XI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

“INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND IMPLEMENTATION” (IT&I-2024)

INVESTIGATING E-COMMERCE SYSTEMS FOR BOOK SALES: FROM THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS TO SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Valentyna Pleskach, Yaroslav Kryvolapov, Hlib Kryvolapov and Olena Zelikovska

Introduction

The demand for books in the digital marketplace is rising due to several key factors, such as the ongoing need for knowledge and information, the essential role of scientific and academic literature as reliable information sources fueling demand within educational and scientific sectors; cultural and emotional significance, advancements in technology and accessibility, the broad availability of books through the global Internet, increasing interest in self-publishing platforms (like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Wattpad, etc.), the steady improvement in education levels, and the advancement of new knowledge.

Relevance and importance of the study

A digital market, or e-market, refers to a system of economic interactions in the digital realm, where economic agents engage in trading goods and/or services using digital and information communication technologies. These markets are electronic platforms on the global Internet that enable buyers and sellers to complete commercial transactions through digital tools. As reported by Statista, e-commerce sales are projected to exceed USD 6 billion by 2024, up from USD 4.2 billion in the previous year, with marketplaces being the primary factor driving this growth in digital commerce. In 2023, the global book market was valued at USD 144.67 billion, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% from 2024 to 2030.

E-commerce software system of e-Bookshop

There are many digital book e-commerce platforms that specialise in selling both print and e-books. Table provides a comparative overview of these platforms, highlighting their features, strengths, and weaknesses.

Designing and programming e-commerce websites

Designing e-commerce websites requires understanding business and user needs while applying modern technologies and standards to ensure efficiency and security. The website development process begins by defining store objectives and audience needs. A well-structured navigation system enables users to easily find products and information. Selecting a suitable technology platform, like Magento or Shopify, aligns with specific business requirements. Key programming features include a product catalog, shopping cart, and secure payment integration, ensuring a seamless purchase process. SEO, testing, and user feedback help optimize functionality and enhance user satisfaction.

Architectural solutions

On the basis of the following parameters, a comparison can be made of the known architectural solutions for building e-commerce systems for selling books: architectural solutions - monolithic, microservice, serverless, server; the technology stack used, in particular the use of platforms, frameworks, databases and programming languages (PHP, Python, Java, Node.js, MongoDB, MySQL, etc.); the choice of cloud solutions, in particular AWS, Azure, Google Cloud

A stack of used technologies

PostgreSQL was chosen as the database for this study due to its advantages, as PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source relational database management system. It supports the SQL standard, allows data to be manipulated using complex queries, and provides a high level of reliability, security and performance. PostgreSQL is justified by features such as ACID support, extensibility, a large number of data types, integration with other programming languages (Python, Perl, Tcl), and high scalability.

In addition, PostgreSQL can run dynamic websites and web applications as an option of the LAMP stack, supports data logging, PostgreSQL is freely available under an open source licence, PostgreSQL supports geographic objects, so it can be used as a geospatial data store for location-based services and geographic information systems, and requires a low level of maintenance and administration.

The scheme of the database

All bookstore users can be divided into 2 categories: Users and Admins. User should have the following capabilities: browse book catalogues, search by title or sort books, leave a review for a book, add/remove from the cart, place an order, etc. The database schema includes User (a table with basic information about the user), Book (a table with information about the book), Basket (each user has a basket). Basket_book (a table that indicates the basket of a particular user and the book), Order (a table with information about the user's order), Order_item (information about a particular book in the order), Rating (a table of book ratings by users), Author (a table of book authors), Genre (a table of genres), etc. Figure shows the scheme of the database of the book sales software system.

A stack of used technologies

We chose a framework in the Dart programming language called Flutter. Its key features are as follows. Flutter supports Google's Material Design, a design system that helps developers create digital experiences, so developers can use multiple visual and behavioural widgets when building an application.

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Flutter has its own rendering engine for drawing widgets. WebStorm IDE and Intelij IDEA for software development were chosen as the software development environment. NodeJS was chosen for the server side for the following advantages: an asynchronous event-driven model that allows to avoid blocking I/O, improving the responsiveness and scalability of the application; a dynamic ecosystem and Node Package Manager (NPM).

Conclusions

Trends in bookselling websites show the impact of consumer behavior changes, technology, and economic conditions. E-books and audiobooks are gaining popularity due to their convenience, leading to growth in digital platforms. Personalization algorithms are widely used, enhancing engagement and sales. Social media plays a vital role in creating book-loving communities, boosting interest and purchases. Many sites now offer related content – articles, videos, and blogs – attracting broader audiences. Subscription models provide extensive title access, appealing to readers who prefer not to buy each book individually. AI-powered chatbots improve customer service, while environmental awareness raises demand for e-books. Innovations like VR and AR offer new interactive experiences. Book sites that integrate online and offline options or collaborate with platforms like Goodreads can build stronger reader bases. Lastly, data security is crucial for consumer trust on these platforms.

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