Sunday 26 June 2011

U - Commerce : "Integrating business anywhere"

Abstract

Commerce is the exchange or buying and selling of commodities on a large scale involving transportation from place to place.

E - Commerce: - Most popular, doing transaction on Internet
M - Commerce: - Business transactions through mobile
T - Commerce: - Use Television set - top box to do commercial transactions
V - Commerce: - Using voice commands to do transactions
P - Commerce: - Proximity commerce using bluetooth or infrared technology

What is next?

Need of New Technologies

Newer technologies, empowered customers, and highly competitive marketplace make it imperative for businesses to invest into ways of improving the overall business performance.

"The Internet has introduced a significant wave of change. Our communication patterns have changed. We have become dependent on email. We interact with firms via Web sites.

The next wave—introduced through wireless technology—is about to change our lives even more. The increase in transmission capacity of wireless devices lays the foundation for communication unrestricted by physical locations. We can surf the Internet decoupled from landline computers.

In addition, we can do it any time, blurring the borderlines of business and private space. In the future, we will experience another wave of change—a world that provides the ultimate form of ubiquitous networks and universal devices, a world that presents an alternative view of space and time." - Miller & Watson, - 2002

We are now shifted to do business in virtual space rather only proving ourselves in geographical space.

Integrated approach of business

U-commerce

An integrated approach is the key. A type of commerce where a commercial transaction can be performed securely, any time, anywhere in the world, from any equipment, whether wired or wireless, using Internet technologies.

"U-commerce is a dynamic convergence of the physical and the digital, the interface of brick-and-mortar commerce with Web-based wireless and other next-generation technologies in ways that will create new levels of convenience and value for buyers and sellers."
- Stephen Schapp (Visa International) & Richard D. Cornelius (Accenture)

"A term u-commerce has been created in the Internet world that refers to commerce that can be conducted anywhere and any time in that it is a fusion of e-commerce, m-commerce (mobile commerce), t-commerce (television commerce) and bricks and mortar. It means seamless movement for consumers. U-commerce means that customers can come from all angles - today they may be in a showroom, tomorrow they may come at you via a website, cellular telephone phone or interactive television." - Lourens Botha, McCarthy On-Line

There are four Fundamental dimensions of u-commerce as described by Watson, Richard T., Leyland F. Pitt, Pierre Berthon, and George M. Zinkhan.

1. Ubiquity,
2. Uniqueness,
3. Universality, and
4. Unison.

Ubiquityallows users to access networks from anywhere at any time, and in turn, to be reachable at any place and any time. Computer will be useful everywhere. Basically we can say cheap will be embedded in our daily life so as to be benefited by Internet & wireless technology supported by Intelligent systems. E.g. Payment technology is becoming ubiquitous, shattering past constraints of location and functionality. It can now connect the smallest rural community, enabling it to conduct commerce with the rest of the world.

Uniqueness allows users to be uniquely identified—not only in terms of their identity and associated preferences, but also in terms of their geographical position. Avail only services what you want. Every program will be customization of your needs. It will be according to your roles in daily life. Download songs to make your mood or transfer sales records to your business data server on the spot of sale. Everything is unique and customized.

Universality means devices are universally usable and multi-functional. Due to Internet and satellites your desktop, laptop, cell phone, or PDA will avail free mobility and lots of information at any time.

Unison covers the idea of integrated data across multiple applications so that users have a consistent view on the their information-irrespective of the device used. Consistency means if I change an address in my phone book it should reflect changes in my cellphone, calendar and PDA simultaneously.

Using U – Commerce in Real World

Visa is committed to making its vision of universal commerce a reality, creating a world in which payment transactions can occur anywhere, anytime and in any way. Visa U.S.A. is exploring new Internet-enabled point-of-sale appliances that will be connected to a service portal for merchants, integrating customized payment and value-added non-payment Services. Through this Web-based POS service, merchants will be able to broaden customer relationships while lowering costs.

Volvo implemented a wireless enterprise solution to automate its data collection process to inspect cars and improve quality assurance.

The wireless solution enables the salesperson to – at any location – present the customer with current promotional offers, up – to – date financing information, price and model availability in Fiat.

Remote product monitoring: With use of sensor technology developed by Graviton, Coca cola will monitor soda fountains to monitor syrup usage.

Doctors can access patient data as well as pharmaceutical and insurance information through Ready Script’s wireless, handheld, point of care devise.

In short, u-commerce is the creation of a marketplace that reaches individuals where they are at using the devices that they want to use, with the networks doing the work without the user needing to intervene.

Suggested Readings & Resources

1. Accenture (2001). "The Future of Wireless: Different than You Think, Bolder Than You Imagine." Cambridge, MA, Accenture Institute for Strategic Change.
2. "U-Commerce: The Ultimate" - By Richard T. Watson
3. "U- commerce Fact sheet" - Visa

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