Essay Sample on Online Product Catalog: Key for eCommerce Success

Introduction

An online catalog is referred to as a platform that displays the details of a product and services that a corporation offers primarily in eCommerce or online. It is an essential basis for eCommerce retailers. It helps eCommerce businesses to create attention among online customers by providing rich information (Johnson, Rowley, Craven, & Butters, 2010). Besides, the online product catalog is vital in the transformation of potential clients into devoted shoppers. A substantial amount of what used to happen in physical stores, currently take place online. There are various types of online catalog design alternatives for companies to choose from, depending on the nature of the product or service offered (Johnson et al., 2010). The main aim of this paper is to discuss the benefits of an online product catalog.

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One benefit of an online product catalog is that it provides more accurate product information. The most prevalent difference between print and digital is the fact that print is restricted to pictures and texts. Online catalogs also utilize the same but integrate various elements that cannot be supported in print (Vijayasarathy & Jones, 2000). This includes videos that display the installation or use of a particular product, including galleries of pictures occupying different angles, interactive tools, and tags of detailed product information that aid the purchase process. These components are all essential for a useful online catalog (Vijayasarathy & Jones, 2000).

Another benefit of the online product catalog is improved shareability. Recommendations are essential in creating a new business, whether they come from the employee in charge of the sales or the customer. Online product catalogs are not restricted from being mailed physically or viewed in person, which makes it more accessible to new customers through the prevailing customers (Park & Kim, 2003). Besides, online product catalogs make it easier and more effective in finding specific products and, in comparison, of related competitive products. Online catalogs also facilitate easy updates. Unlike the physical catalog, where changes are difficult to make when printing, online catalogs are flexible to any changes that may occur. This is quickly done online by updating a database entry. The current information about the product then automatically displays to the concerned clients (Park & Kim, 2003).

The last but not least benefit of an online product catalog is that it is accessible anywhere and anytime. This attracts and retains customers easily since their needs are addressed faster and conveniently without limitation of time or place (Park & Kim, 2003). If the clients cannot access what they require because they cannot reach someone, or the business is not operational at some time, then there is an opportunity of losing that customer. Having an online catalog in place facilitates the provision of a brilliant buying experience by making it easier to discover and browse (Park & Kim, 2003).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the online product catalog is a platform meant for displaying the details of a product or service that a company offers online. There are various benefits of the online product catalog, which include providing more accurate information about different products and improving shareability through the recommendations either from the employee or from the customer. Others include giving current updates about various products through updating the database online and the ability to access the product online without limitations of time and place. Corporations should consider using an online product catalog for displaying product details online. This can help in creating new businesses and attracting more clients.

References

Johnson, F., Rowley, J., Craven, J., & Butters, G. (2010, January). The usability and functionality of an online catalog. In Aslib Proceedings. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/00012531011015217/full/html

Park, C. H., & Kim, Y. G. (2003). Identifying key factors affecting consumer purchase behavior in an online shopping context. International journal of retail & distribution management. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/09590550310457818/full/html?journalCode=ijrdm

Vijayasarathy, L. R., & Jones, J. M. (2000). Print and Internet catalog shopping: assessing attitudes and intentions. Internet Research. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/10662240010331948/full/html