The Ever Evolving Platform Making a point-and-click business model work for you. Big Resources, Small Feel By: Amanda Martini-Hughes, assistant editor Electronic Business E E-commerce: We all use it. There isn’t a person connected to the Internet who hasn’t entered their credit card information for the latest best seller or that ill-thought-out impulse purchase. It’s easier; no lines; no sales pitches; no hassle. But, outside the realm of our personal uses, e-commerce has an even greater appeal to busi-nesses — and for those same reasons. So, what is e-commerce? An Electronic Business Solution At its most basic level, e-commerce is the buying and selling of products and services over elec-tronic systems. Sounds simple enough. But, when a quick search of the keyword “e-commerce” pulls up millions of hits, it can be a bit daunting. The sites are there and the resources are available. But, with the sheer volume of information out there, it must be understood that all e-commerce platforms are not created equally. Some sites are just a dumping ground for products. “As I researched, I found that while there are a number of sites offering products online, many of them were just that; sites offering products on a drop ship basis with little or no actual field sup-port,” said Ken Galo, owner of ICA Supply Central, an e-commerce site servicing members of the Global Cleaners Association. When sifting through the piles of information that are bound to fall into your lap, the e-com-merce site of your choosing should have a combi-nation of product selection, availability and cus-tomer support. A superior e-commerce site isn’t just a sales point but becomes an invaluable resource for its diverse customer population. Through its heavily-visited site, xpedx was the first national JanSan distributor to give facility mainte-nance and cleaning professionals 24/7 access to e-procurement, a deep online catalog, inventory stock checks and customized reports on all aspects of their JanSan spending and usage. While xpedx is a very large company, they don’t lose sight of what is most important: Their cus-tomers. They are also aware that a product, no matter its merits, is only worth what the consumer knows about it. In that respect, their site isn’t just a resource for tactile materials but for fundamental training in an ever changing JanSan world: They have sales pro-fessionals who can offer guidance on product selec-tion and standardization, facilitate on-site training and provide green cleaning expertise. Not A Passing Fad E-commerce is a steadily growing sales platform. The proof is in the numbers. for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Purchasing . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Supplies . Even if you purchase tools and equipment from an online supplier, customer support like training on proper usage is still available. 34 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • July 2010
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