In recent years, the for sale of products online according to the model B2Cor Business to Consumer, has increased exponentially. The disintermediation of trade is possible thanks to the opening of numerous ecommerce managed directly by the companies.

The data emerging from the latest ecommerce survey compiled by Netcommthe Italian Digital Commerce Consortium, and Statesmanshows that in 2023 more than two thirds of the Italian population will also buy in online retail.

Despite the positive trend of this form of trade, it is good to rely on professionals industry to open and run a successful ecommerce. The ITS E-commerce Course is structured to train experts in the field of online sales. Through lectures and field experience, the course provides in-depth expertise in several areas including digital, technician e managerialallowing students to learn how to design and manage B2B and B2C ecommerce activities.

Ecommerce benefits

Consumption habits of customers vary depending on the era. According to the above-mentioned data, ecommerce today would seem to be quite convenient. Let us analyse together which advantages involves online sales.

  1. Lower costs compared to a physical shopBy opening an ecommerce store, costs related to rent and personnel are reduced;
  2. Direct saleecommerce allows the company to make itself known directly to the end customer, without the need for intermediation;
  3. Speed of purchaseIntuitive navigation and ecommerce category filters facilitate and speed up the purchasing process, including secure and fast payment methods;
  4. Wider marketWith ecommerce, geographic barriers are totally eliminated, allowing a company to potentially reach customers all over the world. Website positioning, linked to SEO optimisation, is fundamental to attracting new customers. The only constraint is to have an electronic device and an Internet connection;
  5. Open 24/7online sales know no hours or holidays, products and services are always available to users from any device and without time constraints;
  6. Real-time dataThe grouping of data and their categorisation makes it possible to assess business trends in real time, optimising procurement processes;
  7. Lean bureaucracy and access to financeadministrative activities are generally more streamlined and it is possible to benefit from incentives and grants.

Ecommerce Disadvantages

In addition to the advantages that this business model offers, it is also good to take into account the possible disadvantages.

  1. Potential security threatsSecurity threats, such as data theft, are a possible risk for those who buy online on insecure sites, which is why it is necessary to create ecommerce that guarantees the security of its users by hiring professionals;
  2. Competitionbuilding one's web presence is crucial to stand out among the hundreds of online shops;
  3. IT problemsTechnological problems are something one must always pay attention to. If ecommerce crashes or payment processing has problems, downtime easily turns into loss of money and customers;
  4. Shipping logisticsShipping logistics management increases in complexity proportionally to the size of the business. Here, too, it is essential to rely on professionals to avoid delays with purchase shipments;
  5. Less customer contactWith online sales you lose that personal touch that the salesperson can give, and that often turns into added value for the product.

Nevertheless, the main disadvantage of ecommerce is often found at the level of management. Relying on experts in the field is fundamental to analysing one's position and defining a functional strategy to improve the performance of your company. One must dedicate investments to the market analysis and the marketing to best launch their products on the market and reach their target audience.

Author of the article

ITS MOVE - Editor