This article outlines some of the modules which make an ecommerce web site and their function to the users when they shop online:

The Shopping Cart: the name is derived from the traditional shopping cart and is THE most important part in an ecommerce web site. Shopping carts can be simple where they allow a user to select a product and proceed to check out, or they can be detailed by allowing users to save their cart for later and even manage discounts and promotional offer calculation.

One of the best shopping cart systems can be found at Amazon.com. Amazon.com has also a quick shopping cart option which allows users to shop and leave the site within three to four clicks. You can get a custom shopping cart developed or can also customize an existing shopping cart software to suit your requirement. A shopping cart on an ecommerce web site should be robust and should ensure easy check out process for the users.

Content Management System: This may also be referred to as the product database management system or a system which ensures that there are frequent updates of the products on the web site so that users can get updated content.

The content management system can have various sub modules such as product database management, info page management module as well as FAQs management. Like the shopping cart, a content management system can vary in complexity.

Customer Relationship Management module: A customer relationship management module carries many features. You can pick and choose the features which you would like to have. A customer relationship management module not only enhances the customer experience on an ecommerce web site, it also provides a system which can be used to increase the overall sales of the web site.

Some of the sub-modules of a customer relationship management module are user management, order updates, feedback management, help desk management and newsletter management. A good customer management module can also provide some excellent reports and information which can help you make decisions about future activities on the web site.

Third party integrations: One of the most important integrations which are done with a third party is the payment gateway. Most ecommerce web sites integrate their payment gateway with a credit card gateway and this requires a bit of programming at the web site designers end. Another third party integration which is done is integration with a logistics provider ( such as UPS or USPS).

These two are the most important third party integrations which happen on an ecommerce web site. Depending on the nature of the web site, there can be third party integration such as insurance provider, credit checking agency, address checking agency etc. third party integrations are expensive to do, so it is best that you make sure that there is a requirement before proceeding with it.

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