CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
An online supermarket shopping system is a web based application that enables people to buy products from a supermarket online. Online shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Consumers find a product of interest by visiting the website of the retailer directly or by searching among alternative vendors using a shopping search engine, which displays the same product’s availability and pricing at different e-retailers. As of 2016, customers can shop online using a range of different computers and devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablet computers and smart phones. An online shop evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a regular “bricks-and-mortar” retailer or shopping center; the process is called business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping. When an online store is set up to enable businesses to buy from another businesses, the process is called business-to-business (B2B) online shopping. A typical online store enables the customer to browse the firm’s range of products and services, view photos or images of the products, along with information about the product specifications, features and prices (Davis, 1989).
1.1 Background of the Study
An online store is a virtual store on the Internet where customers can browse the catalog and select products of interest. The selected items may be collected in a shopping cart. At checkout time, the items in the shopping cart will be presented as an order. At that time, more information will be needed to complete the transaction. Usually, the customer will be asked to fill or select a billing address, a shipping address, a shipping option, and payment information such as credit card number. An e- mail notification is sent to the customer as soon as the order is placed. Online stores are systems that typically enable shoppers to use “search” features to find specific models, brands or items. Online customers must have access to the Internet and a valid method of payment in order to complete a transaction, such as a credit card, an Interac-enabled debit card, or a service such as PayPal. For physical products (e.g., paperback books or clothes), the e-tailer ships the products to the customer; for digital products, such as digital audio files of songs or software, the e-tailer typically sends the file to the customer over the Internet (Monsuwe, Dellaert and Ruyter, 2004). To increase patronage and boost the income of supermarkets, an online shopping web site is needed to enable buyers order a product from the convenience of their homes, offices, etc. This reduces stress on the side of the shoppers to physically be present at the shop and also boost the revenue of the supermarket.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Most supermarkets in Ikot Ekpene including NTEPS do not have an online shopping system, They are restricted to selling within their physical environment. The following problems were identified:
- NTEPS supermarket does not have an online supermarket shopping system.
- Customers need to physically be present at the supermarket before they shop for a product.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to develop an online supermarket shopping system. The specific objectives are: - To design an online sales management system for supermarket that can be use to upload products for sale online.
- To provide a function that enables customer to place order.
- To create a system that will enable the administrator view records of shopping orders by customers.
