E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods, money transactions and data exchange using electronic networks, especially the Internet. This process is done through e-mail, fax, online catalog, electronic data interchange (EDI), web or online services etc. Usually e-commerce is done between one business and another business organization (B2B), between business organization and consumer (B2C), between consumer and consumer (C2C). In a word, e-commerce is the name of this marketing process of almost automatic exchange.
Opportunities for e-commerce in Bangladesh
Although the digital revolution began in developed countries in the late twentieth century, it spread to most developing countries in the twenty-first century. This astonishing expansion of information and communication technology has brought modernity and new dimensions to the world of business and commerce - better known as e-commerce. The opportunity to expand e-commerce has been created as the facilities of information and communication technology have been extended to cities and villages in the journey of building a digital Bangladesh in Bangladesh since 2009. In the meantime, online shopping has become popular on a number of e-commerce sites. The grassroots people are also slowly getting involved. There are more than four and a half thousand Union Digital Centers (UDCs) across the country. These UDCs have about ten thousand entrepreneurs with experience in information and communication technology. They can easily conduct e-commerce or e-commerce by building an IT based network involving rural and urban people. Some of them have already started operating e-commerce. They are also making extra income from this. The farmers of the village have to go to the market every day with their produce. But if they come and sell these products at UDC's e-shop center, they will definitely benefit. Because, there is no middleman between the buyer and the seller in the e-shop center.
This section mentions some popular e-commerce sites in Bangladesh:
Daraj.com
Evali.com
Dhamaka.com
Rokmari.com
ClickBD
Sales.com
Priyashop.com
EasyTicket
The site, called Alibaba.com, continues to provide services around the world using ITBazar24's advanced information technology. The day may not be far off when buyers from all over the world will be able to order any of our products at home for the benefit of e-commerce. The product will be delivered to the buyer's address in a short time; There will be no irregularity or suffering in the transaction.
Things to do to launch e-commerce
E-commerce is directly related to information technology. There are many possibilities in our country. The advantage of e-commerce is that it requires less capital. Willpower, creativity and hard work are the biggest assets of an e-commerce business. Many means are required to run this business. Merchants, retailers, service providers, banks, policy makers, third payment processors and above all, buyers or consumers are considered as the medium of e-commerce. E-commerce is the management of financial transactions by bringing these mediums on one platform. Groundwork is crucial for starting this business. First you need to formulate a business management plan with a business model.
The strategic aspects of the plan should include:
1. Create website
2. Search engine optimization (SEO);
3. Product or content marketing;
4. Branding of e-commerce organizations;
5. Receiving media support;
. Advertising
. Ability to take pictures and audio-video and upload it;
. The ability to write about the product and create interesting headlines;
9. Research or survey to determine the demand for a product or content;
10. Banking and mobile banking facilities as payment gateways;
11. Cargo transportation system;
12. Automail connectivity with the consumer.
Website created
E-commerce is a new name in terms of Bangladesh. Due to the steps taken by e-Cab, new entrepreneurs and traders are gradually getting involved in e-commerce. To be successful in e-commerce, you must first create a website. Because, e-commerce is managed through the website. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Choosing a domain name;
Hosting and domain purchase;
Determining the platform for website creation;
Website creation and its security.
Domain name
To create an organization's website, you need to choose a beautiful domain name. Because, name is a very important issue in managing e-commerce. Consumers usually search online by imagining the name of the organization along with the name of the product. In this case, the domains that depend on the keywords are displayed by the search engine. However, if you want to fix the domain name, you have to make sure that it is not too long. In this case 4-10 characters domain name is better.
Purchase of domain and hosting
Hosting means storing or storing all the data / images / videos etc. in the virtual storage of the website. There are different types of hosting. Such as: Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Hosting etc. It is better not to take domain hosting from the same company. But if you are faithful, things are different in this case. Because, if for some reason the domain provider takes the domain, it is difficult to express in words how big the loss will be. In this case, Godaddy is the trusted company for the purchase of domain and hosting. Domains are usually available from Rs 850 to Rs 1200. Prices may vary from company to company. The domain is taken for one year and has to be renewed at the end of the year. Hosting is usually available in Bangladesh starting from Rs 50 to Rs 16,000. In the field of hosting, the price of Shared Hosting is the lowest, but Cloud Hosting is the best for e-commerce.
Determining the platform for creating a website
After purchasing the domain and hosting, one has to look at creating a beautiful and easy website. There are many companies in Bangladesh for creating websites. However, e-commerce website can be created at home with your own talent and creativity. Here are some easy ways to create a website:
Commerce: This is a WordPress plugin. Newcomers can easily create websites using it. It does not take any coding database to create a website. All the benefits of e-commerce are available only by activating the plugin.
Magento: Magento is currently the most popular CMS used for e-commerce sites. This is a free open source CMS. It is built on the Zend framework. This CMST has a variety of timely features for creating e-commerce websites. Magento has many free and premium themes and plugins. Anyone can create an e-commerce website with free magento themes and plugins.
Zen-Cart: The CMST that is at the top of popularity in open source store management systems is Zen-Cart.
OS-Commerce: OS-Commerce is one of the most popular top online store management software for open source commerce or OS-Commerce.
Prestashop: An open source CMS completely free. Within a few days of the launch of Prestashop, it became very popular. The main attraction is the design, which is not seen in any other CMS.
Open-Cart: Open-Cart is one of the most easy-to-use and attractive open source shopping cart software.
WordPress is the most used e-commerce website. This allows you to create an e-commerce website of any design you want. Also, WordPress is very easy to use and the only one available is a wide range of customizations. WordPress eCommerce, Magento, Zen-Cart, Open-Cart are some of the easy to use. However, if one wants to run a business easily, it is better to use Woocommerce or Open Cart.
E-commerce websites can be easily created using the following WordPress plugins:
Woocommerce Plugin (https://www.woothemes.com/woocommerce/)
Cart66 Lite Plugin (http://cart66.com/)
eShop Plugin (http://quirm.net/eshop-2/)
Jigoshop Plugin (https://www.jigoshop.com/)
WP E-Commerce Plugin (https://wpecommerce.org/)
Shopp Plugin (https://shopplugin.net/)
Website security
After creating a website, it is necessary to pay attention to its security. No matter what platform the website is built on, its security must be ensured first. Use CDN Service with Hosting. Max CDN is quite good in premium. However, CloudFlare can also be used. Also, use strong passwords for security reasons. In addition, the Site Lock service and the WordPress Security plugin can be used.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
To get an e-commerce site at the forefront of website search you need to have an idea about SEO. Because, the more visitors to the site, the more product sales will be possible. A list of product items needs to be prepared by determining the demand for the products that will be bought and sold. Media, especially social media, national and local print and electronic media can be chosen for buying and selling products.
Marketing plans for managing e-commerce
E-commerce management needs to formulate a marketing plan for the purchase and sale of products. Because the success of e-commerce depends largely on the marketing strategy of the product. Marketing plans can be done in different ways:
1. Customer registration
2. Product manufacturer registration;
3. Registration of traders and retailers;
4. Credit card and mobile banking transactions;
5. Create volunteer teams;
. Marketing team formation.
Customer registration
Initiatives should be taken to create customers for buying and selling the products of the e-commerce site. For this, the site must have customer registration system. In the beginning, the members of the marketing team will take the initiative to create customers by using their personal identities. Create a database with the address of each customer. As soon as the purchase order is received from the customer, it has to be delivered to the specified address. It is important to keep in mind the quality of the product and the delivery of the customer within the stipulated time. Then the customer will work in the promotion and expansion of the organization and gradually this number will increase. Agreements for sale and purchase of goods can also be made with different stores. Their list also needs to be saved online.
Product Manufacturer Registration
Since UDCs are established in villages, a list of various grassroots producers has to be prepared. They have to register for the sale of their products. Manufacturers of goods, especially farmers, handicraftsmen, cottage manufacturers and fishermen need to be members of the e-commerce site. It will be easier for those who use regular websites to sell their products. Registered database needs to be created. Manufacturers of products can come to the e-commerce center regularly to sell products. Even those interested in purchasing the product can come to the center or purchase the prescribed product by ordering through online card or mobile banking.
Registration of traders and retailers
A list of traders and retailers needs to be prepared keeping in view the needs of the customers. Keep in touch with them regularly as per the list. By selling products from these merchants and retailers, sales can be increased step by step through e-commerce sites.
Transactions through credit cards and mobile banking
The process of buying on a credit card is simple. The bank has a computer server to carry out these activities and the entrepreneur or organization that will trade on its own website will manage a server. The whole process is managed through specially designed software. When a customer enters the website and chooses a product and clicks on a specific place to pay, the message will go to the server of the particular bank. If the customer gives permission using his secret PIN code, the bank will check the customer's account through the payment gateway from the bank's server and deduct certain amount. If the bank is not local, the number will go to the Visa or MasterCard network from the payment gateway. From here it will be approved with the permission of the specified bank and the bank will deduct the money from the buyer's account and deposit it as the seller. Payment can be made through any bank's credit card. The whole process will take a minute to complete. And online transaction companies are using https (hyper text transfer protocol secured) technology, which is secure in order to ensure that no one else can easily collect customer information. However, many people in the village do not have credit cards. They transact money on mobile. In that case mobile banking facility can be used effectively.
Volunteer Team Creation (Self Employee)
Volunteer teams can be formed with young people from the village who are interested in volunteering to buy and sell products. They have to create a database and keep it online. These volunteers will be able to assist in the sale of products produced in the village, as well as in the purchase of products according to the needs of the people of the village. They will introduce the products of the e-commerce site to the people of the village.
Marketing team formation
The organization may first recruit a few young people on a small scale. We have to form a marketing team with them to make arrangements for the sale of products. The members of this team will keep in touch with them regularly by creating new customers.
Banking and mobile banking facilities as payment gateways
Various initiatives and arrangements are underway to make e-commerce effective and popular. Bangladesh Bank launched National Payment Switch (NPS) in December 2012. It is essential for e-commerce. The National Payment Switch (NPS) was introduced to increase people's involvement in e-commerce and to facilitate transactions. This NPS will overcome the limitations that exist when shopping on the Internet using a single platform. It is actually a universal payment gateway. With the introduction of payment gateways in electronic systems, all types of electronic banking systems including ATM cards, mobile banking have come to the same platform. Money can be withdrawn using any bank's ATM card at another bank's booth. In addition, mobile banking, retail shopping point of sales (POS) activities and internet transactions have become easier day by day. Mobile banking of any bank can be done with other banks. Shopping with Visa and MasterCard can be done within the country without any international payment gateway.