Customers satisfied with ecommerce

EDL Consulting - Customers satisfied with ecommerce

Updated: 2010-02-22

With unemployment still high, the American retail economy has taken some blows over the past couple years. However, judging by customer sentiments towards ecommerce, the consumer economy may be headed for brighter days on the web.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index recently released a report on its findings for the fourth quarter of 2009, and results are encouraging. Though the index as a whole has remained nearly the same, ecommerce saw the largest increase of any sector, up 1.8 percent to 81.4 percent overall.

"Overall, online shopping continues to grow and provide higher levels of customer satisfaction," says ACSI head Claes Fornell. "Free shipping promotions, competitive pricing, and the ability to browse and research an ever wider selection of merchandise from the comfort of one's home have made online retailing a very attractive and powerful alternative to traditional stores."

Netflix was the biggest gainer among ecommerce vendors, up 2 percent to an 87 percent rating. Amazon followed, with an unchanged score.

An earlier comScore report found that ecommerce saw development in various sectors, with the core search market growing 16 percent.

Ecommerce takes over coupon use

EDL Consulting - Ecommerce takes over coupon use

Updated: 2010-02-22

Though some analysts have questioned the ability of online shopping to match consumer habits applicable to store-based retail, ecommerce has proved itself up to the challenge. In a striking new example, recent data shows that digital coupon use is not only thriving online, it is overtaking its print equivalent.

A recent Coupons.com report finds that digital coupon use grew by more than 170 percent during 2009, while growth for print coupons lagged behind at 8 to 16 percent.

"For the first time in almost two decades the use of coupons increased in 2009, in part due to the growth of digital coupons as more consumers made them part of their shopping routine and more brands tapped them to engage with their consumers," said Coupons.com CEO Steven Boal.

Boal added that he expected adoption of digital coupons to "continue to accelerate in 2010 as consumers and brands alike increasingly adopt them." Consumers may drive growth, seeking benefits - savings from Coupons.com exceeded $858 million last year.

Earlier data from promotion transaction settlement provider Inmar showed that annual coupon use is on the rise for the first time since 1992. Brands issued 367 billion coupons in 2009 - the recorded peak since Inmar began documenting use in 1988.

Ubuntu for the US authorities

Ubuntu for the US authorities - The H Open Source: News and Features

23 February 2010, 10:55

The General Services Administration (GSA), an administrative support agency to the US federal authorities has officially approved IT firm Autonomic Resources as a provider of Canonical's Ubuntu and Landscape products for US authorities. Paul Holt, Canonical Corporate Services sales director said that, "Canonical is delighted to partner with Autonomic Resources in the development of the Federal and Ubuntu desktop community and marketplace".

Autonomic Resources offers the ARC-P dedicated Infrastructure-as-a-Service platform (IaaS) for US government agencies and recommends using the Ubuntu Linux distribution and the Landscape management solution to manage virtual and physical servers, especially when establishing cloud infrastructures.

See also:

• Autonomic Approved To Offer Canonical's Ubuntu Linux and Landscape Through GSA Advantage, Autonomic Resources press release.