., DOHERTY, N.F. and ANASTASAKIS, L. (2007). E-strategy in the UK retail grocery sector: a resource-based analysis. Managing Service Quality, 17(6), pp. 702-727. GAMSE, P. (2011). 42 rules for a Web presence that wins essential business strategy for website and social media success. Cupertino, Calif, Super Star Press. GRANT, K., HACKNEY, R., & EDGAR, D. (2009). Strategic information systems management. Andover, Cengage Learning. LEITE FERREIRA, M.P. (2009). (R)Evolution of the E-Grocery Industry: Strategic Implications. Rochester: Prosky, P. (2011). Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM).Available: http://dsdmofagilemethodology.wikidot.com/. Last accessed 17th January 2014. RAMUS, K. and NIELSEN, N.A. (2005). Online grocery retailing: what do consumers think? Internet Research, 15(3), pp. 335-352. SCHNEIDER, G. P. (2013). Electronic commerce. Boston, MA, Course Technology Cengage Learning. Waters, K. (2007). What Is Agile? (10 Key Principles of Agile). Available: http://www.allaboutagile.com/what-is-agile-10-key-principles/. Last accessed 17th January 2014. El-Gohary, H. (2010). E-Marketing-A literature Review from a Small Businesses perspective. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 1(1), pp. 214-244. STERNE, J. (2001). World Wide Web marketing integrating the web into your marketing strategy. New York, John Wiley. Read More