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Need to prepare the manpower for the implementation of e-commerce and accept the changes in this regard.

By Aftab A. Pario, CCS, IBA
 Dec 04 - 10, 2000

Absolutely this is the electronic era. E-factor involves in every aspect of life, but most popular field is e-commerce. E-commerce is the basic need of the era without e-commerce it is impossible to improve the businesses.

There are some questions arise in the mind of customer, which are basically the obstacles for the e-commerce.

1. Customers want the secure system of Payments.
2. Is the fast Delivery system possible
3. Which are the modes of payments most convenient for your customer.
4. Implementation of e-commerce
5. Financial Assistance for whole process of implementation
6. Networking solutions in both senses (Intranet & Internet)
7. Time spent to create the paperless environment.
8. B2C (One sided facilities)
9. C2C (Lack of skills & know-how)
10. Laws and regulations (May flexible like e-com & IT.)

Customers want the secure systems of payments: There are some doubts from the customer side to make the e-transaction due to security issues. They are very serious in their financial matters. The professionals of the computer world have good enough know-how regarding that, but new comers and new customers don't want to take steps forward in this regard. E-transactions may be cause of the business development and time saving. The ATM service of MCB or any other company is the best example for that. For instance: When you exploit the ATM card after the insertion you press the code & amount you desired. You receive the exact amount, which you want to credit in your own ledgers. Some where it is possible that some times you receive the much more amount or some times limited. Not at all. So it is the proof of the security systems of the payment. You can rely on the technology to made you payments and conduct your e-transactions.

Is the fast delivery system possible: In business point of view the delivery system must be fast. If you are working in the new technological environment, You are talking about e-commerce, Your wishes are to increase your business, You are emotionally prepared to develop the business electronically with using the e-technology and other sophisticated methods. The ATM service of banks or other institutes are the best example of the fast delivery system. You can get your money in limited moments using the electronic customer's service.

Which are the modes of payment most convenient for the customer: e-cash, ez eash, digi cash, credit card, visa card, Master card and there are other several modes of the payment you may use with ease. Which may be more convenient for you. Actually you will be able to make transaction around the world with the help of e-commerce using the above mentioned modes of payment.

Implementation of E-commerce: Implementation of the e-commerce is really a critical task. No doubt Ministry of Science and Technology takes the necessary actions for that. The budget of the Ministry so limited against the reimbursements of the technology. So it is very crucial that Government should issue the notification to all the Ministries for co-operation to exploiting the technology in each concern.

Financial assistance for whole process of implementation: Ministry of Finance may arrange the bilateral talks and making obligations to take assistance from the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other International Financial Institutes for implementation and promotion of the technology and e-commerce in the country.

Networking solutions in both senses (Intranet & Internet): The connectivity within an organization and organization to organization (020) is the crucial to access every where easily. It is so obstacle that how can we connect the all organizations, Departments, and areas of the country. From where we allocate the resources for that purpose. To completing these tasks we may face lot of problems and obstacles.

Ministry of Communication may work better on this issue to give the services within the country for networking solutions in the Governmental as well as private organizations.

Time and effort to create the paperless environment: The Governmental organizations are the main obstacle for paperless environment, because in the governmental organizations computerizing systems are not available mostly and also there is the lack of skills. So need of this thing that at every where computerizing system and networking must be available as a basic tool to create the paperless environment. After the networking solutions we may able to create the paperless environment to making the e-future, e-life and e-environment.

B2C (One sided facilities): For the implementation of the e-commerce (B2B) Business to Business is in the position to create the electronic environment, but (B2C) Business to customer is so limited area. Mostly the customers have no idea about the e-commerce and related work. If they have an idea in this regard, then they can't afford the expenses of the electronic ways of working. Computerization system is available at customer level little bit. So the Financial Institutions (Banks and others) and Tax collection organization (Customs, Central Excise & Sales Tax) will face the difficulties in their assignments to transact with their customers and other stakeholders. It is very mandatory that both sides have a good know-how about computerization to connect each other in the right manner to deal. For the (Bills of Electricity, Gas etc.) billing process if customer is connect to the banks that it will be so easy to transact between bank and the customer. The customer may safe from the inconvenience at bank. Also with these computerized facilities Customs, Central Excise and Sales Tax department can receive the taxes from their customers with ease, if their customers are facilitated with the computerization. The EFT and EDI both tasks may be clear very easily through the computerization facilities, if both sides are availing.

C2C (Lack of skills & know-how): Customer to Customer (C2C) means lack of skills & know-how, because the majority of the population is not affording the computerization facilities. Actually the illiteracy rate in Pakistan is so high and what ever the literacy rate is, from this some ratio of the population have know about the computer world. This is the basic obstacle that how can the customers inter link is possible. To solving the problems of B2C it may emphasizes on the C2C, because when you facilitate your customers, then they will be able to make the transactions easily. Tax payers mostly not able to pay their taxes exploiting the current computerization facilities. The course change management & BPR was the best source of learning for the officers of Customs, Central Excise and Sales Tax at IBA. After the completion of that course really they are struggling for the re-engineering process. They are working on only B2B basis. Hopes are that they will succeed in their tasks and assignments with overwhelm. Now this is another obstacle for the Tax authorities that, How can they receive the tax electronically from their taxpayers all over the country.

Laws and regulations (May flexible like E-com & IT.): In the general perspective of the e-commerce there is need of laws & regulations of course. E-com is absolutely upon the base of metamorphosis, so the regulations must be according to the subject with flexibility. It means the possibility should be there to make amendments in the rules & regulation.

Synchronization of events: Strategies regarding fundamental steps be taken by every one, every organization with sincerity. How could we able to adopt the e-commerce in the right manner.

Institute of Business Administration has conducted the basic training for the officers of Customs, Central Excise and Sales Tax named Management Development Programme for the courses Computing for office Productivity, Management Information Systems and Change Management. Three batches of AGP and one batch of officers & others staff of Governor's House for the course Computing for office Productivity. This is the only start and the purpose was to prepare the manpower for the implementation of e-commerce and accept the changes in this regard. Now CBR is re-structuring their processes to exploit the new technologies and other sophisticated methods.