Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad.

Academic Year 2022 -2024

(Semester: Spring, 2022)

Department: (Department of Commerce)

Assignment # 01
Full Name: Sadia Bashir

Roll No: 0000261963

Programme: M.COM

Subject: E-Commerce (8554)

Date of Submission: 14-08-2022

Submitted to: Mehreen Yousaf

Q. 1 Describe social networks, social customers, virtual worlds, and social software as
facilitators of E-Commerce.

ANSWER:

Online shoppers around the world have increasingly high expectations when it comes to delivery
experience. In such a fiercely competitive market, meeting these expectations is vitally important for
online retailers - but doing so can be complicated and time consuming!

To help, e-commerce facilitators offer e- tailors’ easy access to all the main e-commerce platforms and
marketplaces. Not only is the integration process simple, but e-commerce facilitators also provide a range
of useful features including label and return label printing; detailed paperless reports and one-click
invoicing; bulk tracking; shipping calculators and much more.1

A social network is a social structure composed of individuals or organizations, called nodes,

which are interrelated or connected. These connections can be represented by arcs which
represent different types of relationships between the nodes, such as friendship, functional or
dependency, or relationships in terms of beliefs, knowledge or social status. On a personal level,
social networks reflect the ways in which people relate through various social groups. Although
these networks are often considered as social media, following Constantine’s and Fountain, we
consider in this paper such networks more from the point of view of their application, rather
from their social aspects. It is important to distinguish in social networks two distinct but related
issues: connectedness, i.e., the structure of the network in terms of who is connected to whom,
and behavior, that is, the effect of each individual in the network on the other members [16].
Social network analysis can be used to determine the relationships of power and dependency
between individuals and organizations in social networks. As noted above, online social
networks are websites that use Web 2.0 tools to support and develop social networks through the
Internet. They are usually referred to as social networks; however, in this work we use the term
online social networks to distinguish them from the actual social networks (Boyd and Ellison
refer to them as social network sites). Current online social networks were preceded by systems
like AOL and Geocities, which relied on chat rooms to allow large groups of users sharing
similar interests to meet and have conversations in real time . Also e-mail systems could be
considered predecessors, based on the definition of Wellman.

According to Boyd and Ellison, an online social network can be defined as a web-based service
that allows users:

1
https://www.asendia.hk/en/asendia-insights/ecommerce-facilitators-and-how-they-can-help-your-online-retail-
business-grow
 to define a personal profile,
 to relate these profiles to a list of other profiles belonging to individuals with whom they
have some type of social relationship,
 To view the profiles linked to their connections, recursively.

According to these authors, the main characteristic of an online social network is not its ability
to meet new people, but rather the possibility to articulate and make clear the social networks of
its users. Therefore, online social networks are used primarily to communicate and relate with
other members that are part of an existing social network. The above definition thus emphasizes
the development of closed or intimate networks (other definitions might not require that such
networks be closed or intimate).

Currently there is much attention regarding online social networks, since they have made more
visible and quantifiable the real social networks, and also have become important tools of mass
communication, particularly to disseminate news, create views, and influence others.

Q. 2 What role does Supply Chain Management Play in Business to Business Model?

ANSWER:

Supply chain management (SCM) refers to the handling of all operations that relate to building a product
and getting it to the right customers / companies. The purpose of a supply chain is to get goods produced
and distributed as quickly and efficiently as possible. The e commerce supply chain can include, for
example, designing, planning, manufacturing, storing, inventory management, fulfillment and
distributing. Some companies are able to own every stage of their supply chain, but most supply chains
are made up of a collection of companies, suppliers, manufacturers and distributors to name a few—that
are each responsible for completing certain steps within the process chain.

E commerce supply chain management can be complex, particularly for B2B businesses who may not
own the entire supply chain. When multiple companies are involved in the supply chain, everyone needs
to be on the same page and have the same information, which can be quite the challenge in itself. A
miscommunication at even one point in the supply chain can slow the entire process.2

For many years it was thought that sales and marketing were the crux of successful business models.
However, if there is nothing to sell then there is nothing to market. Marketing and sales rely on providing
the right quality product in the right place at the right time to delight the customer. Enter stage left:
Supply Chain Management. Professional procurement of goods and services ensure that the five rights are
achieved: right quality, right quantity, right place and time achieved at the right price.

Synchronized Continuity Management (SCM) is the process of integrating and stimulating activities to
achieve strategic goals. The process requires commitment from the highest levels of management and
perseverance throughout the tactical and operational levels. The process requires cultural change as much
as system and management change.

The objective of Synchronized Continuity Management is to maximize output whilst maintaining

momentum and conserving resources through optimization. This output may be achieved in a micro
environment (within the organization) or a macro environment (between organizations), with the macro
environment being the most difficult to achieve.

The key to SCM is to align the core activities including procurement, operations, sales and marketing to
work together to achieve the strategic goals of the organization.3

2
https://www.clarity-ventures.com/articles/b2b-ecommerce-supply-chain-
management#:~:text=Supply%20chain%20management%20(SCM)%20refers,quickly%20and%20efficiently%20as%
20possible.
3
https://www.oxfordcollegeofprocurementandsupply.com/supply-chain-management-role-business/
In SCM, the supply chain manager coordinates the logistics of all aspects of the supply chain which
consists of the following five parts:

 The Plan or strategy

Planning is imperative to control inventory and manufacturing processes. Companies always try to match
supply with aggregate demand by developing a curse of action using analytics. To procure what is
planned is Source. To plan what is ample for production is making and to attain significant service levels
by delivering on time with quoted lead time is Deliver. 4

 The source (of raw materials or services)

In any organizational set-up it is always ideal to work with vendors who are not only capable but
also able to adapt to the customer’s requirements and preferences

 Manufacturing (focused on productivity and efficiency)

The making process can involve actual raw material to finished goods manufacturing or it can
include repackaging, re-kitting, bundling, assembling, dressing or staging. This process must be
optimized for to create minimum variance in outcomes to minimize or eliminate non-
conformance to customer requirements.

 Delivery and logistics

The delivery channel must be robust and stable. It must be able to bear the load of
sudden spikes in demand and have business continuity procedures in place for common logistics
problems such as port congestions or inclement weather.5

 The return system (for defective or unwatched products)

It is a post-delivery customer support process that is associated with all kinds of returned
Products. It is also known as Reverse Logistics. It is one of the most important components of
supply chain management to minimize potential deterioration of relationships with customers. 6

4
https://www.iimu.ac.in/blog/what-are-the-five-basic-components-of-a-supply-chain-management-
system/#:~:text=The%20Top-level%20of%20this,%2C%20Make%2C%20Deliver%20and%20Return.
5
https://www.globalior.com/the-5-basic-components-of-supply-chain-management/
6
https://www.iimu.ac.in/blog/what-are-the-five-basic-components-of-a-supply-chain-management-
system/#:~:text=The%20Top-level%20of%20this,%2C%20Make%2C%20Deliver%20and%20Return.
EXAMPLE:

Supply chain management is the practice of coordinating the various activities necessary to produce and
deliver goods and services to a business’s customers. Examples of supply chain activities can include
designing, farming, manufacturing, packaging, or transporting. 7

Q. 3 Explain in detail the technologies for web servers in internet resources for
commerce.

ANSWER:

There are many ecommerce tools and technologies required to build an e-commerce store and operate a
successful online business. Both software and hardware technologies must be included in your e-business
plan.

7
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scm.asp#toc-example-of-scm
  Web Server

A web server is used to host an e-commerce website. All the Html, JavaScript, PHP files, databases,
media files that make up the entire website are stored on this server. The web server runs on Windows or
Linux operating system. Managing a web server is a very specific job. The website development
companies host the site on their own web server or pay a hosting company to provide space on a secure
web server.

 Server Software

When a user visits any website on a web browser, the web server knows the client is requesting some
specific information. So it processes that request and serves the correct files to the client. The web
browser then displays these files to the user.

There are many types of server software available including application software, database server, file
server software, and cloud computing software. The popular web server software includes Apache and
Windows IIS. Server software can either use on a physical server or on a virtual / cloud server.

 Web Tools

A web authoring tool is used to create the front end of an e-commerce website. They range from basic
HTML text editors (like Notepad++) to more complex graphic authoring tools and CMS (content
management system) with built-in frameworks and debugging tools.

Html files are created by Dreamweaver along with the CSS (cascading style sheet) which enhance the
visual appearance of the site. Another web authoring tool would be Visual Studio .net that can be used to
make the sites which have integrated databases in it. Graphic design packages are also web authoring
tools which design the skin for a user interface.

 Database System

A database is an integral part of an e-commerce website. The database is used to store information about
the products and services of the website such as pricing, description, image, details, and sales. In addition
to this, the customer details are also stored in the database like what they ordered, their payment details,
shipping details, and contact information.

It is necessary to program the website to connect securely to the database so that all the orders are
processed correctly and your business runs smoothly. Technologies like PHP and MySQL are the
communication route between the website and the DBMS (database management system).

 Networking

TCP (transfer control protocol) and IP (internet protocol) defines as how computers should connect with
each other through the internet and how they share information. Common TCP/IP protocols are HTTPS,
HTTP, and FTP. We use these protocols to access the website without even realizing it. FTP (file transfer
protocol) used to download files from a browser.

HTTPS (where the “S” stands for security) responsible for the secure communication between a server
and a browser like an account information or personal information.

For an e-commerce website or online store, it is considered essential to provide a secure connection. SSL
(secure sockets layer) and TLS (transport layer security) are the protocols associated with trust and
security of any e-commerce website.

 Browser Compatibility

A web browser is a software application that is used to locate, receive and display content received from
the web servers. Popular web browsers include Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and
Safari. Web developers and Web development agencies test the website see how it displays on multiple
browsers across multiple devices and screen sizes before launching the website.

 Ports

Ports allow one device to connect with the other through a different and unique IP address. A device can
have more than one port.

 Domain Names

Domain names link to a company or a brand. Successful e-commerce companies have recognizable
domain names. If you have any smaller business then it is best to select the domain name as per your
business name. This would help to rank highly in search engines. 8

Examples:

 Omnichannel platform

When it comes to technology for e-commerce, the use of omnichannel platforms it's a trend to increase
profitability and stay ahead of the competition.

With this feature, it is possible integrate sales and communication channels of the company, such as
virtual and physical stores, applications and social networks, to carry out a single effort to attract, serve
and retain customers. In this way, the information about the target audience obtained in each of these
channels can be used throughout the strategy, improving the shopping experience of the consumer and
ensuring a more dynamic service. In addition, as we mentioned earlier, it is necessary to ensure an online
experience as positive as the physical one and that also means give freedom to the consumer choose how
you want to buy from your brand — without differentiating the physical store from the online store. This

8
https://www.arpatech.com/blog/technologies-required-for-ecommerce-store/
also gives more purchase possibilities and increases the chances of conversion, as the customer can buy
online and pick up in the physical store, without having to pay for shipping.

For example. Or, you can go to the physical store, choose the product and receive it in the comfort of
home.

 Chatbots

Chatbots are robots that interact with humans via online chat and are undoubtedly one of the top
technologies for e-commerce today. Using this feature ensures 24/7 customer service through a fully
automated communication with resources of artificial intelligence.

In addition to streamlining operations, they can act in the customer retention, when the sales team is not
available, or even answering simpler questions. Thus, employees can focus on handling cases that require
special attention. This optimizes the work of the team and the company as a whole.

Another interesting feature of chatbots is that they can analyze interactions with users, identifying and
ranking the relevance of each consumer and even predicting behaviors and solutions.

Recommendation systems

O recommendation system is one of the most effective e-commerce technology resources

in attraction, conversion e customer retention. It uses data analysis to compose a smart virtual
showcase com product suggestions, facilitating the purchase journey and increasing conversion rates.
These windows can be customized or not for each customer, depending on the objectives of each virtual
store.

The recommendation systems with artificial intelligence are even more effective. With them, the windows
work in a way autonomous and are even more personalized for each customer. Because the AI performs
real-time analysis of both user behavior and window performance.9

Q. 4 what is online publishing? Explain the components of online publishing.

ANSWER:

Digital publishing, also called electronic or online publishing, is the distribution of a variety of online
content, such as journals, magazines, newspapers, and eBooks. Through this process, any company or
publisher can digitize documents and information that people can view online, download, sometimes
manipulate, and even print out or share otherwise, if they choose. People can access digital content on
different devices, such as:

 Computers
 e-Readers
 Tablets
 Smartphone

9
https://www.smarthint.co/en/ecommerce-technology/
While written content is often the focus of this field, the type of media you can publish actually extends
beyond that. Videos, podcasts, info graphics, and digital animations are other forms of content your
company can share through digital publishing.10

Print media is any type of media that’s tangible that you can pick up, touch, read, or view. Digital media,
in contrast, appears online or on digital screens only. But, the publications you choose or the information
you can find from either may be very similar. Both include long-form publications like magazines,
newspapers, and books. They also both include marketing materials like flyers and brochures.

The biggest difference between the two is where you can view them, the immediacy of access, and
sometimes the cost. Print media is always tangible, while digital media is always online. You can often
access digital media more quickly and from anywhere because it’s available on the internet with access
from any connected device. And sometimes print media publications may cost more than their digital
counterparts because there are more resources and materials that go into creating them.

Attracting a Larger Audience

Digital publishing can help your business attract a broader audience. It’s a preferred resource for content
distribution because it allows you to make your information available to billions of people around the
world. According to Statista, as of 2021, there were 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide. That’s a
lot of eye on your content. People rely on digital publications for their convenience. If you create content
that’s mobile-friendly and high-quality, you’re likely to increase your subscribers and followers over
time.

Fixing Mistakes Easily

Mistakes happen, even to the best writers and editors. Having the ability to fix a mistake quickly, such as
a misspelled name or the wrong number in a statistic, minimizes the error’s impact on your brand. Digital
publishing allows you to access your content and publishing documents anytime, anywhere, and change
those errors, something you couldn’t do with a print publication.

Engaging Your Target Audience

Digital publishing gives you the opportunity not just to connect with a larger audience, but to target
messages specifically for niches and segmented demographics. You can use calls-to-action (CTAs),
relevant advertisements, and pop-ups throughout your content to reach certain members of your audience
in a personalized way. You can also create content based on specific keywords that appeal to your target
audience and provide them with the most value in your industry or niche.11

A publisher requires three things to publish content on the Internet:

10
https://www.copypress.com/kb/content-marketing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-digital-
publishing/#:~:text=Digital%20publishing%2C%20also%20called%20electronic,magazines%2C%20newspapers%2C
%20and%20eBooks.
11
https://www.copypress.com/kb/content-marketing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-digital-publishing/
  Website development software
 Internet connection
 A web server to host the website

The website development software can be a professional web design application like Dreamweaver or a
straightforward web-based content management system like Word Press. Publishers require an Internet
connection to upload the content to the web server. Major sites may utilize a dedicated server to host
them; however, many smaller websites usually reside on shared servers that host an array of websites.12

TYPES

There are main types of online self-publishing: beta readers, editors and proofreaders.

1. Beta readers

Beta readers review finished manuscripts before they're published, providing the author with feedback
from the reader’s point of view.

Beta readers can be friends or family members — anyone who will approach the book as a
casual reader, pointing out things they liked and disliked, and highlighting the elements writers
13
become blind to during countless revisions.

2. Editor
Whether indie or traditional, an author’s best friend is their editor.

Every novel needs the attention of a professional editor before it’s published. Those seeking traditional
publication will have an editor assigned to them by their publisher, but if you’re self-publishing, you’ll
need to employ a freelance editor yourself.

12
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10012/web-
publishing#:~:text=A%20publisher%20requires%20three%20things,server%20to%20host%20the%20website
13
https://blog.reedsy.com/beta-readers/
 3. Proofreader
The final member of your editorial team should be a proofreader.

Hiring a separate proofreader gives you the best possible chance to catch and correct any remaining
errors before publication. Typos; formatting issues (more on this below); last-minute spelling,
punctuation and grammar mistakes – all these will be the sole focus of your proofreader.

 Design team

A design team can be made up of one designer or a group of designers who play different roles, using
different tools and methods to achieve one common goal. The common goal can be building a website,
designing a mobile application, or any other design project. 14
You also need to put together a design team to complement your editorial team.

14
https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/design-team-
structure/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20design%20team,or%20any%20other%20design%20project.
We can’t stress enough how important professional design elements are when you’re self-publishing. And
we don’t just mean the cover; you’ll also need to consider the interior design of your book and seek out a
typesetter and an ebook formatter.

4. Cover designer

We all know books shouldn’t be judged by their covers – but we also know that a lot of the time, they are.

A great cover is something that’s particularly important for indie authors. Along with the blurb, it’s the
first thing potential readers will see, and it will play a big part in them deciding whether they’ll read your
book or not.

5. Typesetter

As well as having a cover designed, the interior layout of your book will need to be arranged and typeset
by a professional.

Interior design elements such as title pages, chapter headers and the appearance of the text itself are just
as important as a book’s cover. If a book is unprofessionally formatted, readers aren’t likely to think
highly of it. You want the inside to look as beautiful as the outside!

Many design roles in publishing have merged and changed in recent years, so your cover designer may in
fact be able to typeset your book as well. If not, you’ll need to seek out a separate typesetter.
 6. Ebook formatter

If you’re wondering whether you need to release your book in print and ebook format, in our opinion, the
answer is definitely yes.

Publishing your book in both formats is pretty much an essential these days, especially if you’re an indie
author. First and foremost, it allows you to reach a wider audience, but it also carries a range of extra
benefits.

 Production/Distribution

So your book’s been beta-read, edited, proofread, typeset and digitally formatted, and a killer cover has
been designed. You’re almost there! Now it’s time to consider production (i.e. print copies) and
distribution, both online and in bricks-and-mortar bookstores.

7. Printer

For physical copies of your books, you’ll need to engage the services of a printer.

You can choose between two options here:

 Print-on-demand – where you order copies to be printed only when people want them.
 Print run – where you order a certain number of copies to keep on hand and distribute as needed.15

15
https://writersedit.com/self-publishing/8-essential-components-self-publishing-team/
Q. 5 What are the key dimensions of e-commerce security?
ANSWER:
Six Dimensions of Ecommerce Security
 Integrity
 Availability
 Confidentiality
 Non-repudiation
 Authenticity
 Privacy

1. Integrity

We all have the one common question, whether we have received the same data that the sender has sent.
Now it is the duty for integrity for the correctness of the information that has been transmitted or received
or displayed on a website over the internet. Integrity can ensure that information on the internet has not
been altered in any way by an unauthorized party. It maintains the consistency, accuracy, and
trustworthiness of the information over its entire life cycle.

2. Non-repudiation

Good business depends on both buyers and sellers. They must not deny any facts or rules once they
accept that there should not be any repudiation. Non-repudiation confirms whether the information sent
between the two parties was received or not. It ensures that the purchase cannot be denied by the person
who completed the transaction. In other words, it’s an assurance that anyone cannot deny the validity
of transaction. Mostly non-repudiation uses a digital signature for online transactions because no one
can deny the authenticity of their signature on a document.
4. Confidentiality

Confidentiality refers to protecting information from being accessed by an unauthorized person

on the internet. In other words, only the people who are authorized can gain access to view or modify or
use the sensitive data of any customer or merchants. According to Juniper Research, nearly 146 billion
records will be exposed by criminal data breaches between 2018 and 2023. One confidentiality breach
will be sniffing. It's a program that steals all the important files of the company, individual identity
or email message or personal report of the internet user.

3. Authenticity

In ecommerce, since both the customer and seller need to trust each other, they must remain as who they
are in real. Both the seller and buyer must provide proof of their original identity so that the ecommerce
transaction can happen securely between them. Every ecommerce site uses authenticity as a tool to
ensure the identity of the person over the internet. In ecommerce, fraudulent identity and authentication
are also possible, which makes identity a difficult process. Some common ways to ensure a person's
identity are customer log in using a password.

5. Privacy

Where confidentiality is a concern about the information present during communication,

privacy is concerned with personal details. In general, privacy is used to control the usage of
information by the customers that they have given to the merchant. According to Fortune, 1.16 billion
email address and passwords are exposed in 2019 through security breaches. Privacy is a major threat to
any online transaction or internet user since personal information has been revealed and there is no
way back to disclose them.

6. Availability

Continuous availability of the data is the key to provide a better customer experience in
ecommerce. The continuous availability of the ecommerce website increases online visibility, search
engine rankings, and site traffic. Data which is present on the website must be secured and available
24x7x 365 for the customer without downtime. If it is not, it will be difficult to gain a competitive edge
and survive in the digital world. 16

Dimensions of E- Commerce security:

As the security issue is the most worrying issue for E-Business, ensuring the security of E-Commerce
activities has become the core research field of E-Commerce. The following are some of the security
elements involved in E-Commerce.

16
https://www.purchasecommerce.com/blog/ecommerce-security-dimensions
  Authenticity: conforming genuineness of data shared.
 Availability: prevention against data delay or removal.
 Completeness: unification of all business information.
 Confidentiality: protecting data against unauthorized disclosure.
 Effectiveness: effective handling of hardware, software and data.
 Integrity: prevention of the data being unaltered or modified.
 Non-repudiation: prevention against violation agreement after the deal.
 Privacy: prevention of customers’ personal data being used by others.
 Reliability: providing a reliable identification of the individuals or businesses.
 Review ability: capability of monitoring activities to audit and track the operations.17

17
https://www.brainkart.com/article/Dimensions-of-E--Commerce-security_40693/
Bibliography
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https://www.asendia.hk/en/asendia-insights/ecommerce-facilitators-and-how-they-can-help-your-online-retail-
business-grow
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https://www.clarity-ventures.com/articles/b2b-ecommerce-supply-chain-
management#:~:text=Supply%20chain%20management%20(SCM)%20refers,quickly%20and%20efficiently%20as%
20possible.
3
https://www.oxfordcollegeofprocurementandsupply.com/supply-chain-management-role-business/
4
https://www.iimu.ac.in/blog/what-are-the-five-basic-components-of-a-supply-chain-management-
system/#:~:text=The%20Top-level%20of%20this,%2C%20Make%2C%20Deliver%20and%20Return.
5
https://www.globalior.com/the-5-basic-components-of-supply-chain-management/
6
https://www.iimu.ac.in/blog/what-are-the-five-basic-components-of-a-supply-chain-management-
system/#:~:text=The%20Top-level%20of%20this,%2C%20Make%2C%20Deliver%20and%20Return.
7
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scm.asp#toc-example-of-scm
8
https://www.arpatech.com/blog/technologies-required-for-ecommerce-store/
9
https://www.smarthint.co/en/ecommerce-technology/
10
https://www.copypress.com/kb/content-marketing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-digital-
publishing/#:~:text=Digital%20publishing%2C%20also%20called%20electronic,magazines%2C%20newspapers%2C
%20and%20eBooks.
11
https://www.copypress.com/kb/content-marketing/everything-you-need-to-know-about-digital-publishing/

12
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10012/web-
publishing#:~:text=A%20publisher%20requires%20three%20things,server%20to%20host%20the%20website
13
https://blog.reedsy.com/beta-readers/
14
https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/design-team-
structure/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20design%20team,or%20any%20other%20design%20project.
15
https://writersedit.com/self-publishing/8-essential-components-self-publishing-team/
16
https://www.purchasecommerce.com/blog/ecommerce-security-dimensions
17
https://www.brainkart.com/article/Dimensions-of-E--Commerce-security_40693/