20 min read
Online Business
Types of e-commerce, how online payments work, keeping a business and its customers safe, and the pros and cons of trading online.
E-commerce
| Types of e-commerce | ||
|---|---|---|
Online Payments
Common ways to pay online include debit and credit cards (through a payment gateway that securely passes card details to the bank), mobile wallets and QR code payments (such as LankaQR in Sri Lanka), bank transfers, and cash on delivery.
A website must never store card numbers itself unless it meets strict security standards. Small businesses use a payment gateway so card details go straight to the payment company.
Trust and Security
Customers only buy from sites they trust. A business should:
- use HTTPS on every page,
- show a physical address, phone number and clear refund policy,
- keep software up to date and use strong passwords with 2FA,
- collect only the personal data it needs, and protect it.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Trading online
| For the business | For the customer |
|---|---|
| + Open 24 hours to customers anywhere | + Shop any time without travelling |
| + Lower cost than extra shops | + Compare prices and reviews easily |
| − Delivery, returns and website costs | − Cannot touch or taste before buying |
| − Online fraud and cyber attacks | − Risk of fake shops and data theft |
Practice
Choose all that apply.
More lessons in Internet Technologies · Next: Using Online Sources Responsibly · Previous: E-learning and the Mobile Internet