South Africa`s small and large businesses are set to break new grounds on the global front through Telkom`s CyberTrade Mall, an electronic shopping portal that enables online trading in a secure environment with minimal IT investment or additional staff resources.
Launched this week, CyberTrade Mall opens a new channel through which businesses can take their products to extended markets, not hamstrung by geographical limitations.
"The CyberTrade Mall is an e-commerce building kit, with Telkom providing the technology, knowledge and network skills which make getting into e-commerce easier and affordable for small businesses," said Nombulelo Moholi, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Telkom.
CyberTrade Mall has three product components:
* The business cards line serves as a directory where businesses can list their details on the Telkom trading portal. This enables the merchant exposure on WWW. Business cards are offered for free until the end of 2003.
* The e-Stores line is a mass distribution product that provides easy self-service e-commerce capabilities. It is an ideal way of establishing Web presence with minimal IT investment or staff resources. It is built on shared server basis, with choice of templates offering unique look and functionality. A 60-day free trial period is offered with each store opened before 1 December 2003.
* The customised solutions component offers the ability for a business to display and sell products through free standing and Web-based electronic storefront. This reduces overhead costs and allows for quicker distribution of additional sites and back-office integration.
"Together, these products provide an upgrade path, from entry-level Web presence to an advanced customisable solution. Each solution level operates on standard platforms, allowing for the Web-based solutions to get up and running quickly with low operating costs and significant return on investment," said Moholi.
CyberTrade Mall offers a cost-effective means of doing business, a new sales channel to more customers via the Internet as well as shopping convenience to shoppers 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Exposure through Telkom`s online channels is part of the mall`s value proposition.
"Our customers will also be able to create, customise and manage their own online sites as well as capture additional market share through this online channel, which is accessible to national and international customer bases," Moholi said.
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