402103253 FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Name & Surname:_Tumi Mareko_______________ ITS No:__402103253_______ Qualification: __________________Semester: ____________Module Name: M-Commerce 621 Date Submitted: ASSESSMENT CRITERIA MARK ALLOCATION MARKS FOR CONTENT QUESTION 1 20 QUESTION 2 QUESTION 3 QUESTION 4 QUESTION 5 20 20 20 20 TOTAL TABLE OF CONTENTS 100 MARKS FOR TECHNICAL AS PECTS 2 Accurate numbering according to the numbering in text and page numbers. LAYOUT AND SPELLING Font – Calibri 12 Line Spacing – 1.0 Margin should be justified. REFERENCES 3 5 According to the Harvard Method TOTAL TOTAL MARKS FOR ASSIGNMENT 100 Examiner’s Comments: Moderator’s Comments: Signature of Examiner: Signature of Moderator: 10 EXAMINER MODERATOR MARKS MARKS 402103253 Table of Contents Question 1 ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Question 2 ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Question 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Question 4 ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Question 5 ............................................................................................................................................. 10 402103253 Question 1 (20 Marks) 1.1 Title: The Impact of Instagram as a Social E-commerce Platform Introduction: In today's digital era, social media platforms have become essential tools for businesses to reach and engage with their target audience. Among these platforms, Instagram stands out as a powerful platform for social e-commerce. This report aims to explore how companies are leveraging Instagram as a social e-commerce platform and the impact it has on their business. 1. Overview of Instagram: Instagram is a popular visual-based social media platform with over 1 billion active users worldwide. It allows users to share photos and videos, engage with content through likes and comments, and follow accounts of interest. With its user-friendly interface and focus on visual content, Instagram has become a prime platform for businesses to showcase their products and services. 2. Instagram as a Social E-commerce Platform: 2.1 Visual Storytelling: Instagram enables businesses to tell their brand story through visually compelling content. Companies can create an aesthetically pleasing feed, utilize high-quality product images, and share behind-the-scenes glimpses to engage and attract potential customers. 2.2 Shoppable Posts: Instagram introduced shoppable posts, allowing businesses to tag products in their posts and link them directly to their online stores. Users can click on these tags to view product details and make purchases seamlessly within the app. This feature streamlines the buying process, reducing friction and driving impulse purchases. 2.3 Influencer Marketing: Companies collaborate with influencers who have a large and engaged following to promote their products or services. Influencers can create sponsored content, featuring the company's products and providing discount codes or affiliate links. This strategy helps reach a wider audience and build trust through social proof. 2.4 User-generated Content (UGC): Instagram encourages user-generated content, where customers share their experiences with products or services. Companies can leverage UGC by reposting customer content, running contests, and encouraging customers to tag their brand. UGC increases brand authenticity and acts as social proof, driving engagement and conversions. 3. Success Stories: 3.1 Fashion and Beauty Brands: Many fashion and beauty brands have successfully utilized Instagram as a social e-commerce platform. Companies like Fashion Nova and 402103253 Kylie Cosmetics have amassed a large following, generated significant revenue, and built strong brand loyalty through strategic use of Instagram's features. 3.2 Direct-to-Consumer Brands: Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, such as Glossier and Warby Parker, have leveraged Instagram's visual appeal and interactive features to connect directly with their target audience. They have effectively utilized shoppable posts, influencer collaborations, and UGC to drive sales and build brand communities. 4. Key Benefits and Challenges: 4.1 Benefits: Increased brand visibility and reach. Enhanced customer engagement and interaction. Seamless shopping experience through shoppable posts. Access to valuable user insights and analytics. Cost-effective marketing compared to traditional channels. 4.2 Challenges: Standing out in a highly competitive environment. Maintaining consistent branding and content quality. Building and sustaining a loyal and engaged follower base. Keeping up with evolving platform algorithms and features. Conclusion: Instagram has emerged as a leading social e-commerce platform, offering companies a unique opportunity to connect with their target audience, drive sales, and build brand loyalty. By utilizing Instagram's visual appeal, shoppable features, influencer collaborations, and user-generated content, businesses can effectively leverage this platform to grow their e-commerce presence and thrive in the digital marketplace. Overall, Instagram presents a compelling case for companies seeking to harness the power of social media for e-commerce success, and its continued evolution and innovation make it a platform worth exploring for any business looking to maximize its online potential. Note: The content of this report can be adapted for a presentation format by summarizing the key points and incorporating visuals or examples to support the information provided. Question 2 (20 Marks) 2.1 Company: Amazon Introduction: Amazon, a global e-commerce giant, has revolutionized the retail industry through its extensive adoption of cloud computing, specifically through its Amazon Web Services (AWS) 402103253 platform. This section will explore how cloud computing, powered by AWS, has significantly improved Amazon's M-Commerce business activities and provided the company with a competitive edge over its rivals. 1. Scalability and Flexibility: One of the key advantages of cloud computing for Amazon's M-Commerce business is its scalability and flexibility. With AWS, Amazon can dynamically scale its infrastructure based on customer demand, ensuring smooth operations during peak periods, such as holiday seasons or special promotions. The elastic nature of cloud computing allows Amazon to handle sudden surges in mobile traffic, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers and preventing website crashes or performance issues. 2. Enhanced Customer Experience: Cloud computing has empowered Amazon to deliver an exceptional customer experience through its M-Commerce platform. By leveraging AWS's reliable and high-performance infrastructure, Amazon ensures fast page load times, smooth checkout processes, and secure transactions, all crucial elements for a positive mobile shopping experience. Additionally, cloud-based analytics and machine learning capabilities enable Amazon to personalize recommendations, promotions, and offers based on customer preferences, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. 3. Global Reach and Accessibility: Cloud computing enables Amazon to provide its MCommerce services to customers globally, irrespective of geographical boundaries. AWS's distributed network of data centers allows Amazon to store and serve content closer to the end-users, reducing latency and ensuring a faster and more reliable mobile shopping experience across different regions. This global reach and accessibility have positioned Amazon as a preferred choice for customers around the world, giving the company a competitive edge over local or regional rivals. 4. Cost Efficiency: Cloud computing offers significant cost advantages for Amazon's MCommerce business. Instead of investing heavily in building and maintaining onpremises infrastructure, Amazon can leverage AWS's pay-as-you-go pricing model. This approach allows Amazon to optimize costs by scaling resources up or down based on demand, eliminating the need for upfront capital investments and reducing operational expenses. The cost efficiency achieved through cloud computing enables Amazon to offer competitive pricing to customers, attracting more users and driving business growth. 5. Innovation and Time-to-Market: Cloud computing has accelerated Amazon's ability to innovate and bring new M-Commerce features and services to market rapidly. With AWS's extensive suite of managed services and developer tools, Amazon can experiment, test, and deploy new functionalities quickly. This agility allows Amazon to stay ahead of its rivals by continuously improving its mobile shopping experience, introducing innovative features, and adapting to changing customer expectations. The cloud-based infrastructure frees Amazon's development teams from 402103253 infrastructure management, enabling them to focus on creating value-added features for customers. Conclusion: Cloud computing, particularly through Amazon Web Services, has played a pivotal role in transforming Amazon's M-Commerce business activities and providing a competitive edge over its rivals. The scalability, flexibility, enhanced customer experience, global reach, cost efficiency, and accelerated innovation enabled by cloud computing have positioned Amazon as a leader in the mobile retail industry. By leveraging the power of cloud computing, Amazon has redefined customer expectations, expanded its market reach, and continued to disrupt the traditional retail landscape, solidifying its dominance in the MCommerce sector. (20 Marks) Question 3 3.1 Report: Comparison of Internet Services Providers - Cable, DSL, and Satellite Introduction: This report aims to provide a summary of the features, benefits, and costs of three popular Internet service providers: Cable, DSL, and Satellite. Additionally, it will highlight the fastest option and discuss any downsides associated with selecting each service. 1. Cable Internet Service: Features: Cable Internet service uses the existing cable TV infrastructure to deliver high-speed Internet access. It provides faster speeds compared to DSL and satellite in most cases. Cable Internet typically offers unlimited data usage. Benefits: High-speed and reliable connection, suitable for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming, gaming, and large file downloads. Broad availability, especially in urban and suburban areas. Easy installation as it uses the existing coaxial cable infrastructure. Costs: Pricing varies by provider and package but generally falls within a moderate to high range. Additional costs may include equipment rental fees and installation charges. 2. DSL Internet Service: Features: DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) delivers Internet access through telephone lines. It offers a dedicated connection, meaning the bandwidth is not shared with neighbors like cable. 402103253 DSL speeds can vary based on distance from the provider's central office. Benefits: Widely available, including in rural and remote areas. Typically lower pricing compared to cable and satellite options. Suitable for regular web browsing, email, and light streaming activities. Costs: DSL service is generally more affordable than cable or satellite. Additional costs may include equipment rental fees and installation charges. 3. Satellite Internet Service: Features: Satellite Internet uses satellite communication to provide Internet access. It is available virtually anywhere, making it a suitable option for remote and rural locations. Speeds have improved in recent years but may still lag behind cable and DSL. Benefits: Broad coverage, making it an option for customers in areas with limited connectivity. No need for physical infrastructure beyond the satellite dish installation. Suitable for basic web browsing, email, and light streaming. Costs: Satellite Internet typically has higher pricing compared to cable and DSL. Additional costs may include equipment purchase or lease, installation charges, and potential data usage caps. Fastest Option: Among the three, cable Internet tends to offer the fastest speeds in most areas. However, actual speeds can vary based on the provider, infrastructure quality, and the number of users sharing the network. Downsides: Cable: Potential downsides include higher costs compared to DSL and satellite, limited availability in some rural areas, and the need for coaxial cable infrastructure. It may also suffer from congestion during peak usage hours. DSL: Downsides may include slower speeds compared to cable, limited availability in rural areas, and speeds being affected by the distance between the customer and the provider's central office. Satellite: Possible downsides include higher latency due to signal travel distance, data usage limitations or caps, and potential interruptions during adverse weather conditions. Speeds may also be slower compared to cable and DSL. Conclusion: In summary, cable Internet generally offers the fastest speeds among cable, DSL, and satellite options. However, availability, pricing, and specific needs must be considered when selecting an Internet service provider. Cable provides high speeds and reliability but may come at a higher cost, while DSL offers affordability and availability. Satellite Internet is suitable for remote areas but can have limitations in terms of speed and 402103253 data usage. Careful consideration of these factors will help individuals make an informed decision based on their location, budget, and desired Internet usage requirements. Question 4 (20 Marks) 4.1 Presentation: Building an E-commerce Presence: In-house Development vs. Outsourcing Slide 1: Introduction Welcome and purpose of the presentation Topic: Building an E-commerce Presence: In-house Development vs. Outsourcing Objective: Determine the best approach for our fast-growing start-up's e-commerce presence Slide 2: Overview of In-house Development Explanation: Developing the e-commerce platform internally with existing staff Benefits: Complete control over the development process and customization options Utilize the existing team's expertise and knowledge of the company's products and values Easy communication and collaboration within the organization Slide 3: Considerations for In-house Development Factors to consider: Expertise and resources of the existing staff in e-commerce development Time and effort required for training and upskilling the team Availability of internal resources and capacity for handling ongoing maintenance and updates Slide 4: Overview of Outsourcing Explanation: Entrusting the entire e-commerce operation to a third-party service provider Benefits: Access to specialized expertise and experience in e-commerce development Time and cost savings in terms of training and recruiting Outsourcing non-core activities allows the company to focus on core business operations Slide 5: Considerations for Outsourcing Factors to consider: Finding a reliable and reputable e-commerce service provider Ensuring alignment of the provider's capabilities with the company's requirements and goals Ongoing costs and potential dependencies on the service provider 402103253 Slide 6: Recommended Approach: Outsourcing Justification: Our start-up's rapid growth requires a fast and efficient establishment of an e-commerce presence. Outsourcing allows us to leverage specialized expertise, saving time and effort in development. It enables us to focus on our core business activities, ensuring growth and scalability. Provides access to advanced features and technologies without extensive upfront investments. Slide 7: Estimated Costs In-house Development: Initial investment in hiring and training e-commerce developers Ongoing costs for salaries, benefits, and infrastructure Additional expenses for maintenance, updates, and potential upgrades Outsourcing: Upfront costs for the selection and implementation of an e-commerce service provider Monthly or annual service fees depending on the provider's pricing structure Potential customization costs and additional charges for advanced features Slide 8: Comparison and Conclusion In-house Development: Requires significant investments in resources, training, and ongoing maintenance Provides complete control and customization options but may delay time-tomarket and focus from core business activities Outsourcing: Offers expertise, cost savings, scalability, and faster time-to-market May require careful selection of a reliable and compatible service provider Slide 9: Conclusion Recommended Approach: Outsourcing the e-commerce operation Benefits: Leverage expertise, save costs, focus on core business, and ensure scalability Plan: Conduct thorough research to find a reputable service provider aligned with our goals Slide 10: Q&A Open the floor for questions and discussions Note: The estimated costs will depend on various factors such as the scope of the ecommerce platform, the size of the start-up, the specific requirements, and the chosen service provider. It is essential to conduct thorough research and gather accurate cost estimates before making a final decision. 402103253 (20 Marks) Question 5 5.1 Evaluation Chart: Comparison of E-commerce Software Packages Factors Package A Package B Ease of Use 4/5 3/5 Features and Functionality 5/5 4/5 Customization Options 4/5 5/5 Scalability 4/5 5/5 Integration with Third-Party Tools 3/5 5/5 Mobile Responsiveness 5/5 4/5 Security and Payment Options 4/5 5/5 Customer Support 3/5 4/5 Cost 3/5 4/5 Overall Rating 4/5 4/5 Key Factors in Choosing an E-commerce Software Platform: 1. Ease of Use: The platform should have an intuitive interface and user-friendly features to facilitate easy management and navigation. 2. Features and Functionality: The software should offer a comprehensive range of features to meet the specific requirements of the website, such as product management, inventory tracking, marketing tools, and analytics. 3. Customization Options: The ability to customize the website's design, layout, and functionality according to the brand's unique identity and requirements is crucial. 4. Scalability: The platform should support the growth of the website and accommodate increased traffic and sales without compromising performance. 5. Integration with Third-Party Tools: Seamless integration with other tools and services like payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing platforms is essential for efficient operations. 6. Mobile Responsiveness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, the platform should provide a responsive design to deliver a smooth and optimized user experience on smartphones and tablets. 7. Security and Payment Options: The software should have robust security measures to protect customer data and offer a variety of secure payment options to build trust and facilitate transactions. 402103253 8. Customer Support: Responsive and reliable customer support is crucial for addressing technical issues, providing guidance, and resolving any problems that may arise. 9. Cost: Consideration of the pricing structure, including initial setup costs, transaction fees, and ongoing maintenance expenses, is necessary to ensure the platform fits within the budget. If I were developing a website, I would choose Package B. Although both packages have comparable overall ratings, Package B excels in certain key factors. It offers a higher level of customization options, allowing me to tailor the website to the specific brand identity. Additionally, Package B has excellent integration capabilities, providing seamless connectivity with third-party tools and services, which is essential for efficient operations and growth. While Package A offers slightly better ease of use and cost, the advantages offered by Package B in customization and integration align more closely with my development needs and long-term scalability goals. References https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/call-visit-websites-cable-providerdsl-provider-satellite-provider-obtain-information-inte-q90639627 https://www.transtutors.com/questions/computer-science-internet-question-call-or-visit-the-websites-of-a-cable-provider-a-5195932.htm https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/university-of-phoenix/effective-businesscommunication/ecommerce-communications/11872628 https://www.business.org/services/internet/dsl-vs-cable-vs-fiber-vs-satellite-2/
