Ecommerce For Import Export Companies

With more than a million people having access to internet it is believed that with the rapid economic development of Asian countries number of users will increase dramatically in the coming years. This ubiquitous presence of the Internet is forcing companies to embrace the Internet as a marketing and sales channel aggressively. Many have adopted Internet based technologies and benefiting enormously from it.

Import Export companies are no difference. Most of them are using the Internet to tap into new markets, research competitors, find new products and evaluate country opportunities. However, many of these same companies are still slow in implementing eBusiness features in their daily business activities and, as a result, fail to garner true value from the use of the Internet. Trading companies those which are still not doing online business transactions should follow the examples of their retail counterparts and adopt eCommerce strategies.

Segments of eCommerce – Business to Business and Business to Consumers.
Retailers are mostly involved in B2C and import export traders are often more in the B2B sector. That's why you need to realize that the components of eCommerce you may need in your website will be based on your business specifics. In general, all eCommerce sites are a combination of some of the following business functionalities:

• An eCatalog so that buyers can browse through the products you have to offer
• Product specification that gives detailed technical and delivery information
• A feature that allows sending request for quote online (RFQ)
• A product order placing system – normally a shopping cart
• Ability to view order status
• Sending a notification if a new product added to the catalogue which was requested by a prospective buyer
• At least one payment method. For small orders you should have a merchant account.
• Purchase order sending ability. Buyers should be able to send PO for the products readily available or the contracts already negotiated with you.
• Billing system should generate invoices automatically

Once you implemented these features there is virtually no geographic restriction on where you can sell your products. If you are an export company you may consider translating your eCommerce site to the language of your targeted market. This gives you an extra ability to leverage your sales endeavour.

Benefits of eCommerce : Increase revenue, Expand client base, Lower operating costs, Better customer service, Enhance your company image.