e-Start — Section 4 — Focus on Your Business

Section 1

What is e-Commerce?

Section 2

Why Consider e-Commerce?

Section 3

e-Commerce - A Business Focus

Section 4

Types of e-Commerce and How to Guides

Section 5

Charting Your First Steps

Small Business Assistance

Section 4 — Focus on Your Business

e-Commerce Options

You need to select your e-Commerce options to help you identify your online journey goal. The questions:

“What is relevant?” and “What do I do first?”

need to be answered.

To help you do this

look at the e-Commerce options below
decide whether the option has benefits for your business
tick what those benefits might be
prioritise each option as high, medium, low or not applicable for your business

e-Commerce option	Benefits for your business
Electronic Mail	Quick and efficient alternative for communicating to: Customers (eg. newsletters, promotions, notes, invoices) Staff (eg. memos, notes) Suppliers (eg. orders, queries) Business Advisors Business Associates Government Priority
Electronic Banking	Electronic access to bank statements Electronic bill payments Electronic funds transfer Online payments Encrypted credit cards Electronic cash and credit cards Priority
Electronic Catalogues	Save costs on printing and distribution Detailed information for customers Update catalogue without going through the whole reprinting process Assist customers in placing orders over the phone, fax or internet Do business with remote or global customers Accept orders 24/7/365 Maintain a higher level of service Priority
Accessing Business Information	Current and relevant information about: Government regulations, trade fairs and conferences Registering with current electronic mailing lists Establishing chat groups to solicit customer feedback and provide business information Access professional services provided by organisations and businesses World and Business news Industry Information Information on competitors Priority
Marketing on the Web	Target customers with product and service information in greater detail Market to remote areas and globally Working with other businesses to set up reciprocal links Development of own website Provide up-to-date product information Priority
Business to Business e-Commerce	Supply information to each other Exchange purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices and payments electronically Joint Marketing Access new customers Access new suppliers Priority