If you are running a Web-based exchange, marketplace or auction, you will need software that calculates the total delivered cost for every country. Companies selling goods on which there are export restrictions, such as high-performance computer equipment, will need software that makes sure a purchased item can be sent to the country from which it was ordered. Today, most companies that operate e-commerce sites don't have the software required to calculate total delivered cost or ensure compliance with export restrictions, Clopp says. As a result, they're often forced to decline international orders, which in some cases account for more than half of all orders placed via a Web site. You also have to be aware of each country's tax laws that can affect e-commerce.
Tax laws vary and are changing.
Some countries now want a tariff or tax on Internet sales. But while there are many pitfalls for IT to avoid in international markets, there also are opportunities that are often overlooked. Make sure you personalize your Web page content for local audiences. While this may require extra work, few companies are trying it, so the payoffs could be huge. There's much to learn from the experience of IT departments that have ventured into global marketing, but Morick warns IT people not to blindly copy what others have done.