WHAT IS E-COMMERCE SOFTWARE

E-Commerce Software allows an online merchant to quickly, efficiently, and professionally process online sales. Ease of the software's use and its application depends upon the software's features, but with technology constantly improving and focusing on the customer, most software packages are becoming more and more user friendly for both the seller (you) and the buyer (your customers). By "user-friendly," we mean things like minimal to no required programming (on your part), bulk uploading of the products you wish to sell, easy import of an existing product database, automatic calculations, and more.

WHEN IS E-COMMERCE SOFTWARE APPLICABLE?

Because of the software's size and extensive features, e-commerce software is more applicable towards implementing online catalogs of 100 or more products. Of course if you have less than 100 products, but also know that you will add many more in the future, e-commerce software would certainly be an appropriate investment. E-Commerce Software is also a smart tool to use if you need to downsize your sales force. Many of the features in most e-commerce software are designed to automate tasks that would otherwise require paid employees to do.

WHY USE E-COMMERCE SOFTWARE?

Part of the growing demand for e-commerce software is the automation it offers for both you, the merchant, and for your customers. Not only does most software of this type process the sale for you, it can also point your customer to his or her own online shopping list, related products, coupons, gift certificates, quantity discounts, wholesale pricing, and/or custom shipping arrangements. Behind-the-scene (behind your website, that is), your software can automatically update your inventory, verify and process credit card payments with your bank, integrate payment data with your preferred accounting software. calculate and accept payment in any currency, automatically calculate taxes by state or country, process checks, phone orders, and P.O. orders. For your records, your e-commerce software can store, track, and generate sales reports and customer reports.

Another reason why e-commerce software is so popular is because it strengthens the privacy and security of personal information exchanged between the seller and the buyer. E-commerce software is designed to use secure servers - the current force against unfortunate events like credit card and/or identity theft.

If properly integrated within the merchant's website, e-commerce software can even act as a separate module for search engine data by adding specific product keywords, descriptions, and titles. And because of unique sales opportunities (holiday sales for example) you will generate keywords for your website that may not have been considered before.

HOW E-COMMERCE SOFTWARE WORKS

E-Commerce Software works with your website. Your website acts as the interface between the customer's web browser and your database of products. In order for your website to retrieve and send data to the customer, your website and your e-commerce software must reside on your own server (unless you choose to use a 3rd party service to run the software on their server for you). To allow customers to purchase items from your product database, your e-commerce software will help you determine how you want to display items, arrange product categories, price your wares, display customer order history, automate confirmation emails, and more from your website. Special HTML, CGI, Javascript, or ASP code placed onto your website pages will call and display this type of information on your customer's web browser.

Advanced e-commerce software will enable you to automate repeat visitor greetings, manage e-mail or customer help requests, and implement sale discount mechanisms.

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