Lab 14

I know you have been looking into expanding your local toy store, so I’ve been doing some investigations for you. I first went looking at some properties you could buy at prime locations, but then I came up with an even better idea that will save you tons of money. The answer is e-commerce. Using e-commerce your store will be in millions of homes, businesses, schools, mobile phones, etc, basically anywhere with internet access. You won’t have to hire any employees, or buy property. I’ve done some ground work and found three e-commerce programs than can work for your company. Below I am going to list the three software programs with their features, pros and cons, and then pick the one I think will work best for your company and why. The three programs that can provide the start for your e-commerce business are Zen Cart, osCMax, and PrestaShop.

∙ Features

Payment

Each software program offers different ways to send and receive the payment for the products. Zen Cart says that paypal and many other popular merchant services are provided, but does not specify which ones. osCMax offers many payment modules like authorized.net, paypal, linkpoint, cash on delivery, standard osC Credit Card, EFS Net, Geo Trust QuickPayments, ipaymeny, Check/Money order, NOCHEX, PayBox Credit Card, 2CheckOut, PSIGate, and SECPay. And PrestaShop offers payment by bank wire, Google Checkout module, Cash on Delivery, and Paypal.

Foreign Countries and Currency

Your business now has the ability to go international with these programs. Zen Cart says that it program has multiple language support, and multiple currency support. However, Zen Cart again does not specify which languages or currencies. osCMax does not say directly that it has multiple language or currency options but it does give a Country/State drop down which can mean that they cater to other countries. Presta Shop says that its software has 13 default language translations, unlimited currencies, and unlimited carriers and destinations.

Coupons, Vouchers, Discounts

Zen Cart gives your company the ability for the customer to have access to coupons and gift certificates that are easily handled by both customers and administrators. osCMax does have coupons and vouchers available for the company to make available to the customers along with Customer Loyalty Discounts (which will keep customers coming back). While PrestaShop offers the option for special deals, which allows for price reductions and gift vouchers for their customers.

Shipping

Zen Cart has the ability for the customer to view a shipping estimator which enables the customer to view the estimate of how much the shipping will cost for a particular product. osCMax does their shipping per product and has the following options for the shipping module of your choice: FedX Direct Real Time Quotes v2.04, UPS XML v1.1.5, USPS Methods v2.7d + insurance, Flat Rate, Per Item Shipping, Table Rates, and Zone Rates. And PrestaShop gives the customer and company delivery status notification e-mails.

∙ Pros and Cons

The strong pros of Zen Cart are the options that the customer has for making payments, and shipping estimates. However, a major con Zen Mart has to be its vagueness about such things like its payment options, languages, and currencies. osCMax had some good pros which were all of the shipping, and payment modules it has to offer. Where osCMax lacks is in the international department. This software never directly says if or how it caters to people internationally. The pros of PrestaShop are that it offers 13 default language translations, unlimited currencies, and unlimited carriers and destinations (which can expand business a lot). But PrestaShop does not offer as many payment options like osCMax does.

∙ Final Decision

After researching all of the different software and analyzing the pros and cons, I have reached a decision on which program would be best for your company. I believe that PrestaShop is the software for you. PrestaShop seems more customer friendly, and has fewer barriers on who can buy your product and where the product can be sent. I think this software enables your company to expand further and reach more people compared to the other types of software. Hopefully I helped in the decision to go into e-commerce. If you choose the software I proposed I just know your company will take off.