Chapter 9 Key Concepts

Web Hosting Alternatives
-Self-hosting (when large companies run servers in-house)
- Commerce Service Providers (CSPs)/Managed Service Providers (MSPs)/Application Service Providers (ASPs): (firms that offer Web server management, and rent application software, etc.) A.k.a. ISPs.
-Shared hosting (the client’s web site is on a server that hosts other Web sites simultaneously and is operated by the service provider at its location)
-Dedicated hosting (the service provider makes a Web server available to the client, but the client does not share the server with other clients of the service provider)
-Co-allocation (the service provider rents a physical space to the client to install its own server hardware. Client also maintains the server. The server provides the reliable Internet connection)

Basic Functions of E-commerce Software
Catalogue display
-organizes and lists the goods and services to be sold
-a static catalogue: simple list written in HTML. Code must be edited every time a change is needed
-a dynamic catalogue: stores info on the items in a database
Shopping cart capabilities
-used instead of filling out online forms
-avoids double sending
-checkout button as a confirmation
Transaction processing
-when the virtual shopper checks out
-software performs the necessary calculations
-most complex part of the sale

Advanced Functions of E-commerce Software
Middleware: software that handles connections between e-commerce software and accounting systems.
-Interoperability: making a company’s information systems work together
Enterprise Application Integration and Databases: Takes requests messages received by the web server and runs application programs that perform some kind of actions based on the contents of the requests messages
-Business logic: the actions that application server software performs are determined by the rules used in the business.
-the linking of these scattered applications is called Enterprise Application Integration
-Database manager: software that stores information in a highly structured way that makes it easy for the software to retrieve the information stored in the database.
-Distributed information systems: information systems that store the same data in many different physical locations
Web services: Combination of software tools that let application software in one organization communicate with other applications over a network by using a specific set of standard protocols
Integration with enterprise resource planning: Business systems that integrate all facets of a business including accounting logistics, manufacturing marketing planning and project management and treasury functions
Customer relationship management: Must obtain data from operations software that conducts activities such as sales automation, customer service centre operations, and marketing campaigns.
-Supply chain software (SCM), content management software, knowledge management software (KM):
Content management system: Shares information between employees, customers, suppliers, and partners. Helps companies control the large amounts of text, graphics, and media files