A Customized e-Shopping System for SMEs in Developing Countries

Abstract

Electronic shopping-the business-to-customers dimension of electronic commerce is a system that enables a user to purchase one or more commodities by way of a network such as the Internet and it provides for customization of products and services, in contract to buying in a store or ordering from a television advert, which is usually limited to standard products. This has initiated a global competition among goods and services delivery around the globe, unfortunately lack of communication infrastructure has put the Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in developing at a serious disadvantage. Therefore, this paper proposes an e-shopping system for SMEs in developing countries as a means of participating in the competitive global market for goods and services. Various issues affecting the development and implementation of e-shopping for developing nations’ business were identified. Solutions to these shortcomings were also proposed and easy way of developing e-shopping for developing nations’ SMEs is presented. A model that signified the digital divide between multi-national and SMEs in developing nations is presented.