The first and foremost requirement is catalog or content management. Content management software helps E-commerce companies develop, generate, deliver and update. It also archives text data and, multimedia information at E-commerce websites.
Catalog content management involves developing, updating and maintaining online purchasing catalogs for the e-procurement processes.
This online catalog may be filled with purchased or outsourced items/services from the company’s internal inventory system or information from third-party organizations.
E-commerce content frequently takes the form of multimedia catalogs of product information. So, generating and managing catalog content is a major subset of content management.
Content management is a complex and costly process. Content management merges multiple catalogs and catalog management provides the platform for catalogs.
Finally, content and catalog management may be expanded to include product configuration processes that support Web-based customer self-service and the mass customization of the company’s products.
The electronic catalogs can be developed in different formats, such as XML, spreadsheet and automatically uploaded to the website.
Configuration software helps online customer select the optimum feasible set of product features that can be included in a finished product.
For example, Dell Computer uses configuration software to sell build-to-order computer and network processor to their online customers.
Content and Catalog Management in E-commerce
