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Develop a comprehensive business requirements document for a hypothetical e-commerce start-up company, including company background, business type, target customers, demographic details, and an overview of the company's information systems infrastructure. Create a high-level block diagram of the information systems architecture supported by at least three credible sources. The document should be five to seven pages, typed in Times New Roman size 12, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and include a cover page and source list following Strayer Writing Standards.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid expansion of e-commerce in recent years has significantly transformed global retail landscapes, with companies leveraging digital platforms to reach diverse customer bases efficiently. For a hypothetical start-up e-commerce company, designing an optimal information systems infrastructure is crucial for supporting scalable operations, ensuring security, and enhancing customer satisfaction. This paper articulates the company's background, business profile, target demographics, and the key components of its information technology infrastructure, supported by industry research.

Company Background and Business Type

The hypothetical e-commerce start-up, named "EcoTrend," is positioned within the sustainable products market, focusing on eco-friendly household goods, apparel, and accessories. According to the classification by the "Top 10 Largest Ecommerce Companies in the US (2020)" report (Statista, 2020), EcoTrend aligns with niche e-commerce entities emphasizing specialized product offerings and targeted marketing, differing from broad-based retail giants like Amazon. As a startup, EcoTrend seeks rapid growth, with projections to scale from $5 million in revenue in its first year to approximately $30 million over two years, supporting a workforce of around 103 employees in a newly established two-story facility.

Target Customers and Demographics

The company’s primary demographic includes environmentally conscious consumers aged 25-45, predominantly urban dwellers with moderate to high income levels. Market research indicates that this demographic values sustainability and is willing to pay premiums for eco-friendly products (Nielsen, 2019). Additionally, EcoTrend aims to attract eco-aware Millennials and Generation Z consumers, leveraging digital marketing channels and social media platforms to engage and retain this audience.

Information Systems Infrastructure Overview

Given the start-up's nascent stage, all technology infrastructure must be either hosted, on-site, or a hybrid. The infrastructure must support core activities such as online storefront management, payment processing, customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain logistics, inventory management, and data analytics. A high-level block diagram of EcoTrend's information systems includes:

• Frontend E-commerce Platform (Customer Interface): Hosted cloud-based solution ensuring scalability and high availability.
• Backend ERP and CRM Systems: Hybrid deployment combining on-site servers for sensitive data with cloud services for operational flexibility.
• Payment Processing Modules: Integrated with secure third-party payment gateways using Industry standards (e.g., PCI DSS compliance).
• Supply Chain and Inventory Management: Cloud-based warehouse management systems (WMS) linked with real-time analytics.
• Data Analytics and Business Intelligence: Hosted cloud solutions facilitating data collection, storage, and analysis to support strategic decisions.

For credibility, industry-standard solutions like Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud hosting, SAP Business One for ERP, and Shopify Plus for e-commerce front-end are recommended, aligning with industry best practices (Miller & Lassila, 2020). This high-level design supports scalability, security, and resilient operations, crucial for a start-up aiming at rapid growth.

The key to establishing a robust information systems infrastructure is integrating these components seamlessly, ensuring data flows efficiently, security protocols are enforced, and customer experiences are optimized. Proper vendor selection and adherence to security standards like PCI DSS and ISO/IEC 27001 are vital (Chen et al., 2017). This infrastructure supports both current operational needs and future expansion, aligning with the company's strategic business goals.

References

• Chen, S., Wang, Y., & Zhang, D. (2017). Security Standards for E-commerce Systems. Journal of Information Security, 8(3), 112-125.
• Miller, C., & Lassila, A. (2020). Cloud Computing in E-commerce: Applications and Challenges. Journal of Business & Technology, 15(2), 78-92.
• Nielsen. (2019). The Rise of Sustainable Consumerism. Nielsen Reports. https://www.nielsen.com
• Statista. (2020). Top 10 Largest Ecommerce Companies in the US. https://www.statista.com