Uxbridge College School of Computing and IT BTEC Higher National Diploma Unit 1: Business Skills for e-Commerce Assignment 2: e-Commerce Solution Task 1 E-business has introduced new opportunities for small and large organisations to compete in the global marketplace. • Discuss the global impact of e-Commerce on society: • online sales, • communication with customers, • greater choices, lower prices, • global markets and online advertising. [P2.2] Task 2 Creating an on-line business from scratch can be exciting and rewarding, but it also involves time, effort and money. So it’s essential to understand why you’re doing it. You need to reject all ideas that you’re not confident will make money, even if you love them. Start by completing the survey atwww.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu. The survey you want is the VIA Survey of Character Strengths Questionnaire. You need to answer 240 short questions; and the result will give you a real insight into what you’re good at.Then, investigate market potential for an e-Commerce opportunity you’re passionate about and pick a domain name that is short, simple to remember and describes what you intend to sell or service you would like to provide online.[P3.1]. Task 3 Furthermore, you need to see if there is a market for your business idea. It doesn’t have to be huge, because you can succeed by hitting the right niche. Check out the competition by googling your business keywords and see what comes up in the sponsored listing. The simplest way is to estimate the number of Google searches that people are initiating for the relevant keywords. Too many searches suggest your keywords are too broad and competition is likely to be fierce. Too few and the market might not be big enough. Use www.google.com/trends to analyse the market and the competition and provide screen shots. Bear in mind, if your product doesn’t have an audience, it doesn’t matter how well you run your company or market the product. Moreover, join Forums, Discussion Groups, Bulletin Boards, and Newsletters related to your online business and evaluate current e-Commerce systems in use by these organisations and provide references P[3.2] Part1. What is your niche market? Unique selling point? Can you identify your rivals’ weaknesses? Why do you think you can do better than them or succeed? [D1.1]. Bakery Shop Explain?? Task 4 Go to www.surveymonkey.com and create a free account. The account will allow you to create surveys with up to 100 respondents. Conduct a basic market research in order to establish that there’s a market for your product or service. P[3.2] Part2 Survey about the bakery shop Task 5 Now you are ready to build a website to sell your products or services. There are three main types of e-commerce solutions you can choose from: Hosted Ecommerce Solutions e.g. listed below top 20e-commerce website builders. These programs are designed to help you create an online store regardless of your programming or web design experience using one of the following e-commerce solutions. Design an e-commerce solution for your product or service using one of the above options [P3.4]. • http://www.bigcommerce.com • http://www.shopify.com • http://www.web.com • http://www.webs.com • http://www.wix.com • http://www.sitebuilderdiy.co.uk • weebly.com • www.biz.nf • http://imcreator.com • http://www.volusion.co.uk • http://www.squarespace.com • http://www.1shoppingcart.com • http://website.1and1.co.uk • http://www.buildyoursite.com/ • http://www.moonfruit.com • http://www.devhub.com/ • http://www.snappages.com • https://sites.google.com/ • http://www.webnode.com/ • https://www.yola.com/ • http://www.oscommerce.com/ • squarespace.com… POPULAR WITH GAME STUDENTS • You can also download opencart.com(open source); a robust e-commerce solution for internet merchants with the ability to create your own business and participate in e-commerce at a minimal cost. • Licensed Ecommerce Solutions, e.g. http://www.adobe.com&http://www.serif.com,mobile optimized checkout for phone shoppers integrated with Paypal e.g. moonfruit.com. • Use content management system (CMS) i.e. joomla.org orwordpress.org to build a powerful and versatile e-commerce solution. • Useopen Source Ecommerce Solutions e.g. http://www.pspad.com or http://www.prestashop.com/. Regardless of what route you take, always have your customer in mind when creating the aesthetic of your on-line business. Even if you're selling the most incredible product, if a customer comes to your site and is underwhelmed, they won't trust your business or purchase from you. Find some free articles relating to your product at www.articlesbase.com or www.about.com and populate your home page so that Google sees your site as relevant – again reducing ad costs. Show innovation in designing the content and in integrating your web site pages. Furthermore, if you’re looking to sustain your presence, you’re in need of a suitable hosting provider. Below you’ll found list 10 web hosting companies, to help you find an excellent provider that meets your needs to publish your web site. [D3.5] http://www.top10bestwebsitehosting.co.uk/ http://www.ipage.com/ http://www.fatcow.com/ http://www.justhost.com/ http://www.godaddy.com/ http://www.webhostinghub.com/ http://www.bluehost.com/ http://www.inmotionhosting.com/ http://www.hostgator.com/ http://www.greengeeks.com/ http://www.webhostingpad.com/ Task 6 Calculate and explain the total costs of your new e-commerce solution including: hardware, software, security, maintenance, supply sources, distribution channels, monthly subscriptions, etc. P[3.3]. Which secure payment system (see the list below) or credit card processing would you use for your online business and why? Integrate you chosen secure payment system in your website. [M2.4] Task 7 Another option is to have your on-line business hosted on a server owned and operated by someone else. This often means you can use your host’s framework to build your internet presence very quickly with little technical knowledge and use their brand and reputation to attract customers to your online shop. Investigate how to set up an eBay or Amazon shop for your product or service. OR, use the skills you have learned in Unit 14: Web site to design your online solution. Then compare running the business in the two options described in tasks 5 & 7 and show which one of the e-commerce solutions is better and why. [D3.2] Task 8 To truly succeed online, it's not enough simply to have a website. There are millions of other sites out there, all competing for the same shoppers. That's why it's critical to spread the word about what you're selling online. There are many different ways to tell others about your new store. Some of the quickest methods include reaching out to your friends and acquaintances. But to really stand out from the crowd, you'll want to look to search engines for help. One quick way to market your online shop and boost traffic to your site is through Pay Per Click (PPC) or Cost Per Click (CPC) advertising. Another way to boost your ranking in search engines is with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which is the practice of crafting your site to become search engine friendly.Evaluate the suitability of both methods for your online business. [P3.5] Connect your website to social media presence (see below) and add icons to your site that point to Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln& YouTube. This will allow your customers to 'like' and 'tweet' their browsing and buying habits. This gives your visitors a truly engaging social media experience and helps you generate virility for your web site. Use Google Adwords Keyword Planner to set up a campaign athttp://adwords.google.comto help you choose competitive bids and budgets to use with your campaign and trumpet your online store to anyone that is willing to listen and provide step by step screen shots your search campaign. Use Google Webmaster Tools to see at a glance how many visitors you’ve had, which links they clicked, which pages got the most hits, what they searched for, and how much time they spent on your site. Set up, integrate, and embed the following in your web site: • Adscenceaccount and make AdSense ads appear on your site and provide screen shots. • Google Map • Calendar • Links to other materials • Blog • Multimedia: add a video from YouTube • User Login & Password Registration form and User profile.[D2.1] Task 9 Case Study: Utility Utility firm, Npower, is to face an investigation by the energy regulator, Ofgem, over allegations about sales tactics. Following an undercover investigation by the Sunday Times, it is alleged that some door-to-door sales staff in London misled potential customers. Householders thought they are asking for more information about changing power suppliers when in fact the sales staff were switching them without their consent from their existing suppliers to Npower. The company issued a statement in which it said: ‘Npower management will of course co-operate fully with Ofgem in its investigation. We were very concerned at the actions of a small number of individuals in a London sales team as reported in the Sunday Times. We took swift action to take the team off the road and investigate the problem. Following an in-depth investigation by our audit team, disciplinary hearing will be schedules shortly. We cannot prejudge the outcome of these meetings but the penalty for fraudulent activity is dismissal. We have also taken steps to confirm that the systems in place currently are working effectively and we taken the entire Npower sales force off the road to reinforce the standards that we require. Where appropriate we have introduced additional procedures to ensure we operate to the highest standards across all our sales teams’. Adam Scorer of consumer watching Energywatch said: ‘More than 100 consumers contact us each month complain about Npower’s marketing tactics. No consumer should be subjected to such bully boy bahaviour and such poor service’. An Ofgem spokesperson said it had the power to fine Npower up to ten per cent of its global income if it upheld the allegations. In the last case of mis-selling in 2002, Ofgem fined London Electricity, now part of EDF, £2 million. a. Explain, using the data, why regulators are needed in industries such as power and telecommunications. [P2.1]-Part 1 b. Discuss whether the actions of regulators like Ofgem are likely to make markets more competitive and improve consumer choice. [P2.1]-Part 2 Source: adapted from news.bbc.co.uk, 22.2.2013 Task 10:Wessex balance sheet as at 31 December 2010 [M2.3] Wessex BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31.12.2010 2010 2009 £000s £000s Fixed assets Equipment 1,200 1,400 Vehicles 340 310 1,540 1,710 Current assets Stock 230 160 Debtors 65 80 Cash at bank 180 100 475 340 Creditors amount falling due in one year Trade Creditors 120 105 Accruals 20 25 taxation 100 80 240 210 Net current assets 235 130 Creditors amount falling due after one year Mortgage 500 500 Net assets 1,275 1,340 Capital and reserves Share capital 200 200 Other reserves 115 540 Retained profit 960 600 1,275 1,340 a. Why does business like Wessex produce a balance sheet b. Explain using the figures above what is meant by fixed assets. c. Explain using the figures above why; (i) retained profit (ii) vehicle; has increased in the balance sheet over the two years d. How would you describe the financial situation of Wessex referring to the above figures? e. Evaluate the usefulness of this balance sheet to the shareholders of Wessex. Test 1 23rd May 2016: Business Skills for e-Commerce Test 2 6th June 2016: Business Skills for e-Commerce Unit 1: Business Skills for e-Commerce Assignment 2 Contextualised Grading Note: failure to complete a pass criterion will lead to failure of the entire unit. M1.3: failure to meet the deadline for handing in this assignment as stated in the front sheet means that you have failed to make an effective judgement in organising your time effectively and therefore the assignment basically will be marked only for pass criteria. As you know even if you meet all the merit criteria and all the distinction criteria, if you fail to meet M1.1 your assignment will only be judged on the pass criteria. Furthermore, if you consult resources to answer the above questions, you need to provide references using the Harvard system of referencing. M2.4: In task 6, you need to compare different payment system such as PayPal, Nochex, Google Checkout or credit card processing and decide which one would you use and why? M2.3: In task 10, you need to answer all 5 questions (a-e) regarding Wessesx Balance Sheet correctly to achieve this criterion. D1.1: In task 3, you need to find out what is your niche market, unique selling point, and why do you think you can do better than the competition. D2.1: In task 8, you need to set up Adscen account and use Google Webmaster Tools to see at a glance how many visitors you’ve had, which links they clicked, which pages got the most hits, what they searched for, and how much time they spent on your site. D2.3:In task 8,Set up AdWords campaign athttp://adwords.google.com to trumpet your online store to anyone that is willing to listen. D3.2: In task 7, investigate how to set up an eBay or Amazon shop and compare it in running the business in tasks: 5 & 7 and which one is better and why. D3.5: In task 5,you need to show innovation in designing the content and in integrating different pages to your website and creativity in providing e-commerce solution. Note: failure to complete a pass criterion will lead to failure of the entire unit. Uxbridge College – School of Computing and IT BTEC L5 HND COMPUTING AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 2012-2013 Unit 1: Business Skills for e-Commerce – J/601/0462 Assessment guidance Outcomes To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to: To achieve a merit grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to: To achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to: 2- understand the impact of e-Commerce P 2.1 Analyse the impact, including the risks, of introducing an e-Commerce system to an organisation M1.3 An effective approach to study and research has been applied D1.1 conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified P 2.2 Discuss the global impact of e-Commerce on society M2.3 A range of sources of information has been used D2.1 autonomy/independence has been demonstrated M2.3 The selection/ design of methods and techniques / sources has been justified D2.3 Activities have been managed LO3 Be able to design e-Commerce solution P 3.1 Investigate market potential for an e-Commerce opportunity D3.2 self-evaluation has taken place P 3.2 Evaluate current e-Commerce systems in use by organisations D3.5 innovation and creative thought have been applied P 3.3 Discuss the financial implications of an e-Commerce solution P 3.4 Design an e-Commerece solution P 3.5 Evaluate the suitability of an e-Commerce solution.