Electronic Shopping in Sussex Adrian R D Norman

Presentation at Sussex Online event, Brighton University, May 20 1998, by Adrian R D Norman, MA MBA CEng FBCS FInstD. Adrian is Managing Director, WorldWide Electronic Trading Limited, Director, Internet Gateway Limited, Co-founder, Virtual Precincts Limited, Chairman, Electronic Shopping Forum, Board member, UK Citizens On-line Democracy, Council member, Parliamentary IT Committee. Themes Electronic Shopping is taking off Buyers will soon have many ways of shopping electronically Small and medium sized enterprises can sell through electronic shopping malls New intermediaries will facilitate new marketplaces Sussex is planning to set up shop in cyberspace Electronic shopping is enabled by new technology and demands new business approaches: Producers and consumers have traded in many kinds of markets since civilisation began New technology always changes the supply chain Electronic shopping requires most of the functions of real world shopping New kinds of businesses will provide the required functions Sussex Electronic Trading Limited plans to serve Sussex traders Some history Producers and consumers have traded in many kinds of markets Caravans and ships traded when and where they found buyers. The mediaeval fair had a fixed time and place. Retailers had capital to buy wholesale and sell at buyers' convenience. Shops clustered on high streets to attract customers Department stores improved range, convenience, pleasure, price. Supermarkets focussed first on value for money Out of town shopping malls served the needs of customers with cars. New technology has always changed the supply chain Money superceded barter, storing value between transactions. Transport and storage enabled fairs, markets and shops to develop. Cash registers and check-outs speeded up service and made self service possible. Cars let shoppers buy larger quantities less frequently Shopping today and in the future Most kinds of goods and services are traded on the Internet today Anything available by mail order can be bought over the Internet Information products and services can be delivered as well as sold More electronic shop keepers are succeeding every day by learning from the pioneers. Can retailers resist changes in their traditional markets? Producers can deal direct with consumers, cutting out the retailer. Warehouse operators can deliver direct to buyers, cutting out display space. Foreigners can sell into national markets, upsetting established supplier relationships. Consumers can shop out of area, taking away local custom. Electronic shopping requires most of the functions of real world shopping Display goods Make bargains Receive payments Deliver goods Support after sale The retail supply chain requires two physical movements of goods The retail supply chain requires often movement of cash Electronic shopping supply chain New kinds of businesses provide the required functions. Web site designers and virtual realists display goods Programmers build software to make offers and record acceptances Trusted third parties provide secure electronic payments services Parcels carriers deliver goods to consumers Help desks use computer-telephony integration to provide after sales service WWETL is an agent and broker serving businesses that want to set up shop in cyberspace. WWETL brings sellers to malls Malls are web sites where buyers and sellers expect to find each other Electronic shopping malls Indexes and search engines Corporate websites Electronic publications Advertising sites Auctions Malls show as much variety as real world shopping places Fairs and exhibitions Markets High Streets and arcades Shopping malls Exhibitions Car boot sales Auction rooms Department stores WorldWide Electronic Trading Limited enables producers to become sellers through electronic shops. World Wide Electronic Trading Limited WWETL brings sellers to malls contracts with mall operators holds single database of seller's 'objects' understands each mall's templates and rules provides single interface for mall to many sellers WWETL helps sellers to fit out their electronic shops WorldWide Electronic Trading Limited enables producers to become sellers through electronic shops. WWETL brings sellers to malls WWETL helps sellers to fit out their electronic shops &endash; find suppliers &endash; define requirements &endash; share costs &endash; manage contracts WWETL organises support services WorldWide Electronic Trading Limited enables producers to become sellers through electronic shops. WWETL brings sellers to malls WWETL helps sellers to fit out their electronic shops WWETL organises support services &endash; access to malls &endash; delivery &endash; payments (if not done by mall) &endash; help desk &endash; law, accounts, practices WWETL operates across the world The locations of seller, buyer, mall, carrier, funds transfer service, trusted third parties, local XETL and WWETL could all be in different jurisdictions. Applicable law may be in doubt even though buyer and seller agree terms of contract of sale. In any one jurisdiction, there are many regulations and laws Consumer protection Advertising standards Trading standards Illicit and controlled goods Data protection Intellectual property rights Access to strong cryptography Duties and taxes Many international organisations are trying to harmonise e-commerce regulations. WTO CEC OECD ICC G8 WWETL will be a broker for legal advice to sellers Suppliers include legal and accounting firms who provide and codify advice to sellers Foreign XETLs are expected to recruit local legal advisers for their sellers Some XETLs may recruit sellers whose trade may be contentious, particularly if international WWETL will avoid contentious areas until it understands the risks WWETL brings together sellers, malls and suppliers WWETL franchises local ETLs who recruit and serve sellers WorldWide Electronic Trading Limited enables producers to become sellers through electronic shops. WWETL brings sellers to malls WWETL helps sellers to fit out their electronic shops WWETL organises support services WWETL franchises local ETLs who recruit and serve sellers &endash; Each XETL covers ~ a million people and several thousand possible sellers &endash; The franchise entrepreneur works with local business organisations to recruit sellers &endash; WWETL provides common services and promotion Sussex Electronic Trading Limited could enable Sussex producers to become sellers through electronic shops. SXETL could &endash; bring Sussex sellers to local and global malls &endash; help local sellers to fit out their electronic shops &endash; organise support services &endash; make it happen here and now. Mailto:Adrian_R_D_Norman@compuserve.com Back to Sussex Online