A few months ago, you advertised your services online as an E-commerce consultant for local businesses in your area. You offered to develop an E-commerce strategy that would help businesses survive the impact of COVID-19, sustain their market share, and gain a competitive advantage. Recently you were approached by one organisation that responded to your advertisement. You may choose any business you like for this purpose. If you choose a business that already has a well-developed, national or international E-commerce strategy, you must demonstrate how one of its local branches or particular aspect of its business operations would benefit from some enhancements or redevelopment of its E-commerce strategy. You may like to select a particular branch of a restaurant chain such as Nandos. If you choose a branch of Nandos or any other international chain, make sure that the E-commerce strategy you develop will be appropriate for the local franchisee. It must comply with the conditions of the franchiser, whilst also meeting specific local needs. Alternatively, you could choose an SME in your area, as long as it requires an E-commerce strategy that would help it to remain viable.

The aim of the written report is to provide the selected business with an overview and critical analysis of all the information that is relevant to help them understand the value and the requirements of establishing an appropriate E-commerce strategy for businesses like theirs, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You should provide a short summary of the current background and strategic position of the selected organisation and explain how an E-commerce strategy will help the organisation provide its customers with better quality products and/or services, or better overall value for money. You should examine examples of E-commerce strategies that have been employed by businesses and point out the practical steps that have to be taken including security considerations in utilizing a range of digital technology (hardware and software) required for implementing an appropriate E-commerce strategy. You should also demonstrate how an E-commerce strategy will enable the organisation to reposition itself by penetrating new markets or providing new products and services to existing markets.