In order to compete, organisations need to be able to conduct business online. Some businesses are run without conventional 'bricks and mortar' shops and offices, and are run completely online.

• Access to potential customers world wide. A website on the Internet can be viewed from anywhere in the world.

• Less costs - there is no need to pay for rental or purchase of buildings and associated costs like electricity bills etc. Set-up costs are cheap as a computer linked to the Internet is all that is needed.

• Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are no restrictions on opening hours.

• Customers do not need to travel and get fast response times to their orders. Some sites give expected delivery times.
  

• Sales information is always up-to-date. The website may be directly linked to a central stock database. It is often possible to see how many of an item are currently in stock.
  

• Some businesses have been able to extend the range of products or services they sell.

• Customer's personal details - title, names.
• Customer contact details - telephone number, email address.
• Delivery details - If goods are to be delivered then the customer's address will be needed.
• Details of purchase - item codes and quantities.

...and will need to be able to collect payment....

• credit or debit card details.

• Computer crash or network problems may mean trading stops.
• Breaches of security may cause problems.
• Customers may have difficulty contacting a business if there are problems - lacks the personal touch.
• Customers can only read about and see the goods for sale. They are unable to smell or touch them.

Fast response times are possible because IT methods are used to check payment details and process the order.