As new technologies such as Web 2.0 continue to improve the Internet, netizens begin to expect more from the Web. They want new and improved features from the sites that they frequently visit and this puts on a lot of pressure for companies that manage online storefronts while at the same time raising a market opportunity for IT providers.
One major reason to explained the increased expectations is that websites such as eBay, Flickr, YouTube and Amazon are still pushing the envelope as far as new features and an improved online user experience is concerned, says Gartner vice president for e-commerce and CRM research, Gene Alvarez.
A report released by Gartner suggests that while IT budgets continue to shrink by about 5 percent to 25 percent, consumers still expect companies to provide better online shopping experiences.
Alvarez said that this is one of the biggest challenges for e-commerce organizations. Whether it is in business-to-consumer or in business-to-business e-commerce, he adds that customers continue to tap into new capabilities so they expect the same capabilities on practically every website that they visit.
And technology providers have started addressing the demand for new features by launching software and ecommerce hosting services that are designed to improve online storefronts.
Just recently, Google rolled out the Google Checkout store gadget. The application can be embedded into any website sans the need for complicated coding. The app allows people to establish their online store within minutes.
There are also a lot of technology vendors in the Philippines that are leaning towards developing e-business applications in both B2B and B2C space. For instance, ePLDT is currently developing a suite of business apps which will be launched online. ePLDT is an ICT firm owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.
