E-Commerce Primer - A Getting Started Guide
What to look for…
Now that you understand the basics of e-commerce, what should you do? Well, get out a pen and paper (or computer) and get ready to take some notes. What features do you need in a shopping cart or e-commerce system? Don't know? That's okay; we'll go over some features so you have a better idea. When you read about a feature you think you need… jot it down. Then when you're looking at e-commerce systems or talking to a developer you'll be able to tell them exactly what you need.
Database or Flat File - Some shopping carts use databases, such as MySQL, Microsoft SQL and Oracle. Others use flat files or rely on static HTML pages. If you have a lot of products you'll definitely want some form of a database for quicker access and updating of information.
Catalog - Some shopping carts or e-commerce systems will have catalog functionality. They will automatically generate pages of products and information based on departments and categories. This is really helpful if you have hundreds or thousands of products.
Shipping Calculation - Do you need automatic shipping calculation or integration with UPS, FedEx or USPS? If you don't ship any products this won't be necessary.
Customer Login - Some e-commerce systems will allow your customers to create an account that will store their personal information, past orders, billing and shipping addresses, payment information, etc. This is a really good feature for stores that have customers that order frequently.
Customer and Order Management - Most shopping carts only have limited functionality in this area. They just process the information and dump it into a flat file or database for your online/offline processing. E-Commerce systems, however, tend to be complete solutions with comprehensive backend for management of your store.
Payment Processor / Merchant Account Integration - This is a really important feature. If you've already selected or signed up for a merchant account and payment processor you'll have to make sure your system supports it. This works both ways… if you've already signed up for a shopping cart, be sure to sign up for a merchant account & payment processor they support.
Template / Website Design - Some e-commerce systems include basic templates or allow you to input your header/footer, minimizing the need to customize the system to fit your needs or style and saving valuable time in the development process.
Inventory Tracking - This can be really important if you need to track quantity on hand or reorder limits. Some systems can even email your supplier a reorder request.
Store Search - If you have a lot of products a store search is critical to help your customers find the products they need.
Currency Support - If you expect a lot of international orders multi-currency support is a must.
There are literally thousands of features in e-commerce systems today. These are just a few to get your creative juices flowing. Think of as many features as you can. Some might not be possible, but you should be able to find most in an affordable e-commerce system to fit your needs.
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