A project on Evaluating the significance of implementing an

interactive and user-centric design in e-commerce applications

and its impact on user engagement, retention, and conversion

rates for company Balaji Paints and Hardware Suppliers

Under the guidance of

< name>

Submitted by

< name>

in partial fulfilment of the requirement for

the award of the degree

of

Master of Business Administration

Department of Information Technology

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

MAIDAN GARHI, DELHI – 110 068

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 DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the project titled Privacy by Design: Evaluating the significance of

implementing an interactive and user-centric design in e-commerce applications and its

impact on user engagement, retention, and conversion rates for company Balaji Paints

and Hardware Suppliers submitted by me for the partial fulfillment of the M. B. A to

IGNOU is my original work and has not been submitted earlier to IGNOU or to any other

institution for the fulfillment of the requirement for any course of study. I also declare that no

chapter of this manuscript in whole or in part is lifted and incorporated in this report from any

earlier work done by others or me.

Place:

Date:

Signature:

Name:

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 CERTIFICATIONS

This is to certify that (student name), a Student of MBA from IGNOU was working under my

supervision and guidance for her Master's degree. Her project entitled Evaluating the

significance of implementing an interactive and user-centric design in e-commerce

applications and its impact on user engagement, retention, and conversion rates for

company Balaji Paints and Hardware Suppliers which she is submitting, is her genuine

and original work.

Place:

Date:

Name:

Signature:

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In addition to my own efforts, the initiative relies heavily on taking part and advice of a large

number of other individuals. I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who

contributed to the success of this initiative. I am grateful to the college president for all of his

help, enthusiasm, and affection. In my capacities as head of the department and college

professor, I am extremely grateful for all that is made accessible for this endeavour.

Throughout the process, I am extremely grateful for the assistance I enjoyed from my project

directors and the assistant professors in the Department at my college of management and

business. I am indebted to my university's department assistant professor and project mentor.

I am grateful for the guide's assistance, direction, and support, and also for the manner in

which he assisted me in completing this assignment. My sincere appreciation goes out to

everyone in the department I work in and school for their support. I am grateful for my

parents' continued encouragement and support. We appreciate every detail my peers have

gone through for me over the years.

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 Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction..............................................................................................................9

1.0 Background of the Study..................................................................................................9

1.1 Proposed system.............................................................................................................11

1.2 Company Profile.............................................................................................................11

1.3 Objectives of the study...................................................................................................12

1.4 Research Questions.........................................................................................................12

1.5 Scope of the study..........................................................................................................13

1.6 Significance of the study................................................................................................14

1.7 Statement of the problem................................................................................................16

1.8 Software information......................................................................................................16

1.9 Structure of Report.........................................................................................................22

1.10 Limitations of the study................................................................................................22

Chapter 2: Literature Review...................................................................................................24

2.0 E-commerce background................................................................................................24

2.1 Necessity for the e-commerce application development................................................25

2.2 The relationship between e-commerce application excellence and user engagement,

retention and conversion rates..............................................................................................26

2.3 Interactive E-commerce application development and discussion on advantage and

obstacles...............................................................................................................................27

2.4 Analysis of how interactive E-commerce application development can streamline the

operations of Balaji Hardware..............................................................................................29

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 2.5 Evaluation of customer satisfaction to understand how user centric design can provide

competitive advantage to company Balaji Hardware...........................................................30

2.6 Evaluation of profitability through digitisation for the company Balaji Hardware.......32

2.7 Uses of relevant technology...........................................................................................33

2.8 A probable project interface...........................................................................................33

2.9 Uses cases and their specification..................................................................................34

2.10 Database designs..........................................................................................................36

2.11 Feasibility analysis.......................................................................................................40

2.12 Future Scope.................................................................................................................41

Chapter 3: Methodology..........................................................................................................43

3.1 Methods Outline.............................................................................................................43

3.2 Research type..................................................................................................................44

3.3 Research Paradigm.........................................................................................................44

3.3.1 Justification..................................................................................................................45

3.4 Research Approach.........................................................................................................45

3.4.1 Justification..................................................................................................................46

3.5 Research Design.............................................................................................................46

3.5.1 Justification..................................................................................................................47

3.6 Data Collection...............................................................................................................47

3.7 Sampling.........................................................................................................................48

3.8 Timeline..........................................................................................................................48

3.9 Populations of the study.................................................................................................49

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 3.10 Ethical considerations...................................................................................................49

Chapter 4: Data Analysis..........................................................................................................51

Chapter 5: Conclusion..............................................................................................................64

5.1 Findings..........................................................................................................................64

5.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................................67

5.3 Conclusion......................................................................................................................68

References................................................................................................................................71

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 Abstract

The project is designed to organise the e-commerce system for a company. The company

utilises the MySql directories to store and sell their products. The company name is Balaji

Paints and Hardware Suppliers and it is looking for an ecommerce platform. The name of

the product is an online hardware booking system which is a replica of how e-commerce is

running these days. The concepts of programming language have been implemented in this

project report. Through developing an online selling platform the company is enabled to

increase their sales to a large extent. This organisation was using a traditional brick and

mortar business model, which was not successful. Hence, the development of e-commerce

systems is expected to enable customers to buy required items in a digital manner. The top-

class online shopping experience with a sales growth of 20%.

Keywords: Ecommerce, technology, influence of top online experiences

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Chapter 1: Introduction
1.0 Background of the Study

The project is designed to organise the e-commerce system for a company. Through efficient

customer relationship management (CRM) and quick order fulfilment, e-commerce helps

businesses retain customers by providing them with categorised and customised market

information. In e-commerce, end-to-end supply chain management facilitates the entire flow

of supply and demand and produces profitable client retention. User centric ecommerce

design signifies a design that is useful for the users/customers. An interactive interface as

well as an easy to navigate website helps in gathering most of the customer’s attention.

Customers will be loyal towards a company only if they are getting some benefits from their

suppliers. The loyalty can be gathered from an excellent interactive interface website of an

ecommerce company. The chosen company for evaluation is Balaji Paints and Hardware

Suppliers which is a brick and mortar store and supplier. They do not have an e-commerce

website, and work offline.

By user-centric design the study tries to establish the fact that the system should use a Chabot

or chat assistant who will pop up on the user screen to help them easily browse through the

content. The study will try to evaluate how a user-friendly design of an ecommerce website

can help in retaining the users. Consumer power is the biggest weapon for any e-commerce

company and this study will try to establish the facts of how an interactive user-centric design

can contribute towards user engagement, retention and conversion rates. Through this study

facts will be presented that can help the company come out as one of the biggest hardware

sellers online. The aim is to motivate the company towards designing an interactive user

interface, so that a huge sales growth is achieved. The study is totally in support of designing

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and implementing e-commerce solutions for the company. E-commerce is a super set of

business cases that are digitising the flow of information and goods.

An overview of the products offered by ecommerce software:

In today's business sector, ecommerce planning is becoming increasingly significant. It is

currently regarded as a crucial instrument for managing a business's resources both inside and

outside the organisation. It is employed in a wide range of manufacturing sectors in addition

to numerous business applications. Ecommerce resource planning was previously exclusive

to big businesses. A substantial amount of money has to be invested. Small and medium-

sized businesses were unwilling to make the significant financial commitment required to

hire employees and purchase software for the management of ecommerce systems. In light of

this, ecommerce planning software providers began to expand the range of versions they

offered, with the goal of catering to smaller businesses as well. Furthermore, small businesses

might not need all of the capabilities and customisations that large businesses can have. The

ecommerce software was specifically designed to address the needs of small businesses and

to boost output. Following this, small-business owners began purchasing ecommerce

software in accordance with their investment budget.

Early in the 1990s, ecommerce assisted the businesses in reducing their expenses and

assisting them in running more effectively. Efficient data management contributed to the

business process's effective simplification. Services for planning, manufacturing, marketing,

sales, and quoting continued to advance. Ecommerce improved customer service, financial

tracking, and stock control. The tiny business used Ecommerce planning software to

eliminate numerous labour-intensive and time-consuming activities (Ramezani Nia, and

Shokouhyar, 2020).

Overview

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The corporate sector showed a tremendous amount of interest in ecommerce software

between 1995 and 2000. In 2000, the Ecommerce market was predicted to be worth more

than USD 80 billion. Many observers believe that without such Ecommerce software, today's

global corporate environment—which offers goods and services tailored to millions of

clients' unique demands and that provide deadlines around-the-clock—would not have been

feasible. Ecommerce is without a doubt one of the trickiest and most demanding applications

in the business world for example Manufacturers, service industries, marketing researchers,

SCM, and CRM

1.1 Proposed system

The suggested systems are using a number of records related to Ecommerce and they can

keep the activity ongoing. The proposed solution will provide the following:

● An intuitive user interface

● Quick access to the database

● Fewer mistakes

● Greater Capacity for Storage

● Lookup centre

● See and Experience the Ambience

1.2 Company Profile

Balaji Paints and Hardware Suppliers is a B2B startup which aims to bring about a change

in the construction and industrial space through e-commerce. This is the first company in the

world to launch a platform that helps people identify interior designers and architects for their

projects. As a result, it turns into the perfect one-stop shop for all industrial and construction

demands for both retail and wholesale clients. Balaji Paints and Hardware Suppliers is a

registered company operating as a Private Limited Indian Non-Government Company

incorporated in India for more than five years and its registered office is in Delhi, India. The

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Company's status is Active. It's a company limited by shares with an authorised revenue of 5

lakhs monthly as per the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) records (Wiranata et al. 2020).

Nowadays every business is shifting towards online business. Without an ecommerce website

the customers are unable to purchase online. Often a lack of interactive UI demotivates

customers from purchasing. The result is that customers face issues with navigation and there

is no way to manage these issues. The study identifies that having an interactive user

interface is actually helpful for the consumer since they can ask for help if they face any

problems. Hence, the need to analyse interactive UI in e-commerce is quite clear.

1.3 Objectives of the study

This report's goal is to ascertain a method for boosting sales and generating innovative

concepts for the suggested system. Additionally, the study evaluates that an email assistance

to the shoppers of the e-commerce website can help in the increase of sales and improve the

company’s presence online. It is anticipated that consumers will have access to information

about particular goods and services in the same manner as they did in physical businesses.

Product reviews and utility of consumers would enable them to get engaged with the seller. A

greater emphasis is placed on the production of high-level ideas that will target potential

clients specifically (Geeksforgeeks.org, 2020). This relates to receiving individualised

attention from trading staff. There will be more attention to detail for each customer. Any

problems that clients may have should be resolved by the interactive chatbot which is

available around-the-clock.

In summary the objectives are:

● To understand how e-commerce websites can create maximum profitability for

business

● To define why is it important to the implementation of e-commerce

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 ● To examine how will the e-commerce introduce new jobs or it will completely

destroy the economy

● To examine how challenging would be for employees to learn new e-commerce

1.4 Research Questions

● How e-commerce websites can create maximum profitability for business

● Why is it important to understand the significance of e-commerce implementation

● Will the e-commerce introduce new jobs or it will completely destroy the economy

● How challenging would be for employees to learn new e-commerce

1.5 Scope of the study

The following are some ways that an interactive user interface can greatly improve the online

shopping experience:

● Enhanced User Experience (UX):

Customisation: Personalised experiences and recommendations that are based on prior

preferences and behaviours.

Easy Navigation: User-friendly interfaces that efficiently lead users through the website or

application.

Visual Engagement: Interactive components that boost engagement include videos,

interactive product demos, and 360-degree product views.

● Improved Interaction with Customers:

Live Chat Support: Instantaneous resolution of client questions and issues, fostering

consumer confidence and trust while making transactions. Customers can virtually interact

with products through interactive product catalogues, which facilitates better decision-

making.

User-Generated Content: Sites that let users contribute reviews, ratings, and stories help to

build a community and trust.

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 ● Higher Rates of Conversion:

Tailored Suggestions: By presenting product recommendations predicated on past browsing

activity, interactive interfaces can augment the probability of purchases.

Gamification: You may encourage purchases by using gamified components such as prizes,

progress trackers, and quizzes.

Efficient Checkout Procedures: Clear and simple checkout procedures lower cart

abandonment rates.

● Data Gathering and Analysis:

User Behaviour Insights: Compiling information on user interactions facilitates the

knowledge of preferences and the platform's subsequent optimisation.

Input loops: By asking people for input through interactive interfaces, companies can keep

improving the services they offer.

● Developing Brand Loyalty with Interactive material Marketing:

Content marketing: Creating interesting material, such as interactive manuals, tutorials, or

tests, not only informs users but also fortifies ties between brands and consumers.

Exclusive Experiences: You can promote brand advocacy and repeat business by providing

exclusive interactive experiences or loyalty programmes.

An interactive customer interface generates a lively and captivating retail environment that

streamlines the user experience and strengthens the bond between the brand and its patrons,

ultimately resulting in increased sales and enduring loyalty.

1.6 Significance of the study

The management of the general requirements for an interactive online system that sells

hardware tools is the foundation of this text. The study proposes to incorporate a user-centric

model in the e-commerce business so that customers will be able to add products to their

shopping bag and make digital purchases of the necessary items using this online model. The

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customers can also seek help when they find any difficulties in adding the products to their

carts. It is anticipated that this system would result in a 20% increase in sales and offer an

exceptional online shopping experience. With chatbot/chat assistance the interactive user

design will get a new edge. Getting a help section in the online ecommerce platform can

elevate the user experiences. The overall implementation of an interactive UI and e-

commerce website allows the following contents to be organised:

1. Digital information exchange: This can take the shape of electronic orders that are being

transmitted, two-way communications, or coordination of the flow of goods and services.

These exchanges can take place between people or between organisations which will enhance

the B2C.

2. Technology-enabled: In the past, businesses handled all of their customer and market

transactions by direct human connection. However, with e-commerce, these transitions can be

handled effectively by technology.

The objective of this project is to create a system which can induce sales growth for the

company. Production of high-level ideas for the system so that it operates swiftly online is the

motto of this project. The system design enables a customer to purchase items from a list

given. The MySql database allows users to store consumer data along with their preferred

choices (Almaiah, Alamri & Al-Rahmi, 2019). Through the designed interface a customer

can register as a new user and later on login into their accounts. After logging in the

customers can select a wide range of products from the given lists. The design of the system

allows both consumers and sellers to keep updated. The system is expected to control

addition and deletion of products. The system is enabled for updating records so that product

price and information can be changed as per the requirement. Browsing and selecting

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elements from a whole range of items is expected to improve the services that they can get in

stores.

Hardware products can be purchased online thanks to the buy system's streamlined version.

Tradespeople can buy products from the e-commerce system project just like the consumers

(Miyazaki et al. 2018). Customers can also call the number provided in the assistance section

to request assistance. The idea was chosen with the intention of commercialising the business

to increase sales and use the internet to reach a wide audience. The project has a scope to

increase the sales of the company without much hassle. This system is expected to improve

sales without the fuss. The high-level integration of the system allows the company to take

care of the issues (Ramírez-Correa et al. 2018). The project has a scope of connecting the

buyers and sellers. This project is expected to be on the simplified version which can interact

with the users easily.

1.7 Statement of the problem

The company is currently operating in brick and mortar segments. The concept of physical

stores is getting diminished gradually. Every business is shifting to online channels to

improve their sales. There is a sheer lack of sales seen by the company and it is trying to

revive its business by going online. Hence, to improve sales the possible solution is suggested

(Deepak et al. 2019). One of the most crucial components of an e-commerce strategy is

having a business’s own website. It's a fantastic method for a person to build a brand and

attract devoted clients. It gives businesses a location to advertise and enables customers to

purchase the items online. Investing in a high-quality eCommerce website has the power to

create or destroy an online business. Moreover, having an interactive UI does it all for the

business process implementation.

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1.8 Software information

The e-commerce product which is being offered includes a progressive methodology. Login

module, GUI module and reports. All the reports are stored inside the management system

from where one can do the comprehensive analysis of content. The product that is delivered

here is having an immense engagement over the factors of editing, updating and deleting.

These are helping the project manager to stay on track (Khouja et al. 2018).

There are different software requirements which include uses of an IDE such as JDK 1.8 for

execution of this project. Core text and programming language used in this project is

identified as Java, Sql. There is a successful application of MySql database and Jconnector

allows improving the content.

This application is a Tomcat server-based JFrame and MySQL project that may also be

used with Eclipse and Netbeans. In order to automate the Student Management System

method, we constructed this JFrame and My SQL Project.

The hardware used for the development of the project is:

PROCESSOR : PENTIUM III 866 MHz

RAM : 128 MD SD RAM

MONITOR : 15” COLOR

HARD DISK : 20 GB

FLOPPY DRIVE : 1.44 MB

CD DRIVE : LG 52X

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KEYBOARD : STANDARD 102 KEYS

MOUSE : 3 BUTTONS

What is JAVA?

Java is an object-oriented programming language that is comparable to C++ but offers extra

features including universal system compatibility and open access. It is the best option for

this kind of software development because of a few unique qualities, including the following:

Simple to understand: It doesn't have any problems that could make the task harder, like

operator overloading or pointers (Clarizia et al. 2018).

Object-oriented: A programme that follows this concept is said to have a state, behave, and

produce results in line with those states.

Security: It runs the application in the sandbox and converts it to bytecode upon compilation

to stop data modification from untrusted sources (Fischer et al. 2020).

Hence, the rationale of designing the project in this language is clear.

Cross-platform compatibility: MySQL runs native on every popular flavour of Unix and

windows. A huge percentage of Java and of the world’s HTTP servers run on one of these

two classes of operating system. JAVA is compatible with lesser known servers including

Alex Blitz‟ fhttpd, Microsoft‟s Personal Web Server, AOL Server and Omnicentrix’s Omni

server application server (Grandón, and Ramírez-Correa, 2018).

Stability: The word stable means two different things in this context:

• The server doesn’t need to be rebooted often (Wilson, 2019)

• The software doesn’t change radically and incompatibly from release to release.
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Speed: Java promotes utmost speed in this project (Geeksforgeeks.org, 2023). Although it

takes a slight performance hit by being interpreted rather than compiled, this is far

outweighed by the benefits JAVA drives from its status as a Web server module.

What is MySQL?

MYSQL is the most popular language chosen by the experts to complement the database

related work. It is a second-generation open source company that unities open source values

and methodology with a successful business model. The MYSQL web site

(“http://www.MySQL.com/”) provides the latest information about the MYSQL software and

MYSQL AB.

Features of MYSQL

• MySQL is a Database Management System (DBMS).

• MySQL is a relational DBMS

• MySQL software is Open Source (Ibaraki et al. 2018)

• The MySQL Database server is very fast, reliable, and easy to use.

• A large amount of MySQL software is Available.

What is Apache?

Apache is one of the world’s mostly widely used web servers. It was originally developed in

1995 by a group that was to go on to become the apache group, the apache HTTP server is

open source software, and considered by proponents to be fast, scalable and secure.

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Apache is a unix based, Open source web server that is used to host about half the sites on the

internet (Khosravi, and Hussin, 2018). Different other versions of the server are available,

which are created using the apache module API. The name comes from its origins as a series

of “patch files”.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a scripting language developed by Netscape Navigator to enable web author’s

interactivity sites. Although it shares many of the features and structures of the full java

language, it was developed independently (Khouja et al. 2018). This language can easily

interact with source codes of HTML and allows authors to keep an update of the content.

JavaScript is endorsed by many software companies and is an open language that anyone can

use without purchasing a licence. It is supported by recent browsers from Netscape and

Microsoft, though internet explorer supports only a subset, which Microsoft calls JavaScript.

Scripts returned with JavaScript can be embedded into HTML documents.

Program Whereabouts

When a programme is being developed, it is tested separately using data to ensure that it links

to other programmes in the manner that is specified. The most important phase in creating a

successful system and gaining the user's trust that the new system is functional and efficient

is implementation (Tsagkias et al. 2021). Within this project, adding a process doesn't have

an impact on other system components. Maintenance is essential. The system is open to

changes after it is put into place. The design of this system favours any new modifications.

The accuracy or performance of the system won't be impacted by doing this.

Proper handling of the table is essential since the chatting method requires saving the

message in the table and producing it to the sender and recipient. The project's user table is

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made to only accept one username per user, and both the username and password must be

longer than zero. Table Structure, the annexure, has a comprehensive list of the tables and

their fields. The input and output standardizations matter. Hence, it is essential to understand

the input and output concepts. In general, output design refers to the data and outcomes that

the system produces for a large number of end users; output serves as the primary motivation

for system development and the foundation for how they assess the application's usefulness.

Moreover, OUTPUT DESIGN The process of translating user-initiated inputs into a format

that is computer-based is known as input design. One of the most costly stages of a

computerised system's functioning is input design, which is also frequently the main source

of issues with the system.

The multi-step process of design focuses on the architecture of data structure software,

procedural details (algorithms, etc.), and module interface. Before coding starts, the design

process also converts the requirements into a software presentation that can be accessed to

ensure quality. Consequently, the depth, adaptability, and quantitative character that are

typically associated with more traditional engineering disciplines are absent from the

Software Design process.

There is also an impactful use of languages such as JAVA, HTML. These languages are

compatible with Microsoft Internet Information Server, Netscape Enterprise Server, and

Apache HTTP Server for Windows and Unix, the three most popular Web servers. Moreover,

it functions with a number of obscure servers.

Any system that is created must not place a heavy burden on the technical resources that are

available. High demands will result for the technical resources that are accessible as a result.

As a result, the client will face strict requirements. Since deploying the designed system will

only require minimum or null changes, it must have modest requirements.

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Talking about how the forum responds, the administrators typically answer questions within a

few minutes. The Discussion Forum crew will respond to each posted question with

precision, and they will also receive many responses from various users (Wang, et al. 2023).

Explore Module: Users are able to respond to the questions that are presented on this website.

This module offers significant benefits to users. They can also see the responses to queries

they haven't asked that have been posted on this website. The question answer module has

been identified as the main module and adds life to the entire project.

Now coming to the budget, the corporation has a finite amount of money to dedicate to

system research and development. The costs have to make sense. Thus, the system that was

designed was also within the budget.

1.9 Structure of Report

Chapter 1 describes the background of e-commerce implementation and provides an

overview of the company. It also includes information on objectives and aims of the report.

Chapter 2 provides information on e-commerce related literature review

Chapter 3 promotes the methodology used in data collection

Chapter 4 comprises of data analysis of the collected data

Finally, comes the chapter 5 where conclusion of the study is written

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1.10 Limitations of the study

The study has faced limitations of time constraints. Designing a user interactive UI allows the

customers to look through the manual and decide quickly what they want to purchase.

However, it requires an enormous time to design this UI and implement it in real time.

The acceptance of the company members is also a limitation for the study. Some of the

employees might resist this new business integration and show their concern. There is no

option given for saving card details of customers. Every time a customer wishes to purchase a

product he/she has to enter card details. To reduce security errors this step of saving cards is

not done. If a customer's card is not saved, then the repetitive task will actually become a

reason behind the customer's inconvenience. Moreover, poor internet connectivity at

customer end might become a reason behind the customers not being able to use the

application (Khouja et al. 2018). There were several implementation constraints. The

probable ones are identified as low budget, lack of infrastructure, lack of IT people in the

industry which requires a solution.

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Chapter 2: Literature Review
2.0 E-commerce background

Components of Ecommerce

Here are five components of Ecommerce Planning.

Inventory material

It not only manages procurement, stocking, warehousing but also manages supply chain

management, budgeting and all material movement parts also. Basically it can help

organisations to reduce material carry cost, logistic cost, material purchase cost.

Sales distribution

Sales agreement, order management, Invoicing, Picking, packing, dispatch, customer

acknowledgment all these are the sub modules parts of the sales and distribution module. It

manages the execution and delivery of each order as per the schedule. It helps to do the

forecasting of demand and production (Camilleri, 2021).

Finance management

It is the module which is linked with each and every module of Ecommerce. Basically each

financial transaction is done through this module. Either you want to do the salary of the

employee or payment to the supplier or you want to receive payment from the customer. It

helps to do budget control too. Real time online accounting helps a lot in the finance

department.

Production Planning

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It manages or plans the production of an organisation, the proper planning according to the

availability of resources) man, material, machine and money too.

Payroll & basic

Payroll module used to manage the records of employees, leave management, time

attendance management, salary execution. If advanced, it includes R Policy management,

Performance, appraisal, recruitment, too.

However in this case, the most important factor is to utilise Ecommerce in a correct manner.

In this case, HRM operations specifically the payroll and basics are worked upon and the

created project will focus on it.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SIDE 0ENEFITS

● Reduced Ecommerce implementation costs due to a common template

● Reduced application maintenance costs

● Lower integration cost due to standard interfaces

● Lower infrastructure costs

2.1 Necessity for the e-commerce application development

The application is expected to operate in Windows 7, 8, 10 versions. The customers are

expected to get it utilised via desktop. The records will be simplified while aligning with

requirements. All categories of database work such as addition, deletion and updating of

records can be done. Entire code base is based on the language JAVA. There is an option of

picking the products from the store as well after booking (Shahroom & Hussin, 2018).

Customers can also choose an option for the delivery of products at their door steps. Secure

payment options are given by saving card details and utilising the delivery instructions. The

25
application will be a 24*7 options to work and provide customer help. There will be two user

types the first one fits the user type of customers and another is admin. Admin has direct

power to edit, update and delete any functionality of the system.

Product is designed in a way, so that there will be no way of failure from both the seller and

customer end. Customers can expect a complete requirement specification of a process. There

is more focus given on high-level ideas generation that will serve customers in a concentrated

way (Geeksforgeeks.org, 2020). This regards with a non-trade personnel to shop on time and

get personalised care. There will be more focus given and customers will be taken care of

individually. Any issues of customers are expected to be solved by mailing the customer care

and calling them as well 24*7.

2.2 The relationship between e-commerce application excellence and user

engagement, retention and conversion rates

User Experience (UX) and Engagement: An intuitive, user-friendly, and aesthetically

pleasing e-commerce application improves user experience. Visitors are encouraged to

explore, spend more time on the platform, and interact with the items or services offered by a

smooth and user-friendly interface. Increased user engagement is a result of dynamic

graphics, user reviews, personalised recommendations, simple checkout procedures, and

other engaging elements (Wang et al. 2023).

Performance and Speed: User engagement is greatly impacted by an e-commerce app's speed

and performance. Users anticipate easy navigation and pages that load quickly. Applications

that load rapidly and react to user input swiftly have been shown to increase user retention,

lower bounce rates, and increase customer engagement.

Mobile Responsiveness: Having a mobile-responsive e-commerce application is essential

given the rise in mobile usage. Because users can interact with the platform without difficulty

26
on any device, a responsive design guarantees a consistent and optimised experience across

several platforms, increasing user engagement.

Customer Retention and Personalisation: E-commerce apps with higher customer retention

rates are those that employ user data to provide targeted promotions, personalised

recommendations, and customised experiences. Users are more inclined to utilise the

platform again if they feel heard and cared for personally.

Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO): An effective e-commerce application optimises the

conversion funnel in addition to drawing users. Conversion rates can be increased by using

essential components including call-to-action buttons that are obvious, compelling product

descriptions, easily accessible information, and a simplified checkout procedure.

Security and Trust: When conducting business online, users must feel secure. Strong security

features, like SSL encryption, safe payment methods, and transparent privacy policies, are

hallmarks of a top-notch e-commerce software. Building trust is essential to keeping users

around and promoting recurring business (Camilleri, 2021).

Feedback and Iteration: It's critical to continuously collect user feedback and make iterative

improvements to the application based on this information. In the end, this strategy improves

engagement, retention, and conversion rates by addressing pain spots, increasing features,

and accommodating shifting user preferences.

2.3 Interactive E-commerce application development and discussion on

advantage and obstacles

Advantages of Interactive E-commerce Applications:

Enhanced User Engagement: An immersive and captivating shopping experience is produced

by interactive elements including 360-degree product views, augmented reality (AR) try-on,

live chat assistance, quizzes, and tailored product recommendations. Higher conversion rates

and longer sessions may result from this improved engagement.

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Better Customer Experience: A more tailored and user-focused experience is made possible

through interaction. Virtual interaction between customers and items helps them make

educated selections, lowers return rates, and improves overall happiness.

Differentiation and Competitive Edge: An e-commerce platform can stand out from rivals by

incorporating interactive aspects. Distinctive and inventive attributes draw clients and foster

brand allegiance, generating a competitive edge.

Data Gathering and Insights: Interactive elements offer insightful information about user

behaviour, tastes, and passions. Utilising this data can help to improve product offerings, user

experience overall, and marketing efforts.

Obstacles:

Development Complexity: Putting interactive elements into practice can be a time-consuming

and technically difficult task. It needs a large amount of resources and highly qualified

developers, particularly for advanced features like real-time interactive tools or AR/VR

integration (Billewar et al. 2022).

Performance and Loading Times: The application's performance and loading times may be

impacted by advanced interactive aspects. It's critical to strike a balance between quick load

speeds and interaction to avoid user annoyance and abandonment.

Compatibility and accessibility: It can be difficult to guarantee that interactive elements

function flawlessly across a range of hardware, operating systems, and internet speeds. It

might be difficult to maintain compatibility while providing a unified experience across

platforms.

Cost considerations: The creation and upkeep of interactive elements frequently entails

higher costs, both for the original development and for continuing support and upgrades.

28
User Adoption and Education: It may be necessary to train users on how to make the most of

new interactive features before introducing them. The adoption rates of these features may be

impacted by users who are initially apprehensive or unfamiliar with them.

2.4 Analysis of how interactive E-commerce application development can

streamline the operations of Balaji Hardware

In order to manage the application development and streamline operations, several steps

can be undertaken such as:

Put the user experience first: Pay attention to user-centric design and make sure interactive

elements enhance the user experience without sacrificing speed or usability.

Iterative Development: Begin by introducing fewer interactive components, then

progressively increase them in response to user input and technical developments.

Testing and Optimisation: To find and fix performance problems, thoroughly test interactive

features on a variety of devices and user scenarios (Taher, 2021).

Cost-Effectiveness: Evaluate interactive features' effects on user engagement and conversion

rates to determine how much to invest in them.

Educational Support: To assist users in comprehending and making appropriate use of

interactive functionalities, provide them with tutorials and clear instructions.

The spectrum of business growth after implementing e-commerce:

Improved Customer Service: Tools like live chat, chatbots with AI, and interactive FAQs

may help customers instantly by answering their questions and taking care of their problems.

This expedites the resolving process and lessens the need for large customer care personnel.

Interactive applications have the capability to collect user data and behaviour in order to

provide tailored product suggestions. This raises the possibility of successful upselling and

cross-selling in addition to improving user experience and increasing sales efficiency.

29
Inventories and Order Management: Interactive dashboards and interfaces help firms run

more efficiently by managing inventories and orders. They streamline operations and cut

down on errors by making it easier to track inventory levels, order fulfilment, and shipment

in real time.

Streamlined Checkout Procedures: By decreasing cart abandonment, interactive and

simplified checkout procedures increase conversion rates. The purchasing process is made

more effective with features like dynamic forms, guest checkout alternatives, and one-click

checkout.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Interactive e-commerce platforms collect a tonne of

information about user preferences, behaviour, and purchasing trends (Aida Sari etal. 2020).

Companies can use this information to make well-informed decisions about product

development, inventory control, and marketing tactics.

Marketing Campaign Effectiveness: Businesses can test out various content and methods by

using interactive software that facilitate A/B testing. This aids in determining what appeals to

the audience the most, maximising marketing resources and efforts.

Adaptation to User Feedback: Real-time user feedback can be gathered by interactive

features. By swiftly adjusting to customer preferences, firms can enhance their offerings in

terms of goods, services, and general customer happiness.

Mobility and Remote Access: Cloud-based interactive apps provide teams with effective

remote collaboration from any location by providing remote access to company data and

processes. Even in remote work contexts, this mobility guarantees continuity and optimises

procedures.

Flexibility and Scalability: Interactive e-commerce apps with scalable designs are easily able

to grow with their businesses. Without causing major delays, they can handle growing traffic,

extending product lines, and changing client needs (Soni, 2020).

30
Integration Capabilities: These programmes can be integrated with analytics platforms,

Ecommerce, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and other corporate tools and

systems. The integration improves overall corporate productivity and simplifies data flow.

2.5 Evaluation of customer satisfaction to understand how user centric

design can provide competitive advantage to company Balaji Hardware

Regularly conducting surveys or feedback forms is a useful tool for determining the degree of

client satisfaction. Insights can be gained by asking questions regarding the product

satisfaction, customer service interactions, ease of navigation, and user experience.

Net Promoter Score (NPS): Determining the NPS gives you an idea of how probable it is that

customers would tell others about your company. It's a gauge of general contentment and

fidelity (Dhingra,et al. 2020).

User Behaviour Analysis: You can identify areas of pleasure or friction by examining how

users engage with the application. Examples of these interactions include click-through rates,

time spent on pages, and cart abandonment rates.

Customer Support Information: Analysing customer support correspondence and comments

might reveal recurring problems or issues, providing a window into areas that require

improvement.

Not only customer services, the company is entitled to receive competitive advantage by

implementing this e-commerce idea. The benefits are:

Differentiation: A user-centric strategy helps a business stand out in a crowded market. An

application develops a unique character and draws and keeps users when it is built with their

requirements and preferences in mind.

Decreased turnover: Lower turnover rates are a direct result of higher customer satisfaction.

A steady client base is a result of satisfied customers being less inclined to migrate to

competitors.

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Word-of-mouth marketing: Happy consumers spread the word about your brand. Positive

experiences are more likely to be shared by them, which encourages word-of-mouth

recommendations and organic growth (Chiu, and Cho, 2021).

Adaptability and Agility: User-centric design places a strong emphasis on ongoing

development in response to user input. Businesses can remain ahead of their competitors by

swiftly adapting to shifting market needs and all thanks to their agility.

2.6 Evaluation of profitability through digitisation for the company Balaji

Hardware

The ability to purchase whenever and wherever is one of the primary benefits of e-commerce

for customers. Customers no longer need to wait in line to check out, and they no longer find

the trip to the store to be required. Online buyers are not limited to a specific industry. Orders

can be placed at any moment during business hours (Išoraitė & Miniotienė, 2018).

Online discounts and deals are another benefit for customers. Compared to the brick-and-

mortar industry, online businesses use discounts and low prices far more frequently.

Additionally, it is much simpler for the customer to search through several websites, compare

prices, and select the lowest one (Turban et al., 2018). Online shoppers may gain knowledge

about other people's viewpoints and experiences by reading customer evaluations and

recommendations while making decisions (Išoraitė & Miniotienė, 2018).

Ecommerce businesses are able to exhibit a large range of products because shelf space and

shop size are not constraints. Compared to a store, customers can choose from a wider

variety.

On the organisational side, the cost savings is the biggest benefit. Since e-commerce

companies don't need physical stores, they may avoid one of the biggest overhead costs that

merchants incur. For instance, there are reduced expenses for transactions, information

32
processing, and storage. The sales data analysis is easier. Better stock, production, and

distribution management are made possible by this (Khan, 2016).

Enhancing their marketing is another benefit for the organisations. Detailed consumer

profiles can be created using personal data gathered by tracking and analytics systems. With

the use of this data, you may place more targeted adverts, for example, showing the products

that customers have recently looked at in your online store (Niranjanamurthy et al., 2013).

Another benefit is the organisation's global reach. Potential customers may be reached by the

businesses through international, if not cross-national, communication and business.

Additionally, trading can be done automatically around-the-clock without being dependent on

a store's regular opening and closing times (Turban et al., 2018).

Moreover, launching an internet firm requires less funding than a traditional one. Paying for

utilities, rent, purchasing a physical location, hiring staff, and maintaining inventory are not

necessary. Miniotienė & Išoraitė, 2018).

2.7 Uses of relevant technology

Core text and programming language used in this project is identified as Java, Sql. There is a

successful application of MySql database and Jconnector allows improving the content. In

order to run the application it is advised that the user at least gather a 1Gb harddisk and 4GB

RAM.

2.8 A probable project interface

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2.9 Uses cases and their specification

ID and Name Balaji Company

Created by: XYZ Date Created: 23/12/2023

Actor: Secondary Actors: Admin, Managers

34
 Primary Actors: Customer

Description Customers will be having a requirement of paint and

hardware related item and they will browse online store

Trigger Upon completing registration, the customer will be enabled

of using this online services

Preconditions The customer has to put add a product in cart

Post conditions Customers will be enabled of giving feedback after

completion of required service and this can be regarding

their shopping satisfaction and dissatisfaction

Normal Flow The customer is adding, updating cart and processing

payments

Alternative Flows Company is contacting the customers via email and phone

to understand their issues and serve individually

Exceptions Cancelled and prepaid orders will be refunded

Priority Payments security is promoted through this website

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 Frequency of Use Multiple times

Business Rules Company has to reply back to customers that is placing an

inquiry

Other information Company will not share any details of customers to third

parties at any cost

Assumptions It is expected that the system will have constant internet

connectivity and to have database connectivity as well

2.10 Database designs

Primary data sources are organised with queries and employ foreign notation. Database

work is incomplete without the appropriate use of entity diagrams. The customers and

service providers have many to many relations. As a method of managing writing, auto

updating of the content can be processed. Any e-commerce project will be incomplete

without the definitions gathered on whereabouts (MacLean et al. 2019). The respective

domains securely keep up with the flow of online application management that runs within

JVM. Connecting the courses and implementing primary and secondary key values is part

of the student management system.

Content Flow designs are as follows:

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37
38
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2.11 Feasibility analysis

Anything a person believes need not be practical. It is prudent to consider a problem's

viability before taking it on. The research of impact, known as feasibility, is carried out

within an organisation through the creation of a system. There could be a positive or negative

effect. The system is deemed practical when the pros outweigh the negatives. Here are two

methods for conducting the feasibility study: technological feasibility and economic

feasibility.

40
Technological Viability:

We can confidently state that it is technically possible because obtaining the resources needed

for both system development and maintenance will not be too problematic. We are making

use of the resources that are already accessible in this organisation, which has all the

resources required for the creation and maintenance of the programme.

Financial Viability

This application's development is quite cheaply possible. The company didn't have to invest a

lot of money to establish the current system. The only thing left to accomplish is create a

development-friendly atmosphere under efficient monitoring (Behl et al. 2020). By doing

this, we can make the associated resources as useful as possible. The organisation won't be in

a position to continue investing in itself even after the development. As a result, the system is

financially viable.

2.12 Future Scope

These Value-added services (VAS) are features we recommend to use with your core product

to enhance the user experience and productivity.

Mobile Application

Why Does Your E-Commerce Need a Mobile App?

Mobile Apps are in Trend. The primary reason why e-commerce needs a mobile app is that

applications are simply booming. You will be surprised to know that significant traffic comes

through mobile phone users. Almost 70% of sales of e-commerce businesses are attributed to

mobile apps. The e-commerce world is being dominated by mobile app sales. Customers

Prefer Mobile Apps

41
There might be some sales generated from mobile devices without an app. But the question

is, for how long? More than 80% of the consumers prefer mobile apps rather than a website.

Stand Out Amongst Competitors

It is said that the early bird catches the worm. The same applies to e-commerce businesses.

Customers prefer shopping from a mobile app more than typing the website URL in the

mobile browser (Sharma et al. 2019)

Gain Higher Conversion Rates

When we compare a mobile browser's and an app's conversion rates, then the clear winner is

an app. People browse more than 200% of products and add to the cart from a shopping app

in comparison to a website.

42
Chapter 3: Methodology

3.1 Methods Outline

Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are used in research procedures; qualitative

data are non-numerical, unquantified data that may be the result of a research approach. It is

that approach that uses observations, interviews, and other methods to provide subjective

results. Conversely, quantitative approaches concentrate on quantifying data and tracking

empirical factors (Rahi, 2017). In order to investigate significance and variances, this

approach requires a bigger sample size and applies statistical procedures. With the aid of

quantitative research, scientists can identify issues that require further investigation and can

formulate hypotheses. On the other hand, qualitative data analysis and collection is done on a

limited sample. The samples are usually non-randomised and people participate in a limited

number.

43
3.2 Research type

The research structure can be of different types. It can be a case study evaluation or an

experiment or action research. In this case, a case study based analysis of Balaji Hardware is

done. Their profit and loss ratio before and after implementation of e-commerce will be

analysed.

3.3 Research Paradigm

The definition of research philosophy is defined as knowledge growth that integrates

concepts and techniques via an organisation of facts. There are three varieties of it: positivist

philosophy, pragmatism, and interpretivism (Ranney 2015). When researchers employ

statistical techniques to examine hypotheses and are connected to reality, they apply the

44
positivist ideology. According to Creswell (2013), positivism is a philosophical approach that

utilises scientific methods and systems to examine society and establish correlations between

various factors. The interpretivism school of thought emphasises the recognition of

phenomena and processes. The philosophy of pragmatism is the one that develops research

methods and strives to resolve problems.

3.3.1 Justification

The chosen methodology in this writing is pragmatism. Pragmatism balances well with

statistical analysis. Positivism is a physical approach that withholds the values and data

utilised by the customers and deals well in statistics.

3.4 Research Approach

The approach of research is something that comprises a collection of presumptions, attitudes,

and beliefs that direct researchers to organise a good research statement. There are two sorts

of research methodologies: inductive and deductive. Deductive procedures are intended to

evaluate hypotheses and aid in the formation of theories (Scotland, Maher and et al., 2018).

This research approach follows positivism. This method has involved developing theories

based on hypotheses, with the hopes that the results will help to either confirm or refute the

theories. It works well when a lot of samples collected using quantitative techniques are

available. Conversely, inductive procedures involve gathering data as a result of data analysis

45
findings (Ranney and et al. 2015). The inductive strategy generalises facts from specific

conclusions while deductive style specifies a conclusion from a generalised point. The

interpretivism philosophy is considered to be most applicable in this inductive strategy of

work.

3.4.1 Justification

This applicable strategy in the study is inductive since the study deals with real time data.

The study is problem driven, and aims to understand and improve data e-commerce growth in

the industry. The comprehensive examination of data Inductive study gives an overall idea of

generalising concepts. Hence, the strategy is expected to work in favour of the report.

3.5 Research Design

The technique that helps researchers construct study elements in order to draw research

conclusions is known as research design. There are three different kinds of research designs:

exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory. An exploratory research design uses qualitative

research to identify phenomena by posing questions and looking for fresh perspectives

(Maher and et al., 2018). A descriptive design is one that provides an explanation for events

46
that are examined from several angles. Explanatory research designs are used in quantitative

methodologies to aid in the development of cause-and-effect relationships.

3.5.1 Justification

The chosen technique is a descriptive design. Since the project uses real time data it needs an

overall information of the frameworks that are applicable to the situation.

3.6 Data Collection

The process of gathering information and data that are necessary for the study is known as

data collection. Primary data are first-hand information gathered from many sources such as

surveys, observations, interviews, and so on. Secondary sources are also used in this data

collection process. This real-time data is complex, expensive, and necessitates a longer time

horizon (Easterby-Smith & et al., 2018). However, data that has already been published and

obtained from many sources such as books, websites, papers, is referred to as secondary data.

Data which is directly coming from the people or statistics in the format of interview or

survey is called primary data. Data analysis is the method to put facts and figures in order to

solve the problems of research. It is important in finding research answers and also

interpreting data. In this case the primary quantitative data will be utilised. The data

collection will follow a survey method to collect quantitative data. Moreover, a literature

47
review will be presented to organise the secondary set of data which will empower qualitative

data.

A mixed method approach is something that helps with strengthening qualitative and

quantitative research methods. The uses of pragmatic philosophy and perspectives are part of

gathering in-sights and exploring the participants' experiences and perspectives.

3.7 Sampling

Probability and non-probability sampling are two types of sampling wherein probability

sampling is a technique in which researchers make use of tools that are linked with

probability theory so as to select samples from a larger population (Flick, 2019). This

sampling makes use of statistical theory in order to select small sample sizes at random

through larger population groups. Non-probability sampling is the method in which samples

are selected as per the judgement of the researcher. This probability sampling is utilised in

qualitative and exploratory research which is executed by observation. Here, the sampling

will be non-randomised, since the survey is based on people who belong to the work group of

the chosen company.

3.8 Timeline

48
The project is expected to be started from January 2024 and get completed by the end of June

2024. The project starts with a design process. In the design process, basics of the project will

be accumulated such as requirement specification and team building. On the other hand, the

budget will be discussed with designing a simple layout of what is going to happen in the

project (Burbules, 2018).

The next stage is implementation where writing codes will be done and designing the

interface. The GUI interface is implemented via understanding of the project. Every label and

textbox are designed along with the interface (Bertoni, Bertoni & Isaksson, 2018).

The next stage is database design and connection. It is important to connect the database and

resurface each writing. The database aligns with the necessity of using a connection string.

The connection string initiated complete functioning of code.

Next comes the use of testing features. Code is tested via the black box testing and it will be

finalised. The errors will be identified and mitigated. Lastly, the documentation will take

place.

3.9 Populations of the study

In this case there will be random samples undertaken. These samples will be male, female

and irrespective of their age the questions will be asked. A total of 41 samples undertaken

who shop from the company. Their opinions will be gathered in excel sheets (Nkwo, and

Orji, 2019). These opinions will be answers to a set of 10 questionnaires in close ended

format. Every sample was professional and working for the chosen company. Their non-

randomised opinion mattered.

3.10 Ethical considerations

49
This study placed a strong emphasis on ethics by providing individuals with consent forms

before participating. All the data associated with this research were efficiently stored to

ensure data security and prevent unauthorised access. To keep the confidentiality of research,

ever collected data was stored in a password protected file. To preserve the integrity of

research no data was tempered nor were the samples forced to answer in a certain way. The

respondents' information was securely kept and their names were anonymously written. Peer-

reviewed publications were the only authentic sources of data used in this study, which

exclusively collected data from reliable academic sources. This supported the secondary data.

Because every work was carefully examined to ensure that the greatest amount of the work

was submitted as original, there were relatively few instances of plagiarism in this study (Li,

and Sun, 2020).

All participants will be prior informed regarding the study so that they will know what they

are going to be attending. Participants' involvement is always tried to be kept confidential.

All of the participants were asked to put their feedback in close ended manners. While doing

this their integrity was maintained. The confidentiality was also protected by naming each set

of answers with a pseudonym.

50
Chapter 4: Data Analysis
The people who were chosen for data analysis had participated in the survey. The survey

questions were relevant to the data analysis. The first questionnaire is:

1. Gender :

Male Female

30 11

This gender analysis shows the amount of people that participated in the research. There were

30 male whereas 11 females participated in the program of data collection. The samples were

people who have worked for Balaji companies. They have faced challenges regarding payroll,

inventory management manually. They support the fact that e-commerce can help with

business development.

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 2. Age Group:

20-24 25-29 30-35 36-40 Above 40

10 10 11 10 0

As the chart suggests there are people participating from different age groups. The primary

age group is 20 to 24 years and the number of people was 10. Similarly, there were 10 people

who participated in the process belonging to the age group 25-29. Moreover, 11 people were

from the 30-35 age group. There were an approximate of 10 people belonging to the 36-40

age group while no one above 40 years participated in the process.

3. Have you heard of e-

commerce website uses

Yes

52
 No

40 1

This chart shows that there were 40 people who agreed that using e-commerce websites in the

hardware tool selling industry is beneficial while there were 1 person who completely denied

these factors.

4. Do you think implementing e-commerce in the current setting will benefit the company?

Yes

No

35 6

53
Out of 41 participants there were 35 people who were in support of implementing an e-

commerce setting in the current work setting while 6 people were not in support of

implementing a system. All these people were suffering from different issues as the company

did nothing to manage the workforce.

5. Through which sources you have got to know about the e-commerce website?

Column1 Column2

Guidance from 9

friends

Through 11

external sources

Through 10

YouTube

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 Through 10

Colleague

In this work, the guidance from friends, through external sources, through youtube have been

given as options for people to choose from. People have come to know about the process

through colleagues as well. The respective values of people knowing about the procedure

have been identified as 9, 11, 10 and 10.

6. What do you think administration and employees would accept this changes heartily to

they would resist?

Accept Not

Accept

35 6

55
Out of the total population there were 35 people who were in favour of accepting the newly

launched e-commerce application while there were 6 people who thought that employees

might resist the process.

7. Do you think that Balaji Hardware will be able to improve the profitability after installing

the e-commerce?

Yes No

35 6

56
The e-commerce website users are expected to improve the profitability by 20%. 35 out of 41

people have confirmed the facts that e-commerce can improve the current situation while 6

people denied the facts.

8. Rate the experience of using other e-commerce websites?

Satisfied Non

satisfied

Extremely

satisfied

35 5 1

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The project focuses on satisfaction received by people upon using the e-commerce website.

These can be managed by rating the experience level of people. It starts with 35 people rating

it as extremely satisfied while 5 of them are rated to be satisfied with the usage of the

ecommerce website and only of the person denied this.

9. Do you think being responsive with e-commerce applications can enhance the flow of

work?

Agree Disagree

30 11

58
30 people have so far agreed to the facts that they were responsive and had a flow of work. 11

people commented that they thought brick and mortar stores are better and any channels of

work are irreplaceable.

10. Do you think additional training is required for implementing and using the process?

Yes NO

37 4

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There are 37 people who have agreed to the facts that additional training is required for the

process. 4 people have not confirmed the fact that there will be any additional training

needed.

11. Do you think ecommerce will create more job opportunities?

Agree Disagree

30 11

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The assessment implied that 30 people who have agreed to the facts that e-commerce will be

used for creating more job opportunities. 11 people disagreed that there will be fewer job

opportunities.

12. Do you believe it will destroy the brick and mortar store completely?

Might be Might not

26 15

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The above discussion shows that 26 people have agreed that the jobs might be gone. Some of

them evaluated the facts that there might not be any harm to the job.

Discussions

Selling products online is an e-commerce site's main objective. Creating an online product

sale website is the focus of this project. It gives the user access to a catalogue of the various

products that are offered for sale in the store. The user is given a shopping cart to make

online purchases easier. The primary elements of an eCommerce website, including the goods

and services provided, any ongoing sales or promotions, and any special features or

advantages the website provides, are usually summed up in the guidance manual (Santoso et

al. 2019). The ways of starting ecommerce business can be detailed in five steps such as:

● Find product opportunities and choose what to sell.

● Thoroughly research competition and write a business plan.

● Choose a logo and name and set up an online store.

● Choosing the shipping strategy and setting sales and marketing goals.

● Launching the business

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From the above results an overpowering discussion on e-commerce business development

and its strategy to improve sales and marketing goals have been organised.

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Chapter 5: Conclusion
5.1 Findings

It has been found out from the research that the company will be enabled of:

(a) Lower Labour expenses: Better manufacturing techniques result in fewer fever shortages

and disruptions, less rework, and overtime that permits a 10% decrease in both direct and

indirect labour expenses. Less time is required for expediting, material handling, additional

setups, disruptions, and tracking numerous odd works that have been placed aside by

reducing rush jobs and parts shortages. Production managers can modify capacity or loads to

adhere to timelines and have greater visibility into the necessary tasks.More time is available

to supervisors for personnel management, guidance, and training.

(b) Lower Material Expenses:

Better vendor pricing discussions result in cost reductions of at least 5% when procurement

procedures are improved. When plans are followed correctly, purchasing personnel may

concentrate on improving quality and negotiating with vendors instead of wasting time on

shortages and obtaining materials at exorbitant costs. Ecommerce systems offer data for

negotiations, including statistics on vendor performance and anticipated material

requirements by commodity group. Improving suppliers' understanding of future

requirements enables them to attain efficiencies that can be transferred to customers in the

form of cheaper material costs.

(c) Enhances Customer Service and Sales: Sales representatives can concentrate on closing

deals rather than checking on deliveries or offering an apology. Configurations and costs can

be swiftly determined in a custom product environment, frequently by sales representatives or

even the client instead of technical staff. When combined, these customer service

enhancements can result in fewer lost transactions as well as a real revenue boost of at least

64
10%. Early corrective measures include setting shipment priorities, informing clients of

changes to promised delivery dates, and adjusting production schedules to meet demand.

(d) Effective Financial Management: By streamlining collection processes, it is possible to

shorten the duration of past-due accounts, which frees up more cash (Wilson et al. 2019). The

number of problematic accounts is further decreased by better handling customer inquiries

and credit verification at the time of order submission. The days of outstanding receivables

are usually reduced by 18% or more with improved credit management and receivables

policies. Taking advantage of supplier discounts and cash planning, as well as paying just

those bills with matching recipients, are other ways to optimise trade credit. This may result

in less cash being needed on hand.

More discussions can be presented on the usability and performance, integrity of the

company after implementing e-commerce.

Usability

It is observed that the usability of attributes are enhanced with holding a specified position in

quality component design of a system. The system is accessible from different types of

devices starting from mobiles to laptops and desktops. As commented by Bertoni, Bertoni &

Isaksson (2018), this usability enhances with time and at a time this software is capable of

handling at least 15000 logged in users and that too without standing in a queue. There are

usability observed in terms of non-technical people as well. All customers are not tech savvy.

This application will provide a help option where consumers can ask for help. They will also

get a navigation option. It is possible to get information on all available products on screen.

Performance

Online systems are largely being accessed by people from different regions. Physical contact

is avoided between persons while this system is in use. This system helps in management of

records easily and holding them at top most priority. The system security is observed as

65
internal and external databases are in use. According to Almaiah, Alamri & Al-Rahmi (2019),

all external databases have been identified as a medium of holding records of customers. All

personal details and card details are kept in external databases and this database is highly

efficient and demilitarised. Any hacker would require bypassing two factor authorization to

get entry inside this system.

Integrity

This is the preliminary findings of the Balaji Hardware. The deployment of cloud-based

Ecommerce solutions is expected to greatly increase business agility. The technology

enhanced the speed and accuracy of data access, allowing for instantaneous decisions and

better cross-departmental coordination. Because of this enhanced responsiveness to market

shifts, consumer needs, and commercial prospects, Balaji Hardware has thrived.

The cloud-based Ecommerce solutions offered Balaji Hardware a competitive advantage. The

system's superior features and scalability helped the company save costs, improve efficiency,

and provide better service to customers. Customers were more satisfied and loyal as a

consequence, putting Balaji Hardware ahead of rivals in the market.

The Good Things About Cloud-Based Servers: Balaji Hardwares saw even more benefits

after migrating to a cloud-based Ecommerce solution. With the cloud, it was simple to adjust

to new requirements as the company grew. Cloud-based enterprise resource planning tools

also helped businesses become more competitive since they were more cost-effective than

their on- premises counterparts.

The research found that although cloud-based Ecommerce systems offered many advantages,

there were also certain drawbacks to be aware of. Because of the importance placed on

protecting sensitive information, Balaji Hardwares took great care in selecting a trustworthy

cloud provider and putting in place stringent security protocols. The need of guaranteeing

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data portability and thorough system integration was emphasised, as was the need to avoid

vendor lock-in and the difficulty of integration. Overcoming staff opposition and ensuring

acceptance required proper training and change administration tactics.

The study showed that it's crucial to think about ethical issues while using cloud-based

Ecommerce solutions. Data privacy, confidentiality for employees, and environmental

sustainability have to be Balaji Hardware’s top three priorities. Compliance with applicable

rules and appropriate data handling practices required full disclosure and responsibility from

the internet service provider.

5.2 Recommendations

While implementing the project experts had to keep the factors in mind that there will be

external interface requirements. The user interfaces required to be friendly and quite

interactive. There is an application of Standard Times New Roman with a font size of 14 seen

for giving the headings while rest of the labels were written in the size 12. Different types of

buttons and icons are used as well to adjust the tables. Inside the database different tables

have been created with table names. The primary keys are applied to the table so that they are

organised. All copyright policies are managed and ISO standards are maintained. The

application is designed in such a way that the standard screen sizes of laptops (Moran &

Carroll, 2020). A complete resolution of 2048*1536 is applied along with a flat infrastructure

to organise the product. For safety purposes a separate database is maintained. It is observed

that there are input restricted columns as registration id and order id will be auto generated

and users will not be giving inputs in this field (Khouja et al. 2018). Data types will be

properly used. For example, all ID will be stored in INT format along with texts being stored

in Varchar format. There will be proper storage observed of the amount in decimal format.

This application will load the basic HTML version in case of slow connection. Such

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applications are capable of providing services in nearby locations. This on-line application is

expected to provide complete customer support over the phone. This is going to give a real-

time shopping experience of browsing and selecting elements from online catalogues.

Hardware and paint business is also moving towards digitization at a fast pace in this era even

after 30 years. It is expected that customers will have information on specific products and

services the way they used to get in stores.

5.3 Conclusion

For the benefit of the organisation, this paper implements a thorough research and

comprehension of information systems and online hardware purchase platforms. Different

kinds of questions may arise from customers' end. It is anticipated that service personnel will

resolve this. The organisation offers assignments that are fully safeguarded and demand a

thorough study of the subject matter. Additionally, the study has highlighted information on

application and system security. The timely provision of services is the primary means of

managing domain security. Overall, the report ensures that teamwork and case

implementation form the foundation of the entire project.

● Benefits that will be gained by the company

● The necessity of e-commerce planning

Globalisation and shorter product life cycles are the two main difficulties that organisations

confront nowadays (Sanyala, and Hisamb, 2019). Unprecedented levels of competition are

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the result of globalisation. Successful companies should adhere to the industry's best business

practices in order to compete in such markets. Reduced life cycles necessitate constant design

enhancements, flexible production, incredibly effective logistics control, and improved

supply chain management. All of these require quicker access to reliable information, both

from within the company and throughout the external supply chain. Organisational units

including human resource development, marketing, finance, and production must function at

a very high degree of integration without sacrificing flexibility. These needs are perfectly met

by an e-commerce system that offers an organisation-wide perspective of business processes,

adaptability, and business information needs. One of the advancements in communication

and computing channels is the ability to integrate them correctly.

● Ecommerce's advantages

(a) Business Integration: The automatic data updating between connected business

components is what gives ecommerce’s products their integrated name. When a transaction

takes place in an ecommerce’s package, the associated business functions' data is also

automatically updated. Because of this, managers in a variety of positions and titles are able

to understand business details in a flexible manner.

(b) Flexibility: Different multifunctional contexts, including those involving language,

money, accounting standards, and so forth, are covered by a single system, and features that

manage numerous corporate branches' locations thoroughly can be implemented

automatically. This flexibility is crucial for development and maintenance as well as

administration in order to handle system unification and corporate globalisation.

(c) Enhanced Planning and Analysis Skills:

It is feasible to fully utilise a variety of decision support and stimulation systems by

providing the comprehensive and unified management of related business and its data.

Decision makers may now access information at any time and with flexibility, allowing them

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to make more informed and better judgements. This is made possible by the ability to sense

and analyse data in real time from several dimensions.

(d) Utilising the newest IT technology.

The ecommerce’s vendors quickly realised that they needed to incorporate the most recent

advancements in information technology if they wanted to expand and maintain that growth.

In order to benefit from the newest technologies, such as open systems, client-server

technology, internet/intranet, computer-aided acquisition and logistics assistance, electronic

commerce, etc., they swiftly embraced their systems. The ability to quickly adjust to the most

recent developments in information technology enables flexible adaptability to shifts in the

business environment of the future. The latest technology can be incorporated during the

system customisation, maintenance, and extension phases thanks to this flexibility.

(e) Lower Inventory and Inventory Carrying Costs: ecommerce’s systems give clients access

to cost, revenue, and margin data, enabling them to more effectively manage their overall

material cost structure and reduce inventory by at least 20%. Not only does this save the cost

of the material supplied once, but it also saves money over time on carrying costs,

warehousing, handling, obsolescence, insurance, taxes, damage, and shrinkage. Overall, the

usefulness of implementing e-commerce website have been successfully discussed.

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