Is e-commerce as easy as it looks?

 

It seems that everyone is selling on the Internet. You can find everything from unusual books to used cars, from home mortgages to hard-to-find items. And as online shopping becomes more of a habit and less of a novelty, more people will let their “mice” do the walking.

You may feel that your business belongs in this cyber-market. But remember that e-commerce is not for everybody, nor is every product or service suitable to be sold online. Like any other market, e-commerce requires research, analysis, planning and a significant investment in technology. Even then, the benefits may not always outweigh the costs.

Think carefully about the benefits. Among these could be improved competitiveness, reaching more potential purchasers, higher volumes, lower costs, different skills…etc.

With e-commerce you are not alone. You are a part of a many player operation. Among these are the customers, the sellers, the suppliers, the payment processing operation(s) as well as the technology suppliers.

 Is your company ready to take the leap into the world of e-commerce? Find out by taking this quick quiz.

1) Does your company currently have an Internet presence?

2) Do you have an IT staff and/or budget?

3) Are your product/service offerings easily bundled and priced?

4) Do you currently accept credit card payments from your customers?

5) Do you have established supply and delivery chains?

 

How did you do with your answers?

Mostly YES: You sound ready to begin developing an e-commerce strategy

Evenly Yes & No: Take a long hard reexamination of your customers, infrastructure, list of hardware/Software as well as supply chains

Mostly NO: You have some of the pieces, but need to mature systems & processes. Consult with experts you trust.

 

Steve Koenig, SCORE Counselor

Visit us at: www.scoresouthflorida.net