Egrove systems >> Egrove System Articles >> August : 2010 :
Archive for August, 2010
PrestaShop Authorize.net
There are many PrestaShop modules available in the market for getting credit card payment.
eGrove Systems offers a module, PrestaShop Authorize.Net which allows you to accept credit card payments through Authorize.net. eGrove Systems is a leading global IT solutions provider offering a complete range of uncompromising quality and value added IT products and services with focus on specific vertical segments. We have experienced PrestaShop developers and worked on more PrestaShop websites, customizations and modules.
We have tested the PrestaShop Authorize.Net module for a moderate range of cases in Sandbox mode and Live Sites. You can install the module and set up Authorize.Net API on through Admin Section for using the credit card payment method.
- * The PrestaShop Authorize.Net module is easy to integrate with PrestaShop software.
- * It is compatible with Prestashop eCommerce Version 1.2 – 1.3.
- * And it is compatible with Authorize.Net API Version 3.1.
- * It supports shipping with Merchant Calculated Shipping Rates and Carrier Calculation Shipping.
- * Also it supports Taxes for the purchases done on the software.
- * The Users and Orders info will be updated on PrestaShop Software.
- * It process orders using the PrestaShop Admin UI.
The payment module requires Authorize.Net Login ID and Transaction ID to set up the payment using PrestaShop Authorize.Net module. Also the cURL is required and MUST be compiled into the PHP.
Check more about PrestaShop Authorize.Net Module Here
Other PrestaShop Payment GateWay Modules:
* PrestaShop Rating and Review Addon
* PrestaShop PayPal Pro Addon
* PrestaShop PayPal Websites payment Pro Hosted Module
* PrestaShop eWay Module (AUS and NZ)
* PrestaShop Realex Module
* PrestaShop Payflow Pro Addon
* PrestaShop First Data Addon
* PrestaShop GSpay Addon
Click here to Know More About eGrove PrestaShop Development Services and PrestaShop Customizations
The Power of internal Link building
Introduction:
Link building help you to reinforce your site and build it easier for the search engine spiders to index your pages by boosting the power of your internal linking.
Link building is not all about building backlinks. If you are new to Link building, this article would help you to learn more about.
Let us see different terms used in Link Building
Link:
A link or hyperlink is a text that, when clicked upon, takes you from one web page to another page.
Inbound links and Out-bound links:
Internal links or inbound links are links from other websites linking back to your site. You can get these links through directory submissions and link exchanges.
Outbound or External links are links from your website to other websites.
Wherever possible, ensure the back links to your site that are relevant to the topic with relevant keyword as anchor text for a contextual link.
Reciprocal Links:
Reciprocal links are basically a link exchange between two websites. It can improve the search engine results but can result in penalization and link deflation by search engines as people have maliciously implemented link exchanges, purely to manipulate their listings. Usually it involves irrelevant sites in bad IP neighborhoods.
Link Compliancy:
All our links need to be compliance with search engine standards. This means
• There should be no malicious hidden links,
• There should be no keyword stuffing or
• There should be no automatic pop-ups which could hinder a user’s experience on your website and
• It should not be seen as Black hat SEO.
Google has been founded on advertising revenue so of course there is no issues with linking on an advertising basis providing that link is marked as a ‘no follow’, however once links are being exchanged for money to manipulate search engine rankings, then compliancy is being breached and penalties can be incurred.
Link Spamming:
Link spamming is the practice of setting up domains purely to embed as many links as possible. This will result in being penalized or even banned by Google for using black hat SEO techniques. Some less reputable SEO companies will employ techniques like this without the client’s knowledge or consent, which can be disastrous for Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
Three-way link exchange:
A three-way link exchange refers to a type of reciprocal link exchange amid three domains instead of two. A reciprocal link exchange that is so accepted today among webmasters is mostly a two-way linking. Three-way link exchange is useful if your site doesn’t want to provide more outbound links in your link/resource page
By implementing this 3 ways link exchange you can get the following good results in your websites
- Can get higher page rank
- Can receive more traffic to your website
- Can get higher website rank in the search engine
Challenges of International Ecommerce and Solution through Open Source
Introduction:
A recent study reports that almost 40% of current Internet companies turn away international orders because they do not have processes or systems in place to fulfill the order or they don’t have idea of solutions for the challenges they are facing.
Even though, Internet makes it possible for a company to sell their products in an international marketplace through online, many companies are not prepared to go global. In this article we will study the general challenges faced by a company in International ECommerce and solution for the same.
Major Challenges of International ECommerce:
Cross border orders & Global Shipping:
Shipping is the key step in the International ECommerce Systems. Smaller products mean air transport is affordable but for larger merchandise the shipment through freight forwarder is feasible. The Ecommerce system should support both kinds of Shipment facilities.
Communication barriers:
Another challenge in international eCommerce is developing websites without communication barrier. It should support international audiences, i.e. customers of each country. The websites should also provide interface for translation of one language into another that addresses the culture of the target region or area.
Import and Export Laws/ Tax System:
Each country, province or county have their own law for Ecommerce trading and tax system. The eCommerce system should provide interface and facility for accommodating such region specific tax system and settings.
Internet Payment Systems & Security:
The International payments are a major concern for the online customers. The eCommerce system should support International Payment System but through a secured channel for payments.
Marketing and Promotion of products:
Many of the eCommerce System lacks the support for Marketing and promotion of products through the system.
Top 5 Challenges of ECommerce Websites:
Don’t waste the customer’s time:
Time is the most important commodity in online shopping. You want your customers to be able to find what they want and buy it as quickly as possible.
Lack of browser compatibility:
While 80% of the market uses Microsoft Internet Explorer, failing to design your eCommerce site to work with other browsers is passing up a huge opportunity
Poor UI design of website:
When a website is not well organized or looks unprofessional, many customers will immediately look elsewhere.
Poor customer service options:
All eCommerce sites should make it easy to get questions about products and purchases answered.
Security concerns of customers:
Many websites fail to recognize how apprehensive some shoppers are to enter their sensitive information into unknown eCommerce sites
Other Challenges:
The other eCommerce challenges are low conversion rates of orders, high shopping cart abandonment rates, low average order sizes, high bounce rates and low return visitor rates.
Challenges addressed through Open Source ECommerce Systems:
With some simple (and some not-so-simple) adjustments, an eCommerce site can improve its profitability significantly using the open source technologies and systems.
The Open Source Ecommerce Software such as Grove Cart (from eGrove Systems Corporation), Prestashop, ZenCart and Magento supports different Shipping Gateways, Multi-lingual support and translation facilities as well as different currency support.
Grove Cart, Magento, ZenCart also supports region based tax settings and different payment gateways such as PayPal, Authorize.net, Google Checkout, etc. The website security is addressed through the provision for transaction through the secured socket layer which most of the eCommerce systems have these facilities. Magento eCommerce systems provide interfaces for email marketing through the ecommerce website itself.
Grove Cart have the feature of one page checkout thus by saves buyer’s time and it also have the different browser compatibility. One of the most important features of Grove Cart is the vast gallery of templates that facilitates rich UI design options for companies.
Conclusion:
We have in place system for International ECommerce solution using Open Source Technologies such as Grove Cart, Prestashop, Magento, ZenCart and Joomla – Virtue Mart Systems. In future, the growth of international eCommerce is likely to be explosive, as there are vast support from Open Source Communities and entities like eGrove Systems Corporation.
Definition of Good Design
We are surrounded by shapes and scapes that stipulate the assimilation of good design and architecture that in turn make up the desired output – based on the need and wants created by the crave of the word called ‘DEMAND’.
So are your software needs too!
A good software design is one that incorporates the latest, but proven technology. It possesses,
* a scalable structure
* facilitates easy integration with other systems, and
*is flexible to allow incorporating changes in requirements.
If the design is suited on par with an older technology, then the system might turn out obsolete within a very short time-frame!
For example, using mainframe technology on balance with other state-of-the-art technologies is not appropriate. Similarly if the design team thinks of employing some new unproven technology, then it could be a great risk that the application after development may become obsolete as soon as the new technology fails.
Businesses are always expanding, and any system deployed should also scale up to the extent that the ‘never compromising’ needs of the customer are incorporated in the application when they arise in the future.
Nowadays, there are too many legacy systems applied to fulfill business needs of different sorts within the customer’s location, as well as the core application that requires integration with the customer’s suppliers, contractors, third parties, and so on.
Ultimately, the application should easily integrate with these myriad of systems.
“Change is the essence of development” and so do requirements keep changing very often. The design you desire should be flexible enough to take care of these changes within the portal of ‘requirements’.
Murugan
eGrove Systems
Experience of eGrove Systems in C2C – ECommerce: A New Trend of Ecommerce
ECommerce – An Introduction:
ECommerce (e-commerce) or electronic commerce is the purchasing, selling, and exchanging of goods and services over internet or computer networks through which transactions or terms of sale are performed electronically.
In this new industrial environment ECommerce became an important factor of modern business development. In this dynamic era ECommerce can be broken into four main categories:
* B2B (Business-to-Business)
* B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
* C2B (Consumer-to-Business)
* C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer)
B2B (Business-to-Business)
B2B is a concept of companies doing business with each other such as manufacturers selling to distributors, agents and wholesalers selling to retailers. The pricing is based on quantity of order and is often negotiable between them.
B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
Businesses that sell their products or services to the general public typically through catalogs utilizing shopping cart software are called B2C.
C2B (Consumer-to-Business)
A consumer can posts his project or requirements of service or product with a set budget online and within hours, companies and vendors review the consumer’s requirements and bid on the project. The consumer can then review the bids and selects the company to fulfill his/her needs.
C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer)
This is the modern ECommerce technique where many sites offering free classifieds, auctions, marketplace and forums where individuals can buy and sell between them.
The C2C website provides platform for buyers and sellers as a Marketplace. Thanks to the different online payment systems like PayPal, Authorize.net etc., where people can send and receive money online with ease.
Amazon, Ebay & Etsy in C2C ECommerce:
Amazon, Ebay and Etsy are some of the Internet companies to introduce the C2C Marketplace Trend in Modern ECommerce. Thanks to their founders as we now have vast ecommerce sector and enjoy the buying and selling advantages of the Worldwide Web.
EGrove in ECommerce Development Services:
It is clear indication of the growing importance of e-commerce in the global economy is the rapidity with which Internet use has grown and spread during the last decade. With this ever rising usage of internet around the world, it has become a driving force behind the increasing preference of e-commerce globally. While the internet may still seem revolutionary in increasing the range of available services, such as digital music downloads and VoIP phone calls, it is also part of our daily routine.
The innovation solutions from eGrove have helped its clients to bring their business and products to its end clients. EGrove is one of the industry leaders in ECommerce Solutions since they have experience in developing ECommerce websites using different Open Source Software. So far, eGrove Systems has developed more than 100 ECommerce Websites that are unique in solutions and features. EGrove Systems has implemented & integrated different payment gateway systems. For example, eGrove implemented solutions for EWay UK payment gateway modules for most of the Open Source ECommerce Software.
EGrove in C2C ECommerce:
EGrove has stepped into the next innovation of C2C ECommerce or modern ECommerce. Using the evolution of different social networking websites, eGrove has now started developing C2C Online Marketplace Solutions to its clients and the websites are being developed similar to Etsy, where the users may act as a Buyer as well as Sellers. The users can post and sell any products to other users through the website. All the website transactions would be done through secured, built-in Payment Gateways.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, e-commerce has really changed the way people, various organizations and other individuals go about doing business. It has also led way for the use of modernism and creativeness in tiresome business process. And with this fashion, software development companies around the world are lining up for providing businesses with the most successful and resourceful, e-commerce business models. Among them, eGrove Systems Corporation is a pioneer in implementing solutions in C2C ECommerce business domain.
Involvement of the Business Analyst in the SDLC
The SDLC is Software Development Life Cycle, meaning the total development life cycle of a system. It describes the step by step processes that take places in the development of system. A Business Analyst is closely involved with the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Steps of SDLC
The SDLC involves in the following steps:
• Feasibility Study – A feasibility study is done prior starting of the project to sure that the system is feasible.
• Project Planning – The project is planned with time-lines, resources and expected output of the process.
• Requirement Analysis – The system requirement is analyzed and documented on this stage.
• User Interface Design – The graphic designing of the system is build as per the requirements.
• Project Development – The project coding is done by the software programmers who are working on the project.
• Integration and Testing – The developed software is integrated and tested by the quality analysts.
• Acceptance and Installation – Here, the developed software is checked if it will be work in live conditions.
• System Maintenance – The software developed is maintained after installing to the live.
The Business Analyst
The Business Analyst is the bridge between the client and the technical team of software developers who are working on the project.
The Business Analyst has discussion with the client of the project, makes a through analysis of the system, defines the requirements, writes documents, explain the project to technical team and coordinate with them through out the project development.
The business analyst will provide different services during the SDLC:
• Assisting with the business case
• Making high-level feasibility studies
• Gathering of the requirements
• Designing and/or reviewing test cases
• Processing change requests
• Tracing the requirements during implementation
• Manage project scope
• Acceptance, installation, and deployment
Factors affecting Testing of Web Applications
Web Applications can have a lot of variables affecting them such as:
- Numerous Application Usage (Entry – Exit) Paths are possible
Due to the design and nature of the web applications it is possible that different users follow different application usage paths.
For example in an online banking application a user may directly go to “Bill Pay” page and other users may check account balances, view previous transactions and then “Pay the Bills”.
Generally a large number of usage paths are possible and all are supposed to work well.
All these Permutations and Combinations need to be tested thoroughly
- People with varying backgrounds & technical skills may use the application
Not all applications are self explanatory to all people. People have varying backgrounds and may find the application hard to use. For instance a Business Intelligence application with “Drill-Down-Reports” may work out for certain users but not for others.
Although this affects the design of the applications, but these factors should be tested in usability testing of the applications
- Intranet versus Internet based Applications
Intranet based applications generally cater to a controlled audience. The developers and architects can make accurate assumptions about the people accessing the apps and the hardware/software/technical specifications of the client machines.
While it may be difficult to make similar assumptions for Internet Based Applications
Also the intranet users can generally access the app from ‘trusted’ sources whereas for internet applications the users may need to be authenticated and the security measures may have to be much more stringent.
Test Cases need to be designed to test the various scenarios and risks involved.
- The end users may use different types of browsers to access the app
Typically for Internet based applications users may have different Browsers when accessing the apps. This aspect also needs to be tested. If we test the app only on IE then we cannot ensure if works well on Netscape or Fire-Fox. Because these browsers may not only render pages differently but also have varying levels of support for client side scripting languages such as java-script.
- Even on similar browsers application may be rendered differently based on the Screen resolution/Hardware/Software Configuration
- Network speeds:
Slow Network speeds may cause the various components of a Webpage to be downloaded with a time lag. This may cause errors to be thrown up.
The testing process needs to consider this as important factor specially for Internet based Applications
- ADA ( Americans with Disabilities Act)
It may be required that the applications be compliant with ADA. Due certain disabilities, some of the users may have difficulty in accessing the Web Applications unless the applications are ADA compliant. The Application may need to be tested for compliance and usability
- Other Regulatory Compliance/Standards:
Depending on the nature of the application and sensitivity of the data captured the applications may have to be tested for relevant Compliance Standards. This is more crucial for Web Based Applications because of their possible exposure to a wide audience.
- Firewalls:
As mentioned earlier Applications may behave differently across firewalls. Applications may have certain web services or may operate on different ports that may have been blocked. So the apps need to be tested for these aspects as well.
- Security Aspects:
If the Application captures certain personal or sensitive information, it may be crucial to test the security strength of the application. Sufficient care need to be taken that the security of the data is not compromised.
Murugan
eGrove Systems
Why testing Web Applications is different?
Testing web applications is different because of many factors scenarios affecting the performance and user experience.
Web applications can typically cater to a large and a diverse audience. Web Applications can also be exposed to wide range of security threats. Web applications may open up illegal points of entry to the databases and other systems holding sensitive information.
To ensure that the web application works reliably and correctly under different situations these factors need to be accounted for and tested.
Hence a lot of effort needs to put in for Test Planning and Test Design.
Test Cases should be written covering the different scenarios not only of functional usage but also technical considerations such as Network speeds, Screen Resolution, etc.
For example an application may work fine on Broad Band internet users but may perform miserably for users with dial up internet connections.
Web Applications are known to give errors on slow networks, whereas they perform well on high speed connections.
Web pages don’t render correctly for certain situations but work okay with others.
Images may take longer to download for slower networks and the end user perception of the application may not be good.
eCommerce Website Development with CMS – EGrove Systems
eCommerce is now one of the most important applications of internet. In the last few years a whole new world started in eCommerce. There are many eCommerce CMS are available in the market both freeware as well as commercial such as osCommerce, Zen Cart, Virtuemart, Magento, Xcart, PrestaShop, Ubercart, Product Cart etc. Also there is a list of eCommerce plug-ins for some generic CMS like Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, etc.
A good online store has the following features:
Some of major shopping carts used by web developers.
Magento
Magento is one of the newest shopping carts on the market. The coding is based on the latest PHP 5 object oriented coding standards and the Zend framework. This has Multi-Store Capacity. But it heavily layered and overly complicated coding style and thousands of files requires a lot of time to learn and do customizations.
Oscommerce
Oscommerce is the basis for both Zen Cart and CRE Loaded. It is simpler and does not have all of the contributions already added that Zen Cart and CRE Loaded do. It runs well though and is a good back to basics shopping cart. It has the most available number of contributions and modifications.
Zen Cart
Zen Cart has a very nice wide array of features based on Oscommerce but has gone its own path. Some of the nice features include product attributes managers, template system, html editor for regular web page contents, built in coupon code system, ability to select what credit cards you accept, and more. There is no licensing fee for this cart.
X-Cart
X-Cart is a commercial shopping cart, but one of the most competitively priced and easy to modify. This uses Smarty Templates system.
Joomla & Virtuemart
This is the best solution for website wants CMS (Content Management System) combined with the shopping cart. It is easy to install and combine well with the Joomla.
Prestashop
This is a latest professional shopping cart in the industry. It code was developed in Web 2.0 innovations such as dynamic AJAX-powered features and next-generation ergonomy. It is easy to install and customizable.
eCommerce software is generating more and more of the total consumption in today’s world and without the ability to handle all of the data that is presented, and all of the incoming traffic of information.
We will meet your needs successfully. We have the team of experts who are well versed with the latest trends like PrestaShop Development , WordPress Development and C2C eCommerce Development . Using their expertise we use the right program and incorporate the most recent ones. Depending on your needs, we offer following services to the clients: