A review on a post on e-tailing from My E-Commerce blog.

A review on a post on e-tailing from My E-Commerce blog
(http://ecommerze.blogspot.com/search/label/e-Tailing)

Opentable.com

Opentable.com, a website that provides restaurant management system for restaurateurs, is also known as ERB (Electronic Reservation Book). It is so unique that, in Malaysia, we can’t find any similar websites that is operating with this kind of model.

After I’ve been to the website, I have some ideas on the means and way to run a website, similar to opentable.com but I will be providing more functions to the surfers and restaurateurs.
I will make a website that not only contains the reservation function, but also the e-order and payment function.

Getting a good and special domain name together with a great slogan is an important beginning. Then, coming up with a well-designed layout which provides easy navigation and the provision of a highly securable system to surfers and restaurateurs will make the website more attractive and impressive.

Besides, I will design a system that works as below:

Firstly, potential customers can to make reservation through the website for their desired restaurant.

Next, customers can view the brief overview of the restaurant, restaurant’s menu, and special courses for the day, or any promotion or event available during the time.

After customers have made up their mind, they can select the time and date to dine in.
After that, we also allow customers to choose the location of their seat; for example, smoking or non-smoking area.

Moreover, customer can order their dishes and drinks with a few clicks, and leave some important message to the restaurant.

Lastly, customer can settle their bills online with a credit card.

The whole process can be done in a very easy and convenient way. Compare to Opentable.com, this website is containing more functions, such as e-payment.

(If I really successfully open this website, I will treat Sir/Miss to dine in ^^)

Mobile Payment Systems in Malaysia : Its Potentials and Consumers' Adoption Strategies

I went back to my hometown last weekend by train. I usually took the 1.30 train in the afternoon but last week i had to take the 8.15 night train. This happened because the 1.30 train tickets were all sold out. So i wasted my whole afternoon loitering around KL missing a great dinner back at home. Yeah i was angry but what could i have done... nothing i thought, until i got on the train and took my seat. I saw the most interesting thing for that entire day - I CAN PURCHASE THE TRAIN TICKETS USING MY MOBILE PHONE (so now all of you know where this story of mine was leading to). This is something i haven't heard of at least until that day.

Purchasing train tickets is not the only transaction which could be made through a mobile phone. Bill payments, music and game purchases, phone credit top-up, movie ticket purchases and even payment for pizzas and fries could be made. So where do all the money come from? The funds come from your credit card, debit card, current account and from your phone credit.

Stating all these, i can see that mobile payment systems have a huge potential in Malaysia. I state this because 9 out of 10 Malaysian citizen have at least one hand set (some have 2 or 3; 1 for business use, 1 for the family and the last for the mistress). The model and type of hand set is not an issue as the system is applicable on all mobile phone models.

Now a days, more Malaysians are addicted to online shopping. This is a very good sign for mobile payment companies as more and more people would be aware that payments could be made through their mobile phone. Teenagers especially would welcome the mobile payment system due to not having a credit or debit card.

, Digi, and the new addition to the family U-mobile are the service providers of hand phone lines. Having a perfectly competitive environment would stimulate the market for mobile payment systems because the users will benefit from all the marketing strategies (price slashes, promotion rewards, etc.). People will pay through their mobile phones more often as the competition amongst service providers will make the system convenient and rewarding.



Having potential alone won't make mobile payment systems boom, consumers' adoption strategies must be implemented as well. the first strategy is to make known this system and technology to the public. Not many are aware of the functions of mobile payment systems. I dare say this because.... i had no idea that the train ticket could be purchase through my mobile phone and when i told my neighbors that some bills could be paid through SMS, they scolded me and said it was a sham (haha.. that's how unknown it is).

The next step is to gain the users and potential users trust by beefing up the security and reliability. There have been complains that that payment has been made but the games and songs ordered were not delivered.


RELATED LINKS

• http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0,39044192,39001884,00.htm
• http://www.neowave.com.my/mobilemoney_overview.asp
• http://www.teamcalendar.com/composite-824.htm
• http://www.paymentsnews.com/2008/03/paybox-celcom-p.html

The application of prepaid cash card for consumers

Today, prepaid card are becoming mainstream products for consumers in Asia. It was only three years ago that the volume of global Visa prepaid retail sales and cash transactions first surpassed those made using credit cards. Prepaid products are about delivering greater convenience and relevance for consumers.

Consumers in Australia, India and Thailand were the top three prepaid markets in the Asia Pacific last year for transaction volume, accounting for more than 62 percent of the total prepaid retail sales and cash transactions. Below are few examples of prepaid cards:

1. Touch-n-Go


Touch ‘n Go (TNG) card is a multipurpose prepaid card which can be used in public transportation around Selangor and all highway in Malaysia. With the high demand of TNG, applications of Touch-n-Go now are expended towards the retail purchases such as fast food industry and parking fees. Adding on, TNG facilities is placed at both the KL International Airport (KLIA) and Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) since February this year. With this facilities available, consumer finds it more convenient in making transactions without taking out much of petty cash in hand.

2. Ezlink


Ezlink is one of the most prominent prepaid card in Singapore. It covers a very wide usage and can be used in different sector service including food & beverage, convenience shops, gaming, government service, health, shopping & retail, tertiary institutions, schools, private bus service and so on. With ezlink ,consumer will not have trouble having too much cash in their wallets.

3. Octopus


Octopus is one of the most successful " prepaid card" system. It is started from a transit payment system, and it has become a widely used electronic cash system. In Hong Kong, most of the people are using Octopus prepaid card in different services including public transportation services, apparel stores, bakeries, car parks, cinemas, convenience stores, fast food chains, household stores, leisure facilities, personal care stores, photo finishing stores, photocopiers, supermarkets, and vending machines. From year 2006, it had expanded its business to ShenZhen and Macau.

4. Oyster Card


Oyster card is known as " Pay as you go" cards. It is used mainly on London transport services. Starting from 2007, Oyster card also can be used to purchase goods and services. The advantage of this prepaid card over paper ticket is Oyster single fares are generally cheaper. Moreover, its credit can be used as you need it and doesn't expire and lastly, having "daily price capping" which will automatically calculate the cheapest fare for all the journeys you make in a single day.

In conclusion, with the advancement of prepaid cards, consumer can enjoy the convenience that it brings. In other words, prepaid cards makes people's lives easier.

Credit Card Debts: Causes & Prevention

Credit card debt is an example of unsecured consumer debt, accessed through ISO 7810 plastic credit cards.

Debt results when a client of a credit card company purchases an item or service through the card system. Debt accumulates and increases via interest and penalties when the consumer does not pay the company for the money he or she has spent.

Causes

1) Less Income, More Expenses
It happens that the main wage earner of the household loses his job but monthly expenses are not cut down in line with the reduction in income. This obviously leads to a rise in debt. The family is forced to use their credit cards for groceries, utilities, etc.

2) Saving little or not at all
You should save for at least 4-6 months of living expenses in case an unfortunate tragedy happens. For example, if you lose your job on January 1st, you shall have enough money to maintain your current lifestyle till July 1st of that year. Until July 1st, you can find yourself new employment or open your own business.

3) Poor Money Management
Poor money management is one of the best reasons why so many families accumulate lots of debt. Not having a monthly spending plan and not keeping track of your monthly bills makes you unaware of where your money is going. You might be spending hundreds of dollars every month towards items that are useless and have no value in your life, yet you do not realize it.

Prevention

1) Stop accruing more debt
The more you continue to spend, the longer it will take for you to pay it off. Reduce your spending. If you have high interest credit cards, transfer the balance to ones with a lower Annual Percentage Rate (APR). By the way your debt won’t increase while as you’re paying it off.

2) Make a budget and stick to it
It’s easy to overspend when you don’t have a budget. Calculate how much you have to spend and stick to that limit. Write down all of your expenses so you know where your money is going.

3) Change your spending philosophy
Are you only buying the things you really need? Those impulse purchases may feel good at the moment, but in the long run, they will only get you further into debt. If you’re going to get out of debt, you will need to change your whole attitude to spending.