E-Commerce Upgrade - Section E

As well as the Elderfield Developments site being used a “static” one it could also operate as an e-commerce site. What this would allow users to do is purchase goods (i.e. merchandise) through the website.
The best way to integrate e-commerce facilities to the site would be using a pre-designed script called CubeCart. What the CubeCart script contains are files that only need to be copied to a server (where the Elderfield Developments site is hosted, currently hosting plan allows this) and then it will automatically create an e-commerce section. Once the files have been copied it is then a simple case of following an on-screen wizard which enables you to enter various specifications for your e-commerce section such as category names. Once this is setup there is nothing much else for you to worry about as the script just runs in background without really ever needing to be changed.

Another advantage to using the CubeCart script is that it comes with an administration panel. Using this you can change any aspect of the e-commerce section without needing any special software (excluding your internet browser) or hardly any computing knowledge. Also, the admin section can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Through the admin panel just about any aspect can be viewed or changed relating to the e-commerce section. In the panel it also allows you to construct your database of products by you simply filling out a few boxes for each product.(See below example of the CubeCart Administration Control Panel)

Another plus to using an e-commerce website is that you can use it to advertise further on. You may decide to “rent” space out pages for other companies to advertise on or you can just use it to advertise Elderfield further. If you have a link to the e-commerce section on the main Elderfield Development site you would not need to worry about advertising a separate address for the new section as it would be found on the main site. This would mean that any visitor to the main site could be a potential customer to the e-commerce section.

As your web host (hostway) supports secure hosting, this will help in terms of the security issues. This will help ensure that the actual e-commerce section is secure and well protected. When users are paying for good however this is done by an external site such as PayPal which use high level security and advanced encryption. As a seller you will need to investigate laws such as the data protection act and distance selling act before you begin selling.

Once a customer decides to purchase goods from your site they can pay using well known vendors such as PayPal and Nochex, all of which offer secure online payment methods. Once a customer has paid through one of the vendors the money will be forwarded to your desired bank account. After the customer has purchased their goods through the site the script enables them with order tracking facilities and contact methods (contacting Elderfield Developments).

Please find attached some flow diagrams of how a typical e-commerce website functions (Please note that a PDF reader is required such as Adobe Acrobat Reader):

• Overview

• Company Processes

• Customer Processes

• Credit Card Processes

• Returns Processes

However, there are other alternatives to using the CubeCart script which are not recommended.

Amazon Market Place – Can get very muddle with thousands of other people selling products, does not look as professional as having a built-in e-commerce section to the site. Also, you are not as in control using Amazon Market Place, only able to change a limited set of features.

Products displayed online and bought offline – Again, this is a very un-professional way to sell products. This can also be very tedious for potential customers as all they can do it view products and have to contact you via another method to purchase the goods.

Download order form and post – Another un-attractive method of selling goods. This would take longer for potential customers to purchase goods and may put them of buying through the company.

The cost for the CubeCart script would be a one off payment of $89.95. To view further information about the CubeCart script please visit their website which is http://www.cubecart.com/

I could install for you the CubeCart script and enable it through the Elderfield Developments website. I estimate that it would take one week to implement the script and a further week to ensure that the script is fully functional to your desired needs.