APPLICATIONS OF E-COMMERCE

3. Electronic Newspapers

One of the hot areas on the Internet is the electronic newspaper. Electronic newspaper has advantages over both, the printed newspapers and the broadcast news on radio and televisions. In comparison to printed newspaper, the e-newspaper can give up-to-date news similar to broadcast news. Further, the browser could be set to select the news of interest of the reader and to leave out the rest. This is not possible with the broadcast news.

Despite the said advantages, the electronic newspapers are not being very popular due to the following reasons:

  • Radio and television news are often consumed while people are doing other things like eating their foods or driving a car.
  • Printed newspapers may be read on the train or in the park and then may be shared with someone else.
  • The printed newspapers give the reader the chance to be selective (the selection depends on the moods and time of the reader).

There are a number of online newspapers and most of them are web versions of existing newspapers. For example:

  • www.timesofindia.com
  • www.dainikjagran.com

4. Internet Banking

Sometimes the bank, customers want to make an urgent payment but to visit the bank is not convenient. Similarly, to go to the bank to just know the balance is also not justified. Internet banking (or telephone banking) can solve these problems. To solve the problems on phone or Internet is also profitable for banks as it reduces their overheads. With the help of online banking a customer can check his or her balance at any time of the day or night. The customer can also pay various bills like telephone, electricity etc. without going to the bank or billing centers. The typical services offered by the online banking are as follows:

  • The customers can check their account balances at any time.
  • The customer can obtain statements regarding any specific debit or credit that has gone through.
  • Credit transfers so that bill can be paid online.
  • Maintenance of standing orders and direct debits.
  • The major service that is not provided is cash in and cash out. To get the money, the customer has to go to the bank or ATMs.

Some sites related to Internet banking are as follows:

  • www.indianbank.net.in
  • www.icicibank.com

You cannot use the services provided by the online banks till you are not the customer.

5. Electronic Auctions

Auctions have been a well-established market mechanism for trading items at a market negotiated price, based upon demand and supply. The Internet has added a new dimension by creating an online mechanism for implementing the auction process. Traditional auctions had limited participation of people who turned up at the place of auction. Today, the same auction mechanisms can be implemented using e-commerce technologies, allowing people connected through the Internet to bid. Electronic auctions potentially encourage greater participation as Internet users can connect to a web hosting an auction and bid for an item. www.ebid.net  and www.ubid.com are the examples of such sites.

6. Marketing

Data collection about customer behaviour, preferences, needs and buying patterns is possible through Web and E-commerce. This helps marketing activities such as price fixation, negotiation, product feature enhancement and relationship with the customer.

APPLICATIONS OF E-COMMERCE

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