A Case Study on Usability Metrics Applied in Romanian E-Commerce Environment

Abstract:- This paper extends the previous research regarding the Romanian electronic market as context for the launching a business opportunity in this domain. Here we will present a study on the indigenous e-commerce websites in general and their usability in particular. Nowadays, an impressive number of virtual businesses were open despite the crisis, since others closed their doors due to the same reason. Thus, before starting a new business, it is strongly recommended to make a deeper analysis of the environment and potential competitors, especially in the Web 2.0 context. Web 2.0 provides a winning edge over e-markets that lack social connectivity and high usability features. Usability cannot be quantified easily. Despite this fact, this paper will propose a usability evaluation methodology that will be tested in the local virtual space. For a visitor, usability is more related to a feeling than a figure, and the designer must power the website with it. We have also tackled a main branch of the electronic marketing, entitled SEO (Search Engineering Optimization). In order to promote our business and to put/keep it in the top of the search result list, a continuous optimization of the dynamic web site is required. We asses that usability and SEO must be both considered for the success of an electronic business. For our purposes, a statistical study was applied, using a battery of tests including the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Spearman, and Kruskal-Wallis ones. Also, some data mining tools will be used to confirm or infirm the statistical assertions