E-Business
The term e-business refers to the handling of entrepreneurial business processes via computer-aided or automated applications. E-business makes use of state-of-the-art information and communications technology. A large proportion of companies’ business processes can be handled via the Internet, for example purchasing, sales, marketing, payment and even customer service.
Sales in e-business: e-commerce
When a company’s distribution and sales are handled solely or additionally via the Internet and e-business, this is known as e-commerce. For this purpose, entrepreneurs build online stores and websites. Customers have the opportunity to select goods from a virtual catalog, which are defined in more detail using photos and descriptive texts. They place these in their shopping cart and then order them over the Internet.
The role of electronic signatures in e-business
An EAN128 barcode can store over 70 different data elements. For example, it can contain shipping data such as the weight, the recipient’s order data, or a batch number. An expiry date, identification numbers or internal information are also possible. Thus, the EAN128 becomes a means of transport for a variety of different data and information that is important for the movement of goods.
Payment transactions in e-business
Payment transactions in e-business are still frequently handled using traditional payment methods. These include, in particular, payment on account, payment in advance, cash on delivery, direct debit or direct debit authorization and payment by credit card. In addition, e-payment methods are becoming increasingly established, based on email, cards or cell phones, for example. According to a 2011 survey by the BVDW, 60 percent of online retailers already offer PayPal as a payment method in e-business, closely followed by Sofort. (43 percent). Other common e-payment solutions include M-Payment, Giropay, Moneybookers and Clickandbuy.
Advantages of e-business
E-business especially brings entrepreneurs great savings in terms of working time and costs. Business processes are streamlined in e-business and communication is improved. Work that previously had to be done manually can be fully or partially automated through e-business applications, such as data entry. By sending information, invoices and documents by email instead of by post, postage costs can be significantly reduced. Last but not least, e-business opens up new sales channels for many entrepreneurs, giving them the opportunity to increase their sales by using e-business applications.
