Lesson 1

One of the objectives of this modules is to list ecommerce baseline technology categories. The incredible demand for ecommerce solutions has spawned hundreds of new products that specifically provide functions for ecommerce solutions. Nevertheless, none of these products come close to addressing all of the requirements of an e-commerce solution. In fact, many of the technical elements found in e-Commerce solutions predate the explosion of the Web in the late 1990s. Thus, e-Commerce-specific products are built on top of or in concert with these older building-block technologies in a complete ecommerce solution. We refer to these older building blocks as baseline e-commerce technologies.

Baseline ecommerce technologies consist of various hardware, network, and software elements. These elements form the primary architectural infrastructure and provide customization and management tools for ecommerce solutions. We will be covering five categories of baseline ecommerce enabling technologies in this module.
Hardware includes the physical computing resources that provide the execution engine for software and networks.

1. Auxiliary devices for information display (like monitors and printers)
2. Information capture devices (like scanners and swipe machines)
3. Storage devices

The focus of this module will be client hardware (PCs, handheld devices) and server hardware typically involved in e-Commerce applications.

• Operating Systems (OS): Operating Systems (OS) provide the basic execution and management environment for the execution of applications software. They are typically associated with a limited set of hardware. In other words, most operating systems are only designed to run on certain hardware devices. Specifically, an operating system takes semiconductor-based instruction sets and makes the instructions available for higher-level programming languages such as C++. They also provide the execution environment for higher-level programs. In some cases, particularly in the case of client hardware or the Microsoft Windows, the OS provides the user interface^[1]. In the case of most ecommerce solutions, the web browser handles the user interface instead of the operating system.
• Data Management Systems: Database and data management systems are software products that store, manage, and provide intelligent access to structured data and information.
  

  

Web-based ecommerce architecture refers to the structure and organization of an ecommerce website and how it operates. There are several types of ecommerce architectures, including

• Custom-built microservices ecommerce architecture: This type of ecommerce application is custom-made by software engineering teams that follow a microservices, self-contained system, or serverless approach. Companies that focus on this kind of architecture have a strong builder mentality and are optimized for innovation.
• Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) ecommerce suites: The ecommerce application is licensed from a COTS vendor like SAP, Adobe, Oracle, or Salesforce and managed by a small IT and business team. This architecture is optimized to get the biggest feature set and easiest integration in the back-end systems out of the box.
• Custom-built monolithic ecommerce architecture: This architecture is created by software engineering teams using traditional layered architecture patterns. The organizations using this architecture are usually early ecommerce adopters. They were originally focused on innovation or were not convinced by vendor capabilities at the time they laid the foundation for their architecture.
• Custom-built front ends with headless COTS back ends: In this architecture, the front ends (web, mobile, social, video, physical store) are made by software engineering teams while the ecommerce back end is a COTS solution from vendors like Spryker, Elastic Path, or commercetools.
• Two-tier architecture: This architecture refers to two components of your ecommerce business that function on two sides of the architecture. The first is the client side, which is where the user interface runs, and the second is the server side, which holds database data.
• Three-tier architecture: Although the simplicity of the two-tier architecture might work for some businesses, others may need more functionality. This is why the three-tier ecommerce architecture includes the same components as the two-tier but with one additional tier: the business side.
• SaaS architecture: For smaller and/or newer ecommerce businesses, an out-of-the-box ecommerce solution may be a better fit. This kind of architecture uses Software as a Service (SaaS), which hosts software and data in the cloud and is accessible from various web browsers.

In the realm of e-commerce, turnkey solutions play a crucial role in simplifying the process of setting up and managing an online store. They offer a pre-configured package featuring essential baseline technologies, removing the need to build everything from scratch and streamlining launch times. Here are some key characteristics of turnkey solutions in this context:

• Ready-to-use functionality: They are pre-built with all the necessary functionalities for starting an online store, eliminating the need for complex development or integration. This typically includes features like:
• ecommerce platform: A pre-built platform like Shopify or WooCommerce forms the core, hosting your online store and powering its operations.
• Store Design and Themes: Pre-designed templates or customizable themes allow you to create a visually appealing and user-friendly storefront without extensive design expertise.
• Shopping Cart and Checkout: A secure and easy-to-use shopping cart system facilitates smooth customer purchases. Integration with popular payment gateways ensures seamless transactions.
• Product management: Tools for adding, editing, and managing product listings, including descriptions, images, inventory tracking, and pricing.
• Order fulfillment: Systems for managing orders, processing payments, generating shipping labels, and tracking shipments.
• Basic marketing and SEO tools: Built-in features to help improve your online visibility and attract customers, such as social media integration and basic SEO optimization.

Advantages of Turnkey Solutions

1. Ease of implementation: Turnkey solutions are designed to be quick and easy to set up, often offering drag-and-drop interfaces and straightforward onboarding processes. This minimizes the need for technical expertise and allows businesses to launch their online store quickly.
2. Scalability and customization: Although pre-built, many turnkey solutions offer varying degrees of customization to cater to specific business needs. Some allow for additional plugins or integrations, while others may offer more advanced customization options within the existing framework. Additionally, most solutions are designed to scale alongside your business growth, allowing you to expand storage, features, and functionality as needed.
3. Support and maintenance: Typically, turnkey solutions come with dedicated support from the provider, offering assistance with setup, usage, and troubleshooting. Some even offer maintenance services to ensure your store remains functional and up-to-date.
4. Cost-effectiveness: Compared to custom development, turnkey solutions can be more cost-effective, especially for small businesses starting out. The upfront cost may be higher than building a store from scratch, but it saves time, resources, and ongoing maintenance expenses.

Overall, turnkey solutions offer a convenient and efficient way for businesses to enter the e-commerce landscape without the complexities of building everything from the ground up. They provide a solid foundation of essential technologies, minimizing technical burdens and allowing businesses to focus on marketing, product development, and customer acquisition.

[1] User Interface (UI): The human-machine interface used by people to actually invoke commands on the computer.