Abstract
“The range of digital media is vast and is growing rapidly. The internet provides a wide variety of activities, including electronic mail, global information access and retrieval systems, discussion groups, multiplayer's games and file transfer facilities.” (chris fill, fifth edition). “Electronic commerce (e-commerce) refers to the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the internet and other computer networks. (…) it also includes the entire online process of developing, marketing, selling, delivering, servicing and paying for products and services.” (www.wikepedia.org)
E-commerce is a part of e-business. It's more than only give information about a company; it's sells products or services online. Fletcher, r et al (2004) argues “business press often uses the terms e-business and e-commerce interchangeably” (p.5). Furthermore they submit “e-commerce involves electronically mediated exchanges with customers, while e-business refers to the application of information and communication technologies (it) to processes within the firm, and possibly to transactions with suppliers as well”.
In this assignment the intention is to improve the version of the business that already exists. As a consultant of the case study “vista chalet”, the goal is to apply innovative techniques to achieve competitive advantage. The online travel market is very important. It's increasing every year because more and more people use the internet to purchase.
Business concept and strategy
The previous chapter describes the business concept and the strategies of the website. The concept is a clear explanation of the strategy. The purpose is to gain competitive advantage from the competitor. The concept and strategy have to be coherent with the environment of the company and in order to be profitable and safe.
1. Presentation
“Chalet equips” is a French company, an online business. Its founders are a father and his son (max and Julian). The company was created in 1998. It's an old business and today, “chalet equips” aims priority at family market (b2c web site)
It's a business website that hires out chalets each year during the period November to April. There are four types of chalet and 30 of each type. The 120 chalets are located in eight different ski resorts which are Alps d'hôte, ivories, courchevel, les arcs, la plagne, méribel, tignes, val d'isère.
The website is a portal from which visitors can book their holidays. This business dedicated 100 % to the internet that means that the only shop where the customers would be able to buy is an online shop. The web site of the company plays the main part in the establishment of an emotional relation between the customers and our company.
Extract
[...] They are four types of chalets and all need a special page with a description and some pictures. It's the product page; it has to be very clear (what the customer can buy and the price). Information: It means information about us, our partners (may need a link for each partner) and the terms and conditions. Resort: Presentation of our village in each resort (Alps d'hôte, Ivories, Courchevel, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Méribel, Tignes, Val d'Isère). Each resort needs a special page with a presentation and picture of the resort. [...]
[...] (2000) Customer-friendly design guidelines for e-commerce. Blackhall Fletcher, R. et al (2004) International e-business marketing. Thomson Learning, London. Howell, D. (1999) Successful e-commerce in a week. Institute of Management Kiam, A. et al (2000) Starting and running a business on the Internet. Harrogate : Net.Works Lawrence, E. et al (1998) Internet commerce: digital models for business. Brisbane Chichester: Jacaranda Wiley Maddox, K. (1998) Web commerce: building a digital business. [...]
[...] Hosting business address: Kiam, A et al explain in their book that "the domain name is the English language description of a set number. It's simply translates the IP address into an easier name which has to be unique". It can be expensive because "we have to register the same name with .org and .net and consider securing the same name with country-level domains, such as .de sand .fro" (foundations of e-commerce 2002). In this case, it's a small but international company. [...]
[...] The website "chalet equips" is a purchasing interface. Customers have to feel reassured in the website during the navigation and search. The purpose is to support the shopping process (research, comparison and decision making). 1. company name and logo The name of the company and the logo has to be adapted to the image that the company wants to give. Through our logo and our company name we want people to understand that our service is quality and efficient. Name "Chalet equips" is a French name ("equips" means exquisite or delicious). [...]
[...] New York Chichester: John Wiley Nettleton, N. (2003) Web Design: Start here Cambridge ILEX Oz, E. (2002) E-business and E-commerce management. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall Turban, E. (2006) Electronic commerce: a managerial perspective. Upper Saddle River, N.J. [...]
