Technology and Business
From online shops to social media, technology has changed how businesses sell and talk to people. Learn what e-commerce and digital communication are, how they reach wider markets, and the chances and risks they bring.
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Free interactive practice at using the material, which is what the marks are for.
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How technology changed business
Not long ago a shop sold to whoever walked in, and a business phoned or posted letters to reach people. Technology changed both. This module covers the two big ideas AQA asks about: e-commerce (selling online) and digital communication (using tools like social media to reach people). Both can grow a business, and both bring new risks.
Digital business words
Four terms run through this whole topic. Learn what each one means.
Match the term to the example
- E-commerce
- Digital communication
- Reaching a wider market
- A stakeholder
- A customer buys trainers from a website
- A shop posts a new offer on social media
- A local baker now sells cakes across the country
- An employee who works for the business
Spot the e-commerce
Which of these is an example of e-commerce?
- A customer orders a book through the company website
- A manager sends an email to a supplier
- A shop puts a poster in its window
- Staff meet together in the office
Two sides of e-commerce
Selling online can grow a business, but it is not free of problems. Weigh both sides.
Match the change to its effect
- Selling online
- Using social media
- An automatic stock system
- Online reviews
- Reaches customers far beyond the local area
- Targets adverts at the right people
- Cuts the cost of managing stock
- Can build or harm the business reputation
The grade 9 rule: real examples
AQA rewards real-world examples. Naming an actual business and how it uses e-commerce or social media shows you understand technology in practice, not just in theory. Keep a few examples ready to drop into your answers.
E-commerce and a wider market
Selling online is called _____. It lets a business reach a _____ market beyond its local area. Businesses also use _____ communication, such as social media, to talk to their _____. Technology can lower _____, but it also brings new competition.
Benefits of technology
Which of these are benefits of using technology in a business? Choose all that apply.
- Reaching customers around the world
- Trading 24 hours a day
- Targeting adverts at the right people
- It removes all competition
- It needs no website or delivery at all
Find the e-commerce
A bakery is growing. Tap the two sentences that show e-commerce.
- The bakery launched a website where customers order cakes.
- It now ships cakes to customers across the country.
- The owner still bakes every cake by hand.
- The shop has a bright new sign on the high street.
Going online
Put the steps a shop takes to start selling online into a sensible order.
- Build a website or online shop
- Add products with prices and photos
- Set up secure online payment
- Arrange delivery for orders
- Promote the shop on social media
A new kind of risk
A business gets a wave of negative comments on social media. Why does digital communication make this a bigger risk than before?
- Because messages spread quickly to a wide audience
- Because social media is free to use
- Because it reaches fewer people
- Because customers cannot reply
Advise a small business
A local bookshop wants to grow using technology. Choose the best step at each stage.
- The bookshop wants to sell beyond its town. What is the best first step?
- The online shop is live. How should it tell customers about a sale?
- A customer posts a complaint online. What is the best response?
Technology that grows a business
Explain how technology could help a small business of your choice grow. Give a real-world example if you can.
- Name the business and what it sells
- Explain how e-commerce could help it reach more customers
- Explain how digital communication could help it talk to customers