eCommerce Solutions
Definition of eCommerce
Electric commerce: the conducting
of business communication and transactions
over networks and through computers.
Specifically, ecommerce is the buying
and selling of goods and services,
and the transfer of funds, through
digital communications.
Important questions about
an eCommerce System
> How
does an eCommerce system work?
> What
are the technical or hosting requirements?
> Can
it access other databases we are currently
work with?
> Can
it work on any web site?
> Do
you have a demo?
How does
an eCommerce system work?
eCommerce systems are installed on
a web server and allow users to shop
for products and purchase those products.
It also allows for the web site manager
(or store manager) to manage inventories,
prices, discounts, images and product
descriptions. All this is managed
through an Internet web browser such
as Firefox, Netscape or Internet Explorer.
There are many different types of
systems, some that work on Microsoft
or Cold Fusion servers and others
that work on Linux. At iCita, we work
primarily in a Linux environment and
provide whole-system solutions for
hosting eCommerce web sites.
What are
the technical or hosting requirements?
iCita primarily uses two eCommerce
systems. The primary one is called
OSCommerce that is an open-source
software system running on Linux.
The second is our customized solution
for small inventories or event registrations.
Both use an Apache web server and
are coded in PHP programming language.
Can is
access other databases we are currently
work with?
This answer is two-fold. First of
all, yes it can access other databases
if they meet the requirements of the
eCommerce application. If your databases
reside on a web server and are accessed
through the web, then there is a strong
possibility we can work with the database.
Remember, Linux does not communicate
well with Microsoft databases, so
SQL Server and Microsoft Access are
harder to integrate into the iCita
system.
Second, we always need to analyze
what data you want to access and why.
Answers to these questions will help
us develop the desired functionality.
Can it
work on any web site?
A better question is, can it work
on any server? The answer is no. iCita's
solutions work on Linux web servers.
If you have a web site you want to
run an eCommerce system on there are
several steps that we go through to
make a web site a eCommerce-enabled
web site. Some of these steps include:
1. Determine if your current web site
design is optimal for your eCommerce
system.
2. Determine a hosting solution if
needed.
3. Determine the type of merchant
account need or have (if you want
to accept credit cards).
4. Create a design template..
5. Desired functionality: Discounts,
specials, featured products, etc.
6. Install and customize the system.
Do you
have a demo?
Yes - Please contact us for a free demonstration.
