The E-commerce is the process of buying, selling, or exchanging products, services and information via computer networks. Including the Internet, it is a mode of modern commerce. It is based on buying and selling products online, using modern digital solutions such as (e-stores, e-commerce applications for Android and iPhone smartphones).

E-commerce is called has many terms such as (distance commerce, online commerce, online buying and selling, and online shopping). In English, it is called (E-Commerce), and there are many platforms provide e-commerce services, and the most important one is the platform of Vertex Cart.

What are the benefits of e-commerce?

The e-commerce has many benefits and advantages that have helped expand its activity in all types of commerce, as these benefits include individuals and institutions, and the most important of these benefits are:

Benefits of e-commerce for the consumer

The most important benefits of e-commerce for individuals consuming products are:

1. The Online stores operate 24 hours / 7 days, so you can shop at any time you want.
2. You can obtain price offers and product lists from various stores in a very short time.
3. The Online stores provide the advantage of comparing products and filtering results, thus making it easier to choose the most suitable product for the consumer.
4. The e-commerce has made global markets available to everyone. It enabled the consumer to buy from any store without any restriction to the products of the local market.
5. The openness of virtual markets to each other increases competition that led to decrease the prices, and this is in the interest of the consumer.
6. Increasing job opportunities in e-stores, which reduced the unemployment rate.
7. Providing products and services at the lowest possible costs, given that the establishment and operational expenses of e-stores are much lower than those of classic stores.
8. The Online stores provide and meet all consumer`s needs as quickly as possible, thanks to e-payment methods and intermediary shipping companies.
9. The Online stores provide many diverse services and needs in each store, as there is no limit to the number of products that you can display in your store.

Benefits of e-commerce for institutions and companies

The most prominent benefits of e-commerce for companies and institutions are:

1. When you use an online store to sell your products and services, you have reduced costs to a minimum, so you will get a greater profit margin, because the cost of establishing an online store is relatively much lower than the cost of opening an office, for example, as well as the monthly operating expenses.
2. The e-commerce has made the world's markets as a small market available to all countries. Consequently, audience segments and opportunities for deals, sales, and profits were increased, and this was helped by electronic marketing techniques
3. As for advertising expenses, electronic marketing has been replaced by old advertising methods, and electronic marketing is less expensive and better in performance.
4. The expenses of management and customer service have decreased significantly in online stores, even though work has become full-day, where the modern technical means have facilitated the process of managing the store and products, as well as provided the possibility of generating detailed statistics and reports with just one click of a button. This increases management's ability to follow up and develop the work, to increase sales and profits, and to address weaknesses.
5. Diversify the workforce and gain experience from external workers, as you can hire workers to work remotely (online). This reduces expenses and expands your circle of selecting the most qualified people to develop your business.
6. Strengthening the methods of modern trade, such as commission sales, sharing a percentage of profits, and other types of trade that support emerging commercial companies.

Types of e-commerce

Due to the rapid development of e-commerce technologies and solutions, it is always discovering new forms of commerce in the business market.

But all types of trade are limited to only four types, which are:

Business to Consumer (B2C):

It is the most famous relationship in trade, and it means selling products from companies to the final consumer. (Business to Customers).

Business to Business (B2B):

It is a business model from one company to another (Business to Business), i.e. wholesale selling. In this case, the product is sold from one company or factory to another company or factory, and is not sold directly to the final consumer. We can called this type as wholesale or retail trade.

Customer to Customer (C2C):

This business model depends on completing the purchase process between consumer and consumer (Customer to Customer). This is usually done electronically via the Internet, where the product is displayed by a consumer on an e-commerce platform and purchased by another consumer.

Consumer to Business (C2B):

It is a business model in which consumers (individuals) create value and businesses consume that value.[1] For example, when a consumer writes reviews or when a consumer gives a useful idea for new product development then that consumer is creating value for the business if the business adopts the input.

What are the success factors of an e-commerce project?

To create a successful e-commerce project, you must take care of the following points:

• An online store with an eye-catching and error-free design.

• It displays products with distinctive designs with clear and convincing explanation to the consumer.

• Good customer service solves customer problems and answers their inquiries.

• Provides sales offers and discounts to encourage the customer to make a purchasing decision.

The e-commerce tools, such as analytics, statistics, and tracking visitor usage, are used to develop the business, discover weaknesses and improve them.

What do you need to start your project online and enter the world of e-commerce?

First: choose the product

The e-commerce market is huge one and has great diversity and cross borders, which increases competitiveness, so to make successful e-commerce you must choose the right product.

The right product is one that you have experience in, and the labor market needs. Therefore, you can offer convincing points to the customer to buy it because you are experienced in this field. You will get a percentage of sales because you chose the product that customers need and search for.

People usually search a lot for products that solve their problem in the market, or help them improve their lives and facilitate daily tasks.

Second: Develop an action plan

After you choose the field to start trading, and choose the products that you will display in your store, you must develop a clear business plan for your business. Businesses undertaken without a plan often do not succeed.

The successful store's business plan includes developing a display and marketing strategy, advertising, as well as financing to ensure continuity.

Third: Create your own e-commerce website

After completing your e-project plan, the first practical step you will take in commerce is building an e-store, which is a website dedicated to e-commerce and equipped with online selling tools. It can be linked to an electronic payment gateway to receive payments from customers, and also linked to a shipping company, to deliver products to customers.

Read Also: How to create a successful e-store

Here it is worth remembering that the online store is the main pillar of your business, so choose it carefully, and the most important tips for building a successful online store are:

• Choose strong and fast hosting, as a slow site and frequent downtime do not allow visitors to continue browsing. They may look for another store once the page load is delayed for additional seconds than they are accustomed to on other sites.

• Design of the online store pages: The attractive design to all display screens, which the contents and buttons are carefully distributed, gives the user a good experience. Therefore, they may find products that they like and buy them.

• Improve the site’s appearance on search engines: Where most people search for products before buying them. If your site appears on the first pages of search engines, it increases the chance of getting free clients.

Fourth: Marketing your online store

After launching your online store, the selling process will begin, but at the beginning almost no one knows your store, products and services. They may be in desperate need of it, and they may be searching for it, and you are thinking how to reach them and offer your services and products to them. Here the importance of e-marketing appears. Simply, it is all the work that delivers your products and services to potential customers and turns them into permanent customers.

Read Also: Impact of online shopping on customer behavior in Middle East

Fifth: E-commerce consulting

The e-commerce solutions consulting is important for every company or individual working in e-commerce, as during e-commerce some obstacles may arise, or several opportunities for success and increased profits may appear.

Consulting an expert company gives you higher chances of exploiting opportunities and overcoming obstacles. Thus taking advantage of the circumstances to develop your business and make it successful.