Allow customers to place orders, obtain pricing, preview inventory and receive order status information online. 

Minimize the risk of miscommunication during the order process, reduce the cost of product returns. 

Reassign staff to deliver customer services.

Create online product catalogues and brochures. 

Save the expense of traditional printing and distribution. 

Make marketing promotions available online to gain access to a broader market place.

Take extra orders without increasing headcount. 

Take multiple orders simultaneously and support large numbers of concurrent transactions. 

The system is available 24/7, increasing the number of product orders and queries.

Allow customers to check prices and inventory levels at the same time as placing an order. This will save them waiting time and improve service convenience. 

Allow automatic access to order status to reassure the customer that the order is being effectively handled.

Support each stage of the process with a wealth of support information close to hand.

Allow customers to browse products in their own time and ask questions that they may not otherwise ask in a face-to-face environment Encourage impulse purchases. 

Offer recommended substitution services where products are out of stock or discontinued.

Connect to emerging e-market places. 

Increase the geographical reach of the business by expanding across borders and trading outside of traditional working hours.

Provide an e-commerce alternative for customers and displace competitors that do not provide this service.