When someone says they want to set up an e-commerce site, what
exactly do they mean? A basic e-commerce site-a site where commerce
is transacted-consists of the following:
- The catalog. Where product images or photos are featured
along with a description, item number and price. When services are
involved instead of products, then the catalog would be the listing
of services.
- The shopping cart. The behind-the-scenes technology that
allows shoppers to select an item, specify its number, and return
to see what's in their shopping cart at any time to add or
modify.
- The checkout system. The technology that's activated
once a shopper decides to finalize his or her purchase or
"check out." This system, in its most basic form, tallies
tax, adds shipping, gives a total cost and processes the shipping
and delivery of the items or fulfillment of the services. That
process could simply mean e-mailing or faxing you the details for
you to fulfill the order or sending the details to your factory or
fulfillment house.
That's all there is to a basic e-commerce site!
Aliza Sherman is an entrepreneur and author of Cybergrrl:
A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web (Ballantine Books).
She is currently working on her next book and new company.