website investigation
back-end processes
real-time tracking of customers
When the user first has contact with the eBuyer website, the eBuyer server also creates and keeps a record of the identity of the user in an entity called 'Sessions' located in the database. Every single user is given a special unique identification number which is called a Session ID. A copy of this Session ID is sent to the customer, so if the user returns later all the details stored in the related session record will be re-applied to him.
Also, within the session record all the movements of the user are recorded providing eBuyer with an idea of what the user wanted out of the session. This information can enable the company to know which products where most viewed or the path the user trod around the site, both bits of information can help eBuyer understand user trends.
We will now look at how the shopping cart is maintained.
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