The Americans with Disabilities Act requires “public accommodations” to be accessible to the disabled as well as the able-bodied. That's why stores, government buildings and churches have elevators and ramps, not just stairs. But when the National Federation of the Blind urged retail giant Target Corp. three years ago to modify its website to aid the visually impaired, Target balked. The disabilities act applied to its brick-and-mortar stores, not its branch in cyberspace, Target's lawyers argued.
And so began a legal battle that ended Wednesday, when Target announced that it would pay $6 million to settle a class-action lawsuit by blind shoppers who'd struggled to use its website. Target also has agreed to change the site in ways suggested by the federation, making Target.com fully accessible to the blind by the beginning of March 2009. Most significantly, perhaps, a federal judge's pretrial rulings in the case held that the disabilities act and California law did apply to the online counterparts of physical stores and services.
As is so often true, Target will end up spending a lot more to modify its site than it would have spent to design it to be accessible from Day One. There's plenty of help online for companies trying meet the needs of the disabled. The World Wide Web Consortium, a group that develops voluntary standards for the Web, has been publishing accessibility guidelines for almost a decade, including to help designers make their sites work with the specialized equipment used by the disabled. The blind rely on expensive software that reads aloud the contents of each Web page, so images and forms on the pages must include some identifying text. They also can't navigate with a mouse -- try using one with your eyes closed -- so pages need to be designed for navigating with a keyboard. That's not much to ask.
The problem is that, like Target, too many companies didn't focus on accessibility when they made the leap into e-commerce. If they had, they would have found an underserved audience of disabled shoppers. A website can be a far more inviting place for a blind person than a crowded mall, if the site is designed the right way. And the number of vision-impaired Americans (at least 1.3 million are legally blind) is expected to grow as the population ages and the incidence of diabetes climbs. With more commerce and services moving to the Internet, it's increasingly important that companies make accessibility a part of everything they do online. If that's not clear in federal law, it should be. And although Target may have needed a push to embrace the disabled, at least it's showing the rest of the retail world how it's done
Friday, September 26, 2008
Ecommerce Software: Recommendations For Business Solutions
Each and every day hundreds of ecommerce websites open for business and every day hundreds shut shop. All of them are out to do business ethically and all of them offer good products worth buying. Yet, some are forced to call quits and some are successful and are able to expand their activity.
How does one differentiate the successful from the unsuccessful? There are many factors to consider, such as customer service, popularity of the products, and efficient upholstery cleaning equipment techniques on the business side; however, on the technical side one also must consider aspects such as having a good internet shopping cart, attractive web site design, and ease of navigation.
These essential features should be taken care of by good ecommerce software solutions, and then some. Do not begrudge the time and effort required cleaning upholstery in a quality ecommerce software package that delivers results; it will prove to be an enormous boon to your business. It will help you design eye-catching web pages, while at the same time making them easier to navigate by visitors to your online store.
Make it clear and very obvious to the customer that he is entering an ecommerce site, by displaying your products on the first page itself. He should never have any doubts whether he has come to the wrong place and leave your and upholstery cleaning inc Instead, he should be made to feel he is entering a shop that looks like it would provide what he is looking for.
The design throughout the site must be user-friendly and easily navigable, never making the customer feel confused or unsure as to what he should be his next step. The ecommerce software acts as a salesperson at the counter and holds his hand and guides him right up to the checkout counter and payment and upholstery cleaning in In short, your products may be unique or niche varieties but your ecommerce solution should be a tried and tested package, used by many successful entrepreneurs.
There are many varieties of shopping carts, created by using different programming languages. Find out the more popular types of shopping carts, amp; upholstery cleaning in as those that are created with php script. The internet shopping cart you select should not present any obstacles to the visitor in his shopping experience with your site. It should also be scalable any time in the future as your business grows.
Any ecommerce software package should provide the best possible shopping cart, as this one of the most important aspects of an online store's success. The cart should have all the shopping features, payment options, shipping upholstery cleaning equipment tax calculations and compatibility with the backend database. It should also be fully secure so that the customers credit card details and other personal data is safe and secured.
How does one differentiate the successful from the unsuccessful? There are many factors to consider, such as customer service, popularity of the products, and efficient upholstery cleaning equipment techniques on the business side; however, on the technical side one also must consider aspects such as having a good internet shopping cart, attractive web site design, and ease of navigation.
These essential features should be taken care of by good ecommerce software solutions, and then some. Do not begrudge the time and effort required cleaning upholstery in a quality ecommerce software package that delivers results; it will prove to be an enormous boon to your business. It will help you design eye-catching web pages, while at the same time making them easier to navigate by visitors to your online store.
Make it clear and very obvious to the customer that he is entering an ecommerce site, by displaying your products on the first page itself. He should never have any doubts whether he has come to the wrong place and leave your and upholstery cleaning inc Instead, he should be made to feel he is entering a shop that looks like it would provide what he is looking for.
The design throughout the site must be user-friendly and easily navigable, never making the customer feel confused or unsure as to what he should be his next step. The ecommerce software acts as a salesperson at the counter and holds his hand and guides him right up to the checkout counter and payment and upholstery cleaning in In short, your products may be unique or niche varieties but your ecommerce solution should be a tried and tested package, used by many successful entrepreneurs.
There are many varieties of shopping carts, created by using different programming languages. Find out the more popular types of shopping carts, amp; upholstery cleaning in as those that are created with php script. The internet shopping cart you select should not present any obstacles to the visitor in his shopping experience with your site. It should also be scalable any time in the future as your business grows.
Any ecommerce software package should provide the best possible shopping cart, as this one of the most important aspects of an online store's success. The cart should have all the shopping features, payment options, shipping upholstery cleaning equipment tax calculations and compatibility with the backend database. It should also be fully secure so that the customers credit card details and other personal data is safe and secured.
SuiteSuccess for ERP, CRM and eCommerce Now Available from NetSuite
NetSuite (News - Alert) Inc., a vendor of on-demand, integrated business management software suites for mid-market enterprises and divisions of large companies, has announced the launch of SuiteSuccess.
A comprehensive new program of professional services, training and customer support, SuiteSuccess is designed to address the unique business and economic requirements of mid-market companies deploying NetSuite’s on-demand solutions for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and eCommerce.
SuiteSuccess offers the first methodology expressly developed for implementing on-demand ERP applications and has enabled NetSuite to “crack the code” on how to deliver on-demand business management software suites for mid-market companies that are repeatable, cost-effective, timely and targeted to ensure rapid ROI.
NetSuite is considered an industry pioneer of on-demand business management software suites with thousands of mid-market implementations to its credit. The company has focused on continuously improving the unique customer service and support experience of fast-growing, mid-market companies that compete across a range of diverse industries.
SuiteSuccess is the result of ten years of experience delivering on-demand solutions that move the needle toward higher business process efficiency without breaking the bank.
"Mid-market companies face a number of unique services challenges," said Tim Dilley, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at NetSuite, in a Thursday statement.
"They have business processes and customization and integration requirements that are every bit as complex as those found in much larger companies, but they have limited budgets and significant constraints on IT resources.”
“The SuiteSuccess program really breaks new ground in how on-demand business applications are implemented and serviced. Mid-market companies now have at their disposal a complete program of professional services, training and customer service that will get them live quickly with a customized solution and then scale with them as their needs grow," Dilley added.
"In a previous life, I led many software implementations as a consulting partner for Deloitte (News - Alert) and so I know something about what is required from a software partner to be successful," said Tom Thistleton, Chief Operating Officer at Domin-8 Enterprise Solutions, in the Thursday statement.
"NetSuite's Professional Services team was knowledgeable and helpful. They worked together with us to find answers to all our questions, while giving us options and recommendations so we could reach the expected result.”
“Often, especially in high growth software companies like NetSuite, you'll get inexperienced consultants who are a few days ahead of you in terms of application knowledge. That wasn't our experience with NetSuite as their consultants proved to be very helpful throughout the process," added Thistleton.
To ensure that it is capable of meeting the immediate and future needs of its clients, the SuiteSuccess solution offers SuiteConsulting; SuiteTraining; and SuiteSupport.
NetSuite has built its strong reputation by being plugged into the industry, understanding the challenges that businesses face while trying to remain competitive. As a result of this insight, the company is able to deliver powerful solutions that help to drive successful business processes.
This latest release is keeping in line with this history, focusing on ensuring clients have the tools they need, when and where they need them by offering the solution on an on-demand platform. Such an approach ensures stronger adoption for NetSuite and better ROI for the customer.
A comprehensive new program of professional services, training and customer support, SuiteSuccess is designed to address the unique business and economic requirements of mid-market companies deploying NetSuite’s on-demand solutions for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and eCommerce.
SuiteSuccess offers the first methodology expressly developed for implementing on-demand ERP applications and has enabled NetSuite to “crack the code” on how to deliver on-demand business management software suites for mid-market companies that are repeatable, cost-effective, timely and targeted to ensure rapid ROI.
NetSuite is considered an industry pioneer of on-demand business management software suites with thousands of mid-market implementations to its credit. The company has focused on continuously improving the unique customer service and support experience of fast-growing, mid-market companies that compete across a range of diverse industries.
SuiteSuccess is the result of ten years of experience delivering on-demand solutions that move the needle toward higher business process efficiency without breaking the bank.
"Mid-market companies face a number of unique services challenges," said Tim Dilley, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at NetSuite, in a Thursday statement.
"They have business processes and customization and integration requirements that are every bit as complex as those found in much larger companies, but they have limited budgets and significant constraints on IT resources.”
“The SuiteSuccess program really breaks new ground in how on-demand business applications are implemented and serviced. Mid-market companies now have at their disposal a complete program of professional services, training and customer service that will get them live quickly with a customized solution and then scale with them as their needs grow," Dilley added.
"In a previous life, I led many software implementations as a consulting partner for Deloitte (News - Alert) and so I know something about what is required from a software partner to be successful," said Tom Thistleton, Chief Operating Officer at Domin-8 Enterprise Solutions, in the Thursday statement.
"NetSuite's Professional Services team was knowledgeable and helpful. They worked together with us to find answers to all our questions, while giving us options and recommendations so we could reach the expected result.”
“Often, especially in high growth software companies like NetSuite, you'll get inexperienced consultants who are a few days ahead of you in terms of application knowledge. That wasn't our experience with NetSuite as their consultants proved to be very helpful throughout the process," added Thistleton.
To ensure that it is capable of meeting the immediate and future needs of its clients, the SuiteSuccess solution offers SuiteConsulting; SuiteTraining; and SuiteSupport.
NetSuite has built its strong reputation by being plugged into the industry, understanding the challenges that businesses face while trying to remain competitive. As a result of this insight, the company is able to deliver powerful solutions that help to drive successful business processes.
This latest release is keeping in line with this history, focusing on ensuring clients have the tools they need, when and where they need them by offering the solution on an on-demand platform. Such an approach ensures stronger adoption for NetSuite and better ROI for the customer.
Jagger to work on e-commerce report
Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger is set to help the European Commission (EC) draw up a report on e-commerce and online shopping.
The 65-year-old will advise the EC on issues surrounding the online shopping sector, along with several other high-profile names.
Steve Jobs, head of computing giant Apple, and telecoms expert Ben Verwaayen are also on the committee which will look at ways in which the e-retail market can be improved.
One issue set to be discussed is the availability of online music through e-commerce websites.
European Union competition commissioner Neelie Kroes told the BBC the question of why it is not as easy to buy music files online as it is to have a CD shipped around Europe from an e-commerceonline shopping website will be under investigation.
Meanwhile, it was announced earlier this week retailer Best Buy is set to purchase e-commerce music sharing company Napster in a $121 million (£67 million) deal.
This news feed has been brought to you by Direct Response Limited, the award winners for voice, data and call centre services.
The 65-year-old will advise the EC on issues surrounding the online shopping sector, along with several other high-profile names.
Steve Jobs, head of computing giant Apple, and telecoms expert Ben Verwaayen are also on the committee which will look at ways in which the e-retail market can be improved.
One issue set to be discussed is the availability of online music through e-commerce websites.
European Union competition commissioner Neelie Kroes told the BBC the question of why it is not as easy to buy music files online as it is to have a CD shipped around Europe from an e-commerceonline shopping website will be under investigation.
Meanwhile, it was announced earlier this week retailer Best Buy is set to purchase e-commerce music sharing company Napster in a $121 million (£67 million) deal.
This news feed has been brought to you by Direct Response Limited, the award winners for voice, data and call centre services.
Kesko and Itella to expand their e-commerce cooperation
Kesko and Itella have made an extensive cooperation agreement for developing electronic business operations. The aim is to use the service packages offered by Itella to help Kesko’s divisions launch their online trade projects. The agreement now signed will first be leveraged in Kesko’s home technology and sports trade. The new cooperation agreement is a further step in the long-established cooperation between Kesko and Itella.
"Our aim is to offer the K-Group customers new, interesting and convenient e-commerce services. The new cooperation agreement will enable us to enhance and accelerate online store openings and thereby to generate cost benefits and more sales to both companies" says Kesko’s Niina Ryynänen.
"We are excited about this new kind of extensive e-commerce cooperation with Kesko. The trading sector and the development of its online services are important for Itella. The agreement on e-commerce cooperation now signed is a new stage for the whole sector in Finland. Online shopping is growing strongly. Its undeniable benefits for customers are reliability and the speed and ease of shopping, because the stores are open on 7 days a week and 24 hours a day" says Senior Vice President Tarja Pääkkönen of Itella Group.
Electronic customer communication and related services are developed intensively in the trading sector. The availability of Internet services is highlighted in the service offer of the K-Group stores. Kesko has designated the development of electronic customer communication as one of its strategic projects. The online retail services for customers produced by Kesko’s divisions are part of this project. Itella’s e-commerce service package is unique as it covers services for both information and material flows
"Our aim is to offer the K-Group customers new, interesting and convenient e-commerce services. The new cooperation agreement will enable us to enhance and accelerate online store openings and thereby to generate cost benefits and more sales to both companies" says Kesko’s Niina Ryynänen.
"We are excited about this new kind of extensive e-commerce cooperation with Kesko. The trading sector and the development of its online services are important for Itella. The agreement on e-commerce cooperation now signed is a new stage for the whole sector in Finland. Online shopping is growing strongly. Its undeniable benefits for customers are reliability and the speed and ease of shopping, because the stores are open on 7 days a week and 24 hours a day" says Senior Vice President Tarja Pääkkönen of Itella Group.
Electronic customer communication and related services are developed intensively in the trading sector. The availability of Internet services is highlighted in the service offer of the K-Group stores. Kesko has designated the development of electronic customer communication as one of its strategic projects. The online retail services for customers produced by Kesko’s divisions are part of this project. Itella’s e-commerce service package is unique as it covers services for both information and material flows
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