Not that many years ago, the term Distribution was mostly used for the service within the company that was in charged for moving the goods around, according the needs of sales and customers. The supply chain concept, as we know it today, was not known at that time.
Since Warehousing was separate segment at that time, as a different function within company, the link between Distribution and Warehouse was loosed.
As the demand of the market was growing, these two functions finally merged into Logistic. Still there were warehouse and trucks, but the border was more transparent, links stronger, some assets shared, cost reduced, service to market better. It was a step in the evolution.
Finally, the next step was integration of Logistics ( Distribution and Warehouse ) with Production and Procurement into united function – Supply Chain. Now all functions that were separate not that long time ago, are now aligned in the logical sequence.
The most of the companies are utilizing five supply chain components in order to bring products to the marketplace. The five SC components are Suppliers, Manufacturers, Distributors, Retailers, and Consumers/Customers.
The most of the companies are utilizing all five components in order to provide products to the market. Still, not all companies are using the same SC model. Some companies are skipping the distributors component of the supply chain. These companies simply takes orders, product is manufactured and shipped directly to the consumer.
Supply chain management plays a very important role within the company, since it generates most of the costs of the company, due to the width and complexity of the function ( procurement, manufacturing, warehouse, distribution ). Any inefficiency can create tremendous negative impact to the company. On the other hand, good supply chain management can bring significant benefits to the company.
Thanks to the development of technology the different decades brought the following shifts:
1970s. Companies were focused on making internal changes, based on inventory reduction.
1980s. This decade brought three major changes in supply chain management: focus on re-engineering of supply chain cost structures to lower operating costs and assets, shift from costs reduction towards improving customer service and internal integration of logistics within companiy.
1990s. Customer service continued to be in manufacturers' focus.
2000s. New technologies continue to appear and improve.
The traditional view of the SC considers the individual companies and elements within a firm as separate units that represent "functions". This was an organization that is characterized as "silo" concept.
Modern concept of supply chain is more progressive than traditional.The companies have improved the level of integration across whole supply chain.
The supply chain is composed of different segments that are related to different activities. In order to provide the product, the supply chain needs to perform the range of activities that cover different areas, from procurement to customer service. These segments are Procurement, Order processing, Demand & Supply Planning, Inventory Management, Warehousing, Transportation and Customer service.
All these processes within supply chain can be associated with the majority of the five components of the supply chain (suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers).
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Getting a New Job
Getting a job is not the hard part. There are plenty of jobs out there it just depends on what you want to do. Finding the perfect job for you is not always easy. Keep an open mind, and maybe the dream you had when you were young will see you through into adulthood, although this is not always possible.
We all have dreams when we were young of becoming a dancer, lawyer, or police man, but not every profession suits us. I would have loved to have been a singer, but sadly I do not think that anyone would wish to hear me sing!
Whilst we are at school there careers advisors to help us with ideas, but if you could only imagine how many professions there are, it is impossible to cater for everyone.
Some people are lucky enough to have parents who can advise you, and it is quite common for a child to follow their parents into one of their careers.
University seems to be the most likely option for many young people today, but you should really have an idea of what you would like to do before venturing down that path. Four years could be spent in getting your degree (then there is which degree path to take; arts, science or commerce?), only to realise at the end of that time that you would prefer to work with your hands. Not forgetting the huge cost involved with your time at school.
Think about what is best for you and take it seriously. Write down a list of what you are good at and what you are not good at. Maybe ask a family member or someone you have faith in to do the same. Sometimes we think less of ourselves and other people can see your good points more than you can.
There are sites online which will ask you about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. They can also give you a guide as to what you would be good at. Not only do these programs give you ideas for what job is good for you, they also give you valuable information on how to apply and study for them.
Many people overlook the importance of apprenticeships. Such as hairstylists, flight attendants, electricians and plumbers, the list is endless. There is also the military to consider. The great thing today is that the internet opens up a wide selection of careers for you to consider.
When you are ready to apply for a job take care in writing, or should I say typing out your resume. Keep it precise and try to think of something that makes you stand out from the crowd. Always consider what your social networking says about you. If you do not wish to show yourself in a certain light then think about what is online about you. Many potential employers nowadays will look you up to see if you are the person you appear to be on paper.
When you get that interview make sure you do research about the company. If you know nothing about the company who are interviewing you it will show a lack of interest. They won't expect you to know everything, but be prepared.
Finally, look the part at your interview. Dress smartly and give eye contact when you are speaking. This is your time to shine.
We all have dreams when we were young of becoming a dancer, lawyer, or police man, but not every profession suits us. I would have loved to have been a singer, but sadly I do not think that anyone would wish to hear me sing!
Whilst we are at school there careers advisors to help us with ideas, but if you could only imagine how many professions there are, it is impossible to cater for everyone.
Some people are lucky enough to have parents who can advise you, and it is quite common for a child to follow their parents into one of their careers.
University seems to be the most likely option for many young people today, but you should really have an idea of what you would like to do before venturing down that path. Four years could be spent in getting your degree (then there is which degree path to take; arts, science or commerce?), only to realise at the end of that time that you would prefer to work with your hands. Not forgetting the huge cost involved with your time at school.
Think about what is best for you and take it seriously. Write down a list of what you are good at and what you are not good at. Maybe ask a family member or someone you have faith in to do the same. Sometimes we think less of ourselves and other people can see your good points more than you can.
There are sites online which will ask you about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. They can also give you a guide as to what you would be good at. Not only do these programs give you ideas for what job is good for you, they also give you valuable information on how to apply and study for them.
Many people overlook the importance of apprenticeships. Such as hairstylists, flight attendants, electricians and plumbers, the list is endless. There is also the military to consider. The great thing today is that the internet opens up a wide selection of careers for you to consider.
When you are ready to apply for a job take care in writing, or should I say typing out your resume. Keep it precise and try to think of something that makes you stand out from the crowd. Always consider what your social networking says about you. If you do not wish to show yourself in a certain light then think about what is online about you. Many potential employers nowadays will look you up to see if you are the person you appear to be on paper.
When you get that interview make sure you do research about the company. If you know nothing about the company who are interviewing you it will show a lack of interest. They won't expect you to know everything, but be prepared.
Finally, look the part at your interview. Dress smartly and give eye contact when you are speaking. This is your time to shine.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
A Deeper Look Into Life Insurance Quotes
Shopping for the most affordable and the best life insurance is made possible if one understands the life insurance quotes well. Understanding the quotes will essentially require you to have at least the basic knowledge of the insurance industry and to know the glossary of life insurance.
Knowing the following details about the different providers will make you a smart insurance shopper,
1. Underwriting rules (accidental death, critical illness, disability, etc.)
2. Rate classifications (Preferred, Preferred plus, Standard, Table 2, Table 3, etc.)
3. Kinds of policies (Whole, term, no exam, universal, etc.)
4. Minimum and maximum coverage offered (death benefits)
5. Inclusions and exclusions
6. Riders
7. Tax benefits
8. Cash value
9. Payout track record
10. Customer service
11. Reputation
The insurance industry sees many new reforms time and again and this necessitates insurance shoppers as well as the current policyholders to update themselves on the reforms to benefit from the policies and providers. Now, setting aside all the technical jargons and glossary, the simple fact everyone shopping for insurance should understand is that the life insurance quotes are free of cost. Therefore, among the many or few details that online websites or insurance agents ask to provide you with their quotes, financial details are not part of them. Of course after you pick a provider to buy the policy, then you would be required to furnish proof of income and good financial standing.
Getting instant life insurance quotes online works best for those with good health and family history. However if you have certain health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, stroke, sleeping disorder, and other critical illness; have a risky profession or hobby or lifestyle; have smoking or other tobacco usage habit; have faced bankruptcy or have a poor financial standing, you would be better off taking the help of an insurance age not advisor. This is because the underwriting rules and the whole or term life insurance cost differ among companies and also with the personal needs of the applicants. By going through an agent or advisor you will be able to get the best deal for your particular case.
If the whole or term life insurance cost is not the concern for you, and all you need is an insurance policy instantly even without the medical exam, you can get one online itself after getting and comparing quotes. Since the companies are willing to take a higher risk by insuring you without any tests and with just your word, they are entitled to a higher compensation. In most cases you can get a policy online after getting the quotes at affordable cost if the coverage amount you need is less than or equal to $100,000.
Therefore, to explain the process we need to start with your first step online. You need to locate a few reliable websites that would provide you the insurance quotes. Picking a website that lets you get and compare quotes from different providers would be ideal. Then provide all the details required in the form and click the get free quotes button. In few minutes you will be showered with life insurance quotes from several different companies usually in your email. Now line them up and get ready to compare them.
When you are comparing the quotes you need to look in detail the following so that the comparison is fair and square. Compare
1. Coverage amount
2. Term of cover
3. Rate class
4. Riders
5. Inclusions
6. Cost or premium
Any of these on its own will not help determine the best policy. So compare these factors across the quotes comprehensively and pick the right provider. The reputation of the provider also matters because, a provider might offer you low term life insurance cost but if they fail to process your claim after a few years, you stand to lose a lot. So read many reviews, check with the insurance department or business bureau, and then make your decision.
Knowing the following details about the different providers will make you a smart insurance shopper,
1. Underwriting rules (accidental death, critical illness, disability, etc.)
2. Rate classifications (Preferred, Preferred plus, Standard, Table 2, Table 3, etc.)
3. Kinds of policies (Whole, term, no exam, universal, etc.)
4. Minimum and maximum coverage offered (death benefits)
5. Inclusions and exclusions
6. Riders
7. Tax benefits
8. Cash value
9. Payout track record
10. Customer service
11. Reputation
The insurance industry sees many new reforms time and again and this necessitates insurance shoppers as well as the current policyholders to update themselves on the reforms to benefit from the policies and providers. Now, setting aside all the technical jargons and glossary, the simple fact everyone shopping for insurance should understand is that the life insurance quotes are free of cost. Therefore, among the many or few details that online websites or insurance agents ask to provide you with their quotes, financial details are not part of them. Of course after you pick a provider to buy the policy, then you would be required to furnish proof of income and good financial standing.
Getting instant life insurance quotes online works best for those with good health and family history. However if you have certain health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, stroke, sleeping disorder, and other critical illness; have a risky profession or hobby or lifestyle; have smoking or other tobacco usage habit; have faced bankruptcy or have a poor financial standing, you would be better off taking the help of an insurance age not advisor. This is because the underwriting rules and the whole or term life insurance cost differ among companies and also with the personal needs of the applicants. By going through an agent or advisor you will be able to get the best deal for your particular case.
If the whole or term life insurance cost is not the concern for you, and all you need is an insurance policy instantly even without the medical exam, you can get one online itself after getting and comparing quotes. Since the companies are willing to take a higher risk by insuring you without any tests and with just your word, they are entitled to a higher compensation. In most cases you can get a policy online after getting the quotes at affordable cost if the coverage amount you need is less than or equal to $100,000.
Therefore, to explain the process we need to start with your first step online. You need to locate a few reliable websites that would provide you the insurance quotes. Picking a website that lets you get and compare quotes from different providers would be ideal. Then provide all the details required in the form and click the get free quotes button. In few minutes you will be showered with life insurance quotes from several different companies usually in your email. Now line them up and get ready to compare them.
When you are comparing the quotes you need to look in detail the following so that the comparison is fair and square. Compare
1. Coverage amount
2. Term of cover
3. Rate class
4. Riders
5. Inclusions
6. Cost or premium
Any of these on its own will not help determine the best policy. So compare these factors across the quotes comprehensively and pick the right provider. The reputation of the provider also matters because, a provider might offer you low term life insurance cost but if they fail to process your claim after a few years, you stand to lose a lot. So read many reviews, check with the insurance department or business bureau, and then make your decision.
Friday, 11 March 2011
College Student Loan Car Bad Credit Or No Credit
Each student has a car, if you have rich parents to buy you a car driver. But if it's not with you, then you should save money and buy a car for himself.
Who owns the car makes life very easy Public transport is good, but simply that the waiting list to buy a ticket, then wait for the bus makes it a bit difficult. If you have a car, it becomes very easy to move from one place to another, and thus helps to save time and money.
Punctuality is very important for the students. If you plan to buy a car you can get real cheap auto Loan for students. If they are too late as possible, some professors you sign or give away less points. I remember when I was late in the European civilization is not actually allowed in the classroom that day. Since that day I went to travel by public transportation and bought new cars from auto financing, so if you think you buy a car, do not worry donors are there to help you find the perfect car all the time and also provide you with the auto Loan business students.
There are many donors are willing to give you everything you want to know about car finance students. They will sit with you and explain you in more detail about student auto Loan policies. Always discuss all the details and conditions before signing Loan financiers deal. Some can also provide you with auto Loan, grants or subsidies of some kind.
All you have to do is give them your student ID and information about the college. Some students can apply for military Loan, if a family member who was once in the armed forces or are part of the military past.
Who owns the car makes life very easy Public transport is good, but simply that the waiting list to buy a ticket, then wait for the bus makes it a bit difficult. If you have a car, it becomes very easy to move from one place to another, and thus helps to save time and money.
Punctuality is very important for the students. If you plan to buy a car you can get real cheap auto Loan for students. If they are too late as possible, some professors you sign or give away less points. I remember when I was late in the European civilization is not actually allowed in the classroom that day. Since that day I went to travel by public transportation and bought new cars from auto financing, so if you think you buy a car, do not worry donors are there to help you find the perfect car all the time and also provide you with the auto Loan business students.
There are many donors are willing to give you everything you want to know about car finance students. They will sit with you and explain you in more detail about student auto Loan policies. Always discuss all the details and conditions before signing Loan financiers deal. Some can also provide you with auto Loan, grants or subsidies of some kind.
All you have to do is give them your student ID and information about the college. Some students can apply for military Loan, if a family member who was once in the armed forces or are part of the military past.
Friday, 18 February 2011
Debt Management Why it is So Popular?
A great many more people are turning to debt management as an alternative to bankruptcy. The reason behind this is as the result of a new bankruptcy law that was enacted on October 17, 2005, this has meant a nasty shock for many consumers wanting to make a clean break in bankruptcy court.
It used to be that 70 per cent of people filing for bankruptcy were granted Chapter 7 status, which meant that any unsecured debts were wiped clean. As a result of the new rules this has now changed. If you earn more than the median for your state, or you can afford to repay a minimum of $100 per month toward your debts, you will be refused Chapter 7. Instead, you will be granted a Chapter 13, this means that you repay some of your debt over 3-5 years. That's not all. The court will calculate your allowable living expenses based on approved IRS schedules, not what it actually costs you. So you may not be able to afford the $100 a month, but the judge is likely to tell you that you can. Rather than wiping the slate clean, most people will be confronted with a severe 5-year plan, based on a budget set by the court, which will result in having to get used to a considerably lower standard of living. Compared to that, debt management seems to be a very interesting proposition.
OK, I realise that debt management has its critics. It took me a while to come to terms with it myself. But what everybody fails to realise is that the only alternative is bankruptcy more often than not!
Why don’t we look at the three main gripes regarding debt management and I will explain why the critics are wrong.
Debt management will adversely affect your credit rating.
This is real easy to squash! If you cannot afford to meet with your repayments your credit rating will be harmed anyway. Alternatively you could file for bankruptcy, do you really think that opting for this course of action will not affect your credit profile. Add to that the fact that you will probably be awarded a Chapter 13 bankruptcy you are more likely to continue struggling to survive because of the court imposed budget.
Why pay a debt management fee when there are free options?
Yes there are free options; however these free options have had their funding removed in the UK, which means that most of them will disappear before very long. Even if you are lucky enough to have the option of a free service it will mean that you will have to do most of the work writing to your creditors, and still deal with all the stress. By paying a fee to a specialist debt management company, they will deal with your creditors on your behalf, and the fee is actually funded from the reduced repayments that the debt management company negotiate for you.
Debt management is running away from your debts.
I agree going down the route of any debt management plan as opposed to repaying the debt you have taken on is not the ideal situation. However nor are the reasons that cause most people to choose this path. In an ideal world we would all be in safe secure jobs with enough income to live comfortably, unfortunately it is not an ideal world that we live in. More and more people are losing their jobs or have had their pay cut, and because of the credit crunch are unable to refinance through a debt consolidation loan. That sadly does not leave many options open!
It used to be that 70 per cent of people filing for bankruptcy were granted Chapter 7 status, which meant that any unsecured debts were wiped clean. As a result of the new rules this has now changed. If you earn more than the median for your state, or you can afford to repay a minimum of $100 per month toward your debts, you will be refused Chapter 7. Instead, you will be granted a Chapter 13, this means that you repay some of your debt over 3-5 years. That's not all. The court will calculate your allowable living expenses based on approved IRS schedules, not what it actually costs you. So you may not be able to afford the $100 a month, but the judge is likely to tell you that you can. Rather than wiping the slate clean, most people will be confronted with a severe 5-year plan, based on a budget set by the court, which will result in having to get used to a considerably lower standard of living. Compared to that, debt management seems to be a very interesting proposition.
OK, I realise that debt management has its critics. It took me a while to come to terms with it myself. But what everybody fails to realise is that the only alternative is bankruptcy more often than not!
Why don’t we look at the three main gripes regarding debt management and I will explain why the critics are wrong.
Debt management will adversely affect your credit rating.
This is real easy to squash! If you cannot afford to meet with your repayments your credit rating will be harmed anyway. Alternatively you could file for bankruptcy, do you really think that opting for this course of action will not affect your credit profile. Add to that the fact that you will probably be awarded a Chapter 13 bankruptcy you are more likely to continue struggling to survive because of the court imposed budget.
Why pay a debt management fee when there are free options?
Yes there are free options; however these free options have had their funding removed in the UK, which means that most of them will disappear before very long. Even if you are lucky enough to have the option of a free service it will mean that you will have to do most of the work writing to your creditors, and still deal with all the stress. By paying a fee to a specialist debt management company, they will deal with your creditors on your behalf, and the fee is actually funded from the reduced repayments that the debt management company negotiate for you.
Debt management is running away from your debts.
I agree going down the route of any debt management plan as opposed to repaying the debt you have taken on is not the ideal situation. However nor are the reasons that cause most people to choose this path. In an ideal world we would all be in safe secure jobs with enough income to live comfortably, unfortunately it is not an ideal world that we live in. More and more people are losing their jobs or have had their pay cut, and because of the credit crunch are unable to refinance through a debt consolidation loan. That sadly does not leave many options open!
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Mesothelioma Sufferers Can Get Compensation by Using Specialist Lawyers
Mesothelioma is a disease often experienced by those in the building trade. The asbestos which used to be used in ceilings or for lagging pipes, gives off dust which is breathed into the lungs and which stays there forever to bring problems in later life. For those who have been correctly diagnosed with this disease, there may be help in the form of compensation, but they will need the help of a mesothelioma law firm who are well versed in this kind of litigation.
Asbestos used to be thought of as the best fire retardant material which should be used in buildings everywhere. However, as the decades have gone by, it was noted that anyone who lived in a building with this material in it, who worked in the factory producing it or those involved in construction work, were often struck down later in life with the same kind of varied symptoms.
Unfortunately for them, by the time that the disease is correctly diagnosed, it is often too late for them to get any kind of treatment. Indeed, the illness is terminal and the sufferer will have many problems to face in what remains of their lives.
Since the disease mimics many other kinds of disease, it is often hard for the medical fraternity to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with the patient. It can take twenty to fifty years to become apparent that something sinister is going on within the body and, by this time, the patient is often seen as someone who complains about everything. This is not very pleasant for the patient, of course, and they must surely feel that no one is listening at times.
The main places where this disease takes hold is around the heart, in the lungs and in the abdomen where it makes fluid gather. Of course, fluid in the lungs is never easy, but around the heart is even worse. This disease acts differently in men and women and it often gets worse if the overall health of the person is deteriorating too.
Those who seem always to be suffering from heart disease, pneumonia and flu like symptoms may just have this disease. But unless the doctor knows that they have worked with, or been around, asbestos at some time in their lives will surely be treating only the symptoms and not the disease itself. Therefore, if the symptoms persist, it is a must to contact a specialist in this field to ensure that a correct diagnosis is made.
Once the diagnosis is made there may be little that the doctor can do. As earlier stated, once the disease has taken hold, it is with that person for life. However, they may well be able to claim some compensation which, although will not cure the disease, may allow them to live out their lives more comfortably than they would have otherwise.
Nothing will compensate for good health, of course, but the thought that these companies who put their employees at risk will suffer financially must bring some comfort to those who have suffered over the years
Asbestos used to be thought of as the best fire retardant material which should be used in buildings everywhere. However, as the decades have gone by, it was noted that anyone who lived in a building with this material in it, who worked in the factory producing it or those involved in construction work, were often struck down later in life with the same kind of varied symptoms.
Unfortunately for them, by the time that the disease is correctly diagnosed, it is often too late for them to get any kind of treatment. Indeed, the illness is terminal and the sufferer will have many problems to face in what remains of their lives.
Since the disease mimics many other kinds of disease, it is often hard for the medical fraternity to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with the patient. It can take twenty to fifty years to become apparent that something sinister is going on within the body and, by this time, the patient is often seen as someone who complains about everything. This is not very pleasant for the patient, of course, and they must surely feel that no one is listening at times.
The main places where this disease takes hold is around the heart, in the lungs and in the abdomen where it makes fluid gather. Of course, fluid in the lungs is never easy, but around the heart is even worse. This disease acts differently in men and women and it often gets worse if the overall health of the person is deteriorating too.
Those who seem always to be suffering from heart disease, pneumonia and flu like symptoms may just have this disease. But unless the doctor knows that they have worked with, or been around, asbestos at some time in their lives will surely be treating only the symptoms and not the disease itself. Therefore, if the symptoms persist, it is a must to contact a specialist in this field to ensure that a correct diagnosis is made.
Once the diagnosis is made there may be little that the doctor can do. As earlier stated, once the disease has taken hold, it is with that person for life. However, they may well be able to claim some compensation which, although will not cure the disease, may allow them to live out their lives more comfortably than they would have otherwise.
Nothing will compensate for good health, of course, but the thought that these companies who put their employees at risk will suffer financially must bring some comfort to those who have suffered over the years
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Defining Your Ecommerce Business Strategy
Launching an online store can be a foreboding exercise, no thanks in part to the deluge of technology questions you will need to answer along the way. However, before you jump into choosing the right ecommerce system for your online business, it pays to first take a close look at your needs and expectations from a business point of view.
Research your marketing needs
A common mistake is to assume that the revenue will start flowing the day you go live. The reality is quite different. Most online stores require considerable effort to promote. It’s crucial to gain an understanding of which online channels make the most sense as a promotional medium for your particular venture.
Will you focus on search marketing, social media channels, banner advertising on content sites, press releases or participating in forums? These and many other possibilities exist. Part of your initial investigation into the very feasibility of your business must be to understand how difficult it will be to buy your new business the exposure it needs to generate customers, usually through an investment of both time and money.
Determining the right way to measure and manage each activity you embark upon within these channels will typically require either outside expertise, or a significant learning exercise to understand the space. It is not unusual for a new site to take 3-6 months to ramp up visitor levels and in many cases it can take up to 2 years to reach profitability.
So, be sure to allow a proportion of your initial budget to launch and maintain your online marketing through this growth period. Once operational, the business will also require a monthly investment of time to maintain your visibility.
Identify the specific marketing mechanisms you need to use – such as discount coupons, gift certificates, shopping comparison sites, product review aggregators, social media channels (Facebook, Twitter) and search engines.
Review competitor sites
Take the time to search out competitor sites, in the same way your customers will. Make a note of how you found them, as this can be a strong indication of the sort of marketing that is working. Also look at how products are being depicted – including the number of photos, descriptive detail, specifications, reviews, ratings and comparisons. Consumer expectations are continually rising in terms of the amount of information and quality of presentation.
Examine what kind of assurances are made regarding product returns, warranty, support, service, shipping costs and satisfaction guarantees. Some market segments extend consumers extraordinary levels of protection from wrong choices. Be aware of the difference between what you are obligated to provide from a government regulatory point of view and what you need to add in order to be competitive.
Analyse freight costs
Analysis of abandoned shopping carts has shown that shipping costs are one of the major factors in lost sales. If unexpectedly high, buyers will abandon their orders without hesitation. Seeking out ways to simplify freight calculation, reduce freight costs and eliminate cost shock must be high on your list of priorities. If possible, let customers know the freight cost up front.
Compare payment gateways
Getting ready to accept online transactions can involve several steps. Check out the requirements of gateway providers in your market. Many gateway providers have raised the bar on the standards that must be met before they will activate your account. In some instances, they will want to review the finished website to check for appropriate security measures, privacy statements, return policies, business information and branding. It pays to know exactly what will be required before you get started, so you can factor this into the project time-frame and progress application details early on to allow for processing delays.
Check out risks and hidden costs
You should factor in consideration in budget projections to cover for product returns, shipping losses and transaction fraud based on current industry norms – which can be researched at the time you start the business.
Also thoroughly investigate the payment options you intend to offer, to fully understand the costs, fees and extraordinary charges in the event of processing issues. There are many payment services available, and costs can vary considerably. Be sure to shop around, and look at how costs may change as your payment volumes rise or fall.
Check product complexity
Deciding how your product catalog must be organised is a fundamental requirement of your new business. Some products are simple – just a price, description and photo. But others can add complexities such as variations in sizes, colours, specifications, options and personalisation. Many simpler ecommerce systems cannot easily handle such requirements.
Furthermore, your product catalog may require items to be in multiple categories, or perhaps even to have more than one way of being categorised. For example, you might initially present items by categories of uses, but then also let people browse by manufacturer and brand. Work through these needs ahead of time, and also consider the value of being able to offer a list of similar products to help with cross selling (offering complementary products at the time of product selection) and up selling (offering better products or additional items after the purchase decision has been made).
Finally - process of elimination
The planning you have just completed will provide you a clear list of needs that must be met by the systems you consider. Doing a little homework will often reveal that a budget end option you were looking at is actually too limited. Having to upgrade to a new system down the track can be costly both in terms of budget and lost business momentum. The key is to have a clear strategy guiding your choices so you can rationally eliminate ecommerce solutions that don’t meet your requirements.
Research your marketing needs
A common mistake is to assume that the revenue will start flowing the day you go live. The reality is quite different. Most online stores require considerable effort to promote. It’s crucial to gain an understanding of which online channels make the most sense as a promotional medium for your particular venture.
Will you focus on search marketing, social media channels, banner advertising on content sites, press releases or participating in forums? These and many other possibilities exist. Part of your initial investigation into the very feasibility of your business must be to understand how difficult it will be to buy your new business the exposure it needs to generate customers, usually through an investment of both time and money.
Determining the right way to measure and manage each activity you embark upon within these channels will typically require either outside expertise, or a significant learning exercise to understand the space. It is not unusual for a new site to take 3-6 months to ramp up visitor levels and in many cases it can take up to 2 years to reach profitability.
So, be sure to allow a proportion of your initial budget to launch and maintain your online marketing through this growth period. Once operational, the business will also require a monthly investment of time to maintain your visibility.
Identify the specific marketing mechanisms you need to use – such as discount coupons, gift certificates, shopping comparison sites, product review aggregators, social media channels (Facebook, Twitter) and search engines.
Review competitor sites
Take the time to search out competitor sites, in the same way your customers will. Make a note of how you found them, as this can be a strong indication of the sort of marketing that is working. Also look at how products are being depicted – including the number of photos, descriptive detail, specifications, reviews, ratings and comparisons. Consumer expectations are continually rising in terms of the amount of information and quality of presentation.
Examine what kind of assurances are made regarding product returns, warranty, support, service, shipping costs and satisfaction guarantees. Some market segments extend consumers extraordinary levels of protection from wrong choices. Be aware of the difference between what you are obligated to provide from a government regulatory point of view and what you need to add in order to be competitive.
Analyse freight costs
Analysis of abandoned shopping carts has shown that shipping costs are one of the major factors in lost sales. If unexpectedly high, buyers will abandon their orders without hesitation. Seeking out ways to simplify freight calculation, reduce freight costs and eliminate cost shock must be high on your list of priorities. If possible, let customers know the freight cost up front.
Compare payment gateways
Getting ready to accept online transactions can involve several steps. Check out the requirements of gateway providers in your market. Many gateway providers have raised the bar on the standards that must be met before they will activate your account. In some instances, they will want to review the finished website to check for appropriate security measures, privacy statements, return policies, business information and branding. It pays to know exactly what will be required before you get started, so you can factor this into the project time-frame and progress application details early on to allow for processing delays.
Check out risks and hidden costs
You should factor in consideration in budget projections to cover for product returns, shipping losses and transaction fraud based on current industry norms – which can be researched at the time you start the business.
Also thoroughly investigate the payment options you intend to offer, to fully understand the costs, fees and extraordinary charges in the event of processing issues. There are many payment services available, and costs can vary considerably. Be sure to shop around, and look at how costs may change as your payment volumes rise or fall.
Check product complexity
Deciding how your product catalog must be organised is a fundamental requirement of your new business. Some products are simple – just a price, description and photo. But others can add complexities such as variations in sizes, colours, specifications, options and personalisation. Many simpler ecommerce systems cannot easily handle such requirements.
Furthermore, your product catalog may require items to be in multiple categories, or perhaps even to have more than one way of being categorised. For example, you might initially present items by categories of uses, but then also let people browse by manufacturer and brand. Work through these needs ahead of time, and also consider the value of being able to offer a list of similar products to help with cross selling (offering complementary products at the time of product selection) and up selling (offering better products or additional items after the purchase decision has been made).
Finally - process of elimination
The planning you have just completed will provide you a clear list of needs that must be met by the systems you consider. Doing a little homework will often reveal that a budget end option you were looking at is actually too limited. Having to upgrade to a new system down the track can be costly both in terms of budget and lost business momentum. The key is to have a clear strategy guiding your choices so you can rationally eliminate ecommerce solutions that don’t meet your requirements.
Monday, 17 January 2011
Cancer survivor aims to raze barriers with app
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- In the late 1990s, Marty Tenenbaum was a hotshot e-commerce entrepreneur riding high on the dot-com boom when he noticed a lump on his body.
His doctor told him it was nothing, but when he finally had it removed, he learned he had melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
He beat the disease, but he never got over the sense of frustration he felt as he clawed his way through the maze of treatment options, clinical trials and research in search of a way to survive.
Now 67, Tenenbaum still believes he would not have made it if he hadn't had personal connections at the National Cancer Institute who guided him toward cutting-edge experimental treatments that saved his life.
The experience convinced him that the key to advancing cancer treatment and research is forging connections on as large a scale as possible. On Tuesday, he plans to launch a Web application to bring together patients, physicians and scientists regardless of where they work, live or went to college in hopes that the so-called wisdom of the crowd can lead to the best therapies.
"I'm just trying to pull together all the pieces that are needed to do a real, rational attack on cancer," Tenenbaum says. The way to do that, he says, is to pull people out of their individual labs, offices and hospitals to collaborate in a way not possible before the Web and mobile technologies made it easy to pool vast amounts of information.
"How much of cancer could be turned into a manageable disease if we only knew what we knew?"
Tenenbaum is one of a growing number of supporters of the so-called open science movement, which calls for greater sharing of research and the lowering of institutional, financial, legal and geographical barriers to bringing the best minds and data together to solve science's toughest problems.
In its fledgling form, the Cancer Commons app integrates the existing data on different forms of melanoma and the most promising experimental treatments. Patients or their doctors input how far the disease has progressed, where it started and whether tests have discovered any specific genetic mutations believed to contribute to the cancer's spread.
From that information, the app tells patients what specific cancer "subtype" they have as determined by an expert panel. They also learn what drugs have shown the most promise in treating that specific form of the disease and where clinical trials are being conducted that could allow patients access to that treatment.
The app itself was built by CollabRx, Tenenbaum's for-profit health care startup. It's free for doctors and patients. The company would make money through pharmaceutical company sponsorships of different apps, though Cancer Commons does not endorse specific drugs.
The data itself generated by the Cancer Commons project will be free and available for anyone to use, Tenenbaum says.
At Harvard University's Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Keith Flaherty studies melanoma treatments and sees patients with the most advanced forms of the disease. He volunteered to help lead the Cancer Commons melanoma project, which he says lets doctors and patients plug into a complex collection of data distilled into a simple set of treatment options.
Though Flaherty treats only melanoma, oncologists across the country are called on to treat all kinds of cancers. They don't have time to troll through obscure journals or websites to become experts on every variation of the disease, Flaherty says. An app like Cancer Commons lets those physicians plug into the knowledge of researchers like himself directly, he says.
"It's to empower that doctor with the same information we have access to." The hope is that patients also will be better able to advocate for themselves.
As the service expands, Tenenbaum also plans to make it possible for physicians and patients to add their own data on what has worked and what hasn't. While researchers cannot rely on one person's experience alone as a measure of success or failure, Flaherty says researchers could sift a large enough collection of anecdotes for leads.
The ease of sharing information among scientists and between nonscientists and professional researchers are two key developments made possible by the Internet that open science advocates say could speed discoveries.
"We have a chance at a new kind of digitally enabled collaboration," says Joseph Jackson, organizer of the Open Science Summit at the University of California, Berkeley last summer. "But the hardest thing to do is change human behaviors and practices."
Jackson is also working to help open a community biotech lab in Silicon Valley intended to provide space for ideas and research to take place outside traditional academic and corporate venues.
The San Francisco-based Science Commons project helps research institutions and scientific journals find ways to make valuable scientific data more widely available.
The group sees bright spots in their effort, such as the National Institutes of Health's mandate that all NIH-funded research be made available free to the public within a year of being published.
But big challenges remain, both technological and in the culture of how science is done, says Alan Ruttenberg, principal scientist at Science Commons.
Ruttenberg focuses on solving the problem of "data integration": how to put different scientific databases together to enable researchers to find new connections. Part of that effort involves developing a common language for data that Ruttenberg hopes someday will make possible a search engine for science.
"We ought to be able to ask a scientific question about anything that's been done and get a straight answer to that," he says.
Online:
Cancer Commons: http://www.cancercommons.org/
His doctor told him it was nothing, but when he finally had it removed, he learned he had melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
He beat the disease, but he never got over the sense of frustration he felt as he clawed his way through the maze of treatment options, clinical trials and research in search of a way to survive.
Now 67, Tenenbaum still believes he would not have made it if he hadn't had personal connections at the National Cancer Institute who guided him toward cutting-edge experimental treatments that saved his life.
The experience convinced him that the key to advancing cancer treatment and research is forging connections on as large a scale as possible. On Tuesday, he plans to launch a Web application to bring together patients, physicians and scientists regardless of where they work, live or went to college in hopes that the so-called wisdom of the crowd can lead to the best therapies.
"I'm just trying to pull together all the pieces that are needed to do a real, rational attack on cancer," Tenenbaum says. The way to do that, he says, is to pull people out of their individual labs, offices and hospitals to collaborate in a way not possible before the Web and mobile technologies made it easy to pool vast amounts of information.
"How much of cancer could be turned into a manageable disease if we only knew what we knew?"
Tenenbaum is one of a growing number of supporters of the so-called open science movement, which calls for greater sharing of research and the lowering of institutional, financial, legal and geographical barriers to bringing the best minds and data together to solve science's toughest problems.
In its fledgling form, the Cancer Commons app integrates the existing data on different forms of melanoma and the most promising experimental treatments. Patients or their doctors input how far the disease has progressed, where it started and whether tests have discovered any specific genetic mutations believed to contribute to the cancer's spread.
From that information, the app tells patients what specific cancer "subtype" they have as determined by an expert panel. They also learn what drugs have shown the most promise in treating that specific form of the disease and where clinical trials are being conducted that could allow patients access to that treatment.
The app itself was built by CollabRx, Tenenbaum's for-profit health care startup. It's free for doctors and patients. The company would make money through pharmaceutical company sponsorships of different apps, though Cancer Commons does not endorse specific drugs.
The data itself generated by the Cancer Commons project will be free and available for anyone to use, Tenenbaum says.
At Harvard University's Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Keith Flaherty studies melanoma treatments and sees patients with the most advanced forms of the disease. He volunteered to help lead the Cancer Commons melanoma project, which he says lets doctors and patients plug into a complex collection of data distilled into a simple set of treatment options.
Though Flaherty treats only melanoma, oncologists across the country are called on to treat all kinds of cancers. They don't have time to troll through obscure journals or websites to become experts on every variation of the disease, Flaherty says. An app like Cancer Commons lets those physicians plug into the knowledge of researchers like himself directly, he says.
"It's to empower that doctor with the same information we have access to." The hope is that patients also will be better able to advocate for themselves.
As the service expands, Tenenbaum also plans to make it possible for physicians and patients to add their own data on what has worked and what hasn't. While researchers cannot rely on one person's experience alone as a measure of success or failure, Flaherty says researchers could sift a large enough collection of anecdotes for leads.
The ease of sharing information among scientists and between nonscientists and professional researchers are two key developments made possible by the Internet that open science advocates say could speed discoveries.
"We have a chance at a new kind of digitally enabled collaboration," says Joseph Jackson, organizer of the Open Science Summit at the University of California, Berkeley last summer. "But the hardest thing to do is change human behaviors and practices."
Jackson is also working to help open a community biotech lab in Silicon Valley intended to provide space for ideas and research to take place outside traditional academic and corporate venues.
The San Francisco-based Science Commons project helps research institutions and scientific journals find ways to make valuable scientific data more widely available.
The group sees bright spots in their effort, such as the National Institutes of Health's mandate that all NIH-funded research be made available free to the public within a year of being published.
But big challenges remain, both technological and in the culture of how science is done, says Alan Ruttenberg, principal scientist at Science Commons.
Ruttenberg focuses on solving the problem of "data integration": how to put different scientific databases together to enable researchers to find new connections. Part of that effort involves developing a common language for data that Ruttenberg hopes someday will make possible a search engine for science.
"We ought to be able to ask a scientific question about anything that's been done and get a straight answer to that," he says.
Online:
Cancer Commons: http://www.cancercommons.org/
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