Background:
Mini-research project-
E-commerce Transaction broker.

INTRODUCTION OF PROJECT

In lieu of recommendations from our Study Guide, we are carrying out this research to better understand how an e-commerce transaction broker works.

By definition, an e-commerce transaction broker is an intermediary, or middleman acting on behalf of a group of buyers and sellers. The transaction broker, like Zuji, creates a platform (an online marketplace) where the products and services of the sellers (i.e. the hotels and airlines) are displayed. All transactions go through this online platform. As transaction broker, Zuji cannot be made responsible for the seller's non-performance and contractual obligations but are responsible for providing relevant information and documentary work. However in the case of Zuji, like NTUC company and many others, they operates more than one businesses. While acting as a transaction broker for hotels and airlines firms, Zuji also acts as a Virtual Storefront e-business to sell their own Zuji package tours (which they will be held accountable for any non performance and poor quality deliveries). In this light, Zuji operates two businesses under one firm. While the transaction brokers do not own the products or services provided, they instead levy a commission charge on the successful transactions from the platform they offer.

With this report, we aim to introduce the purpose, features, designs, privacy & security and strengths & weaknesses of our target research model – Zuji.

ABOUT WWW.ZUJI.COM

ZUJI is an online travel agent in the Asia Pacific region, sponsored by Travelocity whose core business model is online travel bookings for hotels, flights, car hire, holiday packages online and in real time.

ZUJI has been recognized and given many prestigious awards, including Asia Pacific’s ‘Best Online Travel Agent’ TTG travel magazines in Asia Pacific for four years from 2005-2008.

Encompassed with the convenience of being able to book air tickets on-the-go anywhere and together with the entry of low cost carriers into Asia Pacific, spurred initial growth in the online channel for travel in the region.
Being an advocate in the area, ZUJI constantly seek for improvements, evolving over time to meet the changing travel environment, technologies, customers, supplier and ownership. Most recently it added Travelguru - India's largest hotel network - under its wing with Travelocity Global's acquisition of the business in August 2009.

PURPOSES (facilitate search, contracting etc)

ZUJI provides an internet platform for potential business clients who are in the travel industry. On the buyers’ side, clients may advertise their services by offering a fee on ZUJI’s site. On the consumers’ side, they may purchase such services should they intend to go for a holiday vacation or some sort. This in turn, is a win-win situation for both the buyer and the consumer alike. But the biggest winner however, is ZUJI as it draws a commission for every successful transaction.

FEATURES (act as agents)
-B2B
-B2C

B2B
ZUJI’s business-to-business (B2B) operations in Asia Pacific, called ‘Travel Partner Network’ (TPN), allows it to work with both travel and non-travel web sites, including airlines, hoteliers throughout Asia Pacific to provide the booking technology and travel content to these sites. ZUJI manages the product, promotions, and customer service behind the scenes for travellers, as it does on its B2C sites.

ZUJI offer travellers access to many thousands of hotels from a data base of global hotels available to each ZUJI country site, as well as throughout Travelocity's global network of travel sites. ZUJI manages the hotel content in, and for, Asia Pacific with hotel market managers stationed throughout the region.

B2C
ZUJI's business-to-consumer (B2C) operations entail a network of online travel sites throughout Asia Pacific, most with teams on-the-ground managing supplier relationships, marketing and site content and deals. Each ZUJI site is unique. ZUJI has operates travel websites in: Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Korea, New Zealand, and India and latest edition to the network Travelguru (an Indian-domestic hotel-focused business).

DESIGNS

Below is the design of the main page.

Customers just have to click on the relevant hyperlinks, conveniently set out to aid them in their booking of namely flights, hotels or packages of their preferred choice.

Flights

Hotels

Packages

STRENGTHS

1) Travelers can book flights from anywhere in the world to destinations from more than 400 airlines.

2) Travelers can save money by choosing from holiday packages through Zuji’s unique TripSaver Technology.

3) Travelers can engage car hire and airport transfer advance bookings destination guides services, using the link provided at the platform.

4) Travelers can choose from 50,000 hotels around the world, spanning from low cost to luxury lodging.

5) Travelers are allowed access to hotel traveller reviews, maps and photos.
6) Search engine and a list of FAQs available for consumers who may have queries. For eg, searching on booking surcharges

SECURED PAYMENT SYSTEMS

Licensee of the TRUSTe® Privacy Seal Program
Licensee of the TRUSTSG® Privacy Seal Program
PRIVACY POLICY

ZUJI requires their employees and data processors to respect the confidentiality of customers’ personal information.

ZUJI stores customers’ information on secure servers that are protected in controlled facilities.

SECURITY POLICY

ZUJI protects your information by encrypting it.

ZUJI takes responsibility of protecting customers’ credit card information very seriously and has a risk-management team who randomly counter-check purchases.

WEAKNESSES

1) Disorganised home page
First impressions are important and a messy layout of the front page may daunt first-time users. Despite the usage of boxes and sub-headings, the array of information seems too much to absorb at one go.

2) This service is not suitable for non-internet savvy consumers due to the fact that information is way too overwhelming and disorganised for this group of consumers to comprehend.

3) Potential threats to security may still exist despite measures being taken.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, ZUJI has tapped on the Internet to open up its services to the public. Being technically savvy, it has positioned itself as the middleman by being the link between the seekers and the providers in the travel industry. It simply acts as a transaction broker, matching the needs of both the buyers and sellers alike.

ZUJI is successful because all transactions are voluntary; there are no obligations for the customers who visit the site to make their bookings from it. In such way, customers retain their freedom of choice and are able to make comparisons with other similar sites before making a decision.

ZUJI's success is also attributed to providing a comprehensive and apt information to users. It also gives the best deals by offering low prices for packages. This "unseen cost" is beared by themselves from the commission which is promised by the companies who advertise on ZUJI. As such, ZUJI is able to grasp the content of all parties, including themselves.