Unit 12
💼 Digital Economy
ICT in
Business
Understand how ICT reshapes the modern business landscape — from new digital economy business methods and the role of ICT across all business functions, to e-commerce transaction types, virtual storefronts, secure payment mechanisms, e-marketing strategies and gaining competitive advantage through technology. Covers competency levels 12.1–12.3 from the NIE ICT syllabus.
💰 Digital Economy
🔄 Reverse Auctions
👥 Group Purchasing
🏪 e-Marketplace
🏢 Pure Brick
🖱️ Brick & Click
☁️ Pure Click
📊 ICT in Accounting
👨💼 ICT in HR
🏭 ICT in Production
📢 ICT in Marketing & Sales
🚚 Supply Chain & ICT
💳 Payment Gateways
🔒 Secure Credit Card Payments
🪙 Cryptocurrency / Bitcoin
🛒 e-Commerce Scope
🏬 Virtual Storefronts
📦 B2B · B2C · C2C
📣 e-Marketing
🤖 AI in Marketing
📱 Mobile Marketing
📚 Competency Levels — Unit 12
COMPETENCY 12.1 · 4 PERIODS
ICT in the World of Business
Digital economy and new business methods: reverse auctions, group purchasing, e-marketplace. Pure brick, brick & click, pure click organisations. Role of ICT in accounting, HR, production, marketing & sales, supply chain and communication. Secure payment mechanisms: gateways, credit card, PayPal, encryption, micro-payments (Bitcoin).
COMPETENCY 12.2 · 4 PERIODS
ICT and Business Operations (e-Commerce & e-Business)
Scope of e-commerce and e-business. Types of e-business transactions: B2B, B2C, C2C, C2B, B2E, G2C. e-Business models: virtual storefronts, information brokers, online marketplaces, content providers, online service providers, portals, virtual communities. Advantages and disadvantages of e-business.
COMPETENCY 12.3 · 4 PERIODS
ICT in e-Marketing
Concepts of marketing and the role of ICT. Web advertising, databases in marketing. Predicting customer behaviour with AI tools. Gaining competitive advantage through ICT. Mobile marketing strategies.
🏢 Business Organisation Models
Pure Brick
Traditional physical presence only — no online component. E.g. local market stalls.
Brick & Click
Both physical stores AND an online presence. E.g. supermarkets with online ordering.
Pure Click
Entirely online — no physical store. E.g. Amazon, eBay, online banks.
🔄 e-Business Transaction Types
B2B
Business to Business
Companies trading with each other
B2C
Business to Consumer
Companies selling directly to customers
C2C
Consumer to Consumer
Customers trading with each other (eBay)
C2B
Consumer to Business
Individuals sell services to businesses
B2E
Business to Employee
Internal business services for staff
G2C
Government to Citizen
e-Government services to the public
📊 Role of ICT in Business Functions
| Business Function | How ICT is Used |
|---|---|
| Accounting & Finance | Accounting software (QuickBooks), digital invoicing, online banking, automated payroll, financial reporting |
| Human Resources | Digital recruitment portals, payroll systems, e-learning platforms, employee management databases |
| Production | Computer-Aided Design (CAD), robotic automation, inventory management systems, quality control sensors |
| Marketing & Sales | Web advertising, social media campaigns, CRM systems, email marketing, AI-driven customer analytics |
| Supply Chain | GPS tracking, ERP systems, online order management, automated warehouses, RFID stock tracking |
| Communication | Email, video conferencing, VoIP, collaborative tools (Slack, Teams), intranets |
💳 Secure Payment Mechanisms
Payment Gateway
Securely processes credit/debit card payments between buyer and merchant bank.
Secure Credit Card
SSL/TLS encrypted card transactions. CVV and 3D-Secure (OTP) for authentication.
Third-Party (PayPal)
Trusted intermediary holding buyer funds and releasing to seller on confirmation.
Data Encryption
Public/private key encryption protects financial data in transit (HTTPS).
Micro-Credit / Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency blockchain-based payments. Decentralised, no bank intermediary.
📥 Unit 12 — Available Downloads
📄
Full Notes — ICT in Business
PDF · 3.8 MB · 52 pages
📄
e-Commerce & e-Business Notes
PDF · 1.3 MB · 14 pages