This research project is on computer.onlinestore.sg. This is a website that sells IT equipment from various vendors. Its function in a nutshell is to provide a one stop solution to all your IT needs. Does it? In my short write up i would split “users” of the webpage into 2 different groups, namely the general end user known as consumers and the business group which is made up of professional expeditors or IT infrastructure engineer.
As mentioned earlier, computer.onlinestore.sg is trying to provide a one stop location to purchase and compare prices and specifications of different computer hardware. They are also offering discount prices on hardware probably due to the reduced cost from not having a store front. They are also trying to faciliate searches for a particular item through the use of a site search as well as offering the option to view items by category or brand. Lastly they maybe trying to be a informative site by offering the latest information on hardware avaliable on the market through the inclusion of a “what's new” page.
How did it fair? For the average consumer market, pretty well. However for the business users, it falls short. Let me elaborate. The most significant difference would be the range of products offered. Laptops, desktops and netbooks are fairly standardised for the consumers and the business group of users. The absentees comes in the form of workstations. In Singapore where the work may include engineering design, the use of workstations are unavoidable. Basic and commonly used models such as the HP XW4000 series are not present. Secondly, we look at printers. Some of the models offered maybe a bit too high end for the home users but a little too low for the enterprises. We can argue and say that they are providing with SOHOs in mind. This is true to a certain extend, especially obvious when we look at the options offered in storage. Terastations are meant for SOHOs with a simple surface level permission functionality in place. To what extend is this not true? We look at the network category where managed switches are sold. SOHOs would probably not spend money purchasing managed switches. This higher level switches provide capabilities beyond the needs of a non-IT service related SOHO. On the display pages, they can offer a link to the product specifications offered by the vendor. This would cover the information not offered by the broker for example how many units on a server rack does the managed switches use. Although in the current would of IT this information can be “googled”, a link would do much to show thoughtfulness for the surfers. Finally, the softwares offered, based on licenses offered with the absense of volume licensing shows that the broker is more tailored to the consumer market.
Most of the weaknesses mentioned are based from the view of a professional buyer. Now for the strengths. Ease of navigation and a clean layout is a big plus as users are more concern about the information offered than how nice the presentation is. In fact most of the users probably already know what they are looking for. Abundance of payment modes helps to ease headaches on the users side who many feel more inclined to buy. A personal account used to manage purchases may allow brokers to better tailor product range to the user but might to some extend deter future buyers who may not find what they want. I am not able to evaluate the purchase process as it would require me registering. Causal shoppers maybe deterred by the hassle of registration however, it is a necessary inconvenience to safeguard the broker. This would not stop users from giving fake login information but at least you can indentify the serious shoppers. Weaknesses such as spoofing of indentity or ownership of credit cards as well as application loopholes are inherently present and can only be remove through routine ugrades and maintenance or careful design in the payment process.
This brokers does well providing to the consumers but not the businesses due to a lack of customisation in goods (more RAM or additional RAID card), option for discount in bulk purchases and range of products offered.
