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'''Electronic commerce (e-commerce)''' describes the business transaction using technological infrastructures like the [[internet]] or other telecommunication [[technology]] <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 210 </ref>. This term includes not only the buying and selling of goods and services itself but also all processes connected to those transactions. Thus, the digital payment [[process]] and the digital exchange of data are also part of e-commerce <ref> Nescott, 2011, p. VII </ref>. | |||
'''Electronic commerce (e-commerce)''' describes the business transaction using technological infrastructures like the internet or other telecommunication technology <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 210 </ref>. This term includes not only the buying and selling of goods and services itself but also all processes connected to those transactions. Thus, the digital payment process and the digital exchange of data are also part of e-commerce <ref> Nescott, 2011, p. VII </ref>. | |||
==Development of e-commerce== | ==Development of e-commerce== | ||
In 1997 the term e-commerce was first mentioned by IBM <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 210 </ref>. As the barriers to accessing the internet lowered and the general public was able to use the internet and other telecommunication technologies, e-commerce experienced its boom. The number of online shops as well as the number of customers shopping online increased year by year. Even today, the e-commerce sector is still growing steadily. The increase in internet speed and the expanding global spread of the internet are driving factors of e-commerce. However, it should be noted that the development of e-commerce varies not only from continent to continent but also from country to country <ref> Gregor and Kalińska-Kula, 2020, pp. | In 1997 the term e-commerce was first mentioned by IBM <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 210 </ref>. As the barriers to accessing the internet lowered and the general public was able to use the internet and other telecommunication technologies, e-commerce experienced its boom. The number of online shops as well as the number of customers shopping online increased year by year. Even today, the e-commerce sector is still growing steadily. The increase in internet speed and the expanding global spread of the internet are driving factors of e-commerce. However, it should be noted that the development of e-commerce varies not only from continent to continent but also from country to country <ref> Gregor and Kalińska-Kula, 2020, pp. 184-186 </ref>. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the e-commerce sector experienced another strong increase. Due to lockdowns in many countries, consumption via online shops increased strongly and this trend is still very much in evidence <ref> Sudhakaran, 2022, p. 81 </ref>. | ||
==E-commerce categories== | ==E-commerce categories== | ||
There are various categories into which e-commerce can be divided: | There are various categories into which e-commerce can be divided: | ||
* '''Business to Business (B2B)''': transactions between two companies; this is the fastest-growing e-commerce sector | * '''[[Business to business|Business to Business]] (B2B)''': transactions between two companies; this is the fastest-growing e-commerce sector | ||
* '''Business to Consumer (B2C)''': transactions between a company and the consumer; a traditional buyer-seller combination | * '''Business to [[Consumer]] (B2C)''': transactions between a [[company]] and the consumer; a traditional buyer-seller combination | ||
* '''Consumer to Business (C2B)''': transactions between a company and a consumer but the consumer takes the role of the seller and the company the role of the buyer | * '''Consumer to Business (C2B)''': transactions between a company and a consumer but the consumer takes the role of the seller and the company the role of the buyer | ||
* '''Consumer to Consumer(C2C)''': transactions between two customers | * '''Consumer to Consumer(C2C)''': transactions between two customers | ||
If state administration is also considered, the following categories can be added: | If [[state administration]] is also considered, the following categories can be added: | ||
* '''Business to Government (B2G)''' or '''Business to Administration (B2A)''': transactions between a party from the business sector and a representative from the public sector | * '''Business to [[Government]] (B2G)''' or '''Business to Administration (B2A)''': transactions between a party from the business sector and a representative from the public sector | ||
* '''Government to Business (G2B)''': transactions between a public office and a company | * '''Government to Business (G2B)''': transactions between a public office and a company | ||
* '''Government to Consumer(G2C)''': transactions with a flow from the public sector to a consumer | * '''Government to Consumer(G2C)''': transactions with a flow from the public sector to a consumer | ||
* '''Consumer to Government (C2G)''': transactions involving a consumer and a public sector body | * '''Consumer to Government (C2G)''': transactions involving a consumer and a public sector body | ||
* '''Government to Government (G2G)''': transaction where two parties of the public sector are involved | * '''Government to Government (G2G)''': transaction where two parties of the public sector are involved | ||
It is important to note that especially in G2B, G2C, and G2G sectors the transactions often contain the flow of administrative information, customer documents, and statistics. Therefore, it does not necessarily have to be a purchase or sale of goods or services <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, pp. | It is important to note that especially in G2B, G2C, and G2G sectors the transactions often contain the flow of administrative [[information]], [[customer]] documents, and statistics. Therefore, it does not necessarily have to be a purchase or sale of goods or services <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, pp. 210-211 </ref>. | ||
==Advantages and adaptations== | ==Advantages and adaptations== | ||
E-commerce brings advantages to customers. 24-hour availability, easy and fast home delivery, and simple payment methods are just some of them <ref> Gregor and Kalińska-Kula, 2020, p. 184 </ref>. However, suppliers also profit from doing business via the internet. Considering the supplier side, e-commerce, for example, eliminates the cost of retail space, reduces administration costs, and they don’t have to adhere to the legal opening hours of shops. The use of the Internet and other telecommunications technologies also makes it possible to collect customer data. Data on the shopping behavior of customers enables suppliers to tailor their offers and their communication with each customer individually. Such personalization would not be possible in a non-electronic transaction <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 211 </ref>. However, to make use of this data and maximize the profit, suppliers must first attract customers to their online shop and ensure that customers visit the website again. In a physical shop, for example in a shopping center, this is attempted through furnishing, decoration, and services. In e-commerce, however, a good user experience (UX) is necessary to achieve this effect. Companies in the e-commerce sector should therefore always keep the improvement of the UX for their online shop in mind in order to achieve the best possible success for their business <ref> Moczarny, de Villiers and van Biljon, 2012, pp. | E-commerce brings advantages to customers. 24-hour availability, easy and fast home delivery, and simple payment methods are just some of them <ref> Gregor and Kalińska-Kula, 2020, p. 184 </ref>. However, suppliers also [[profit]] from doing business via the internet. Considering the [[supplier]] side, e-commerce, for example, eliminates the [[cost]] of retail space, reduces administration costs, and they don’t have to adhere to the legal opening hours of shops. The use of the Internet and other telecommunications technologies also makes it possible to collect customer data. Data on the shopping [[behavior]] of customers enables suppliers to tailor their offers and their [[communication]] with each customer individually. Such personalization would not be possible in a non-electronic transaction <ref> Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 211 </ref>. However, to make use of this data and maximize the profit, suppliers must first attract customers to their online shop and ensure that customers visit the website again. In a physical shop, for example in a shopping center, this is attempted through furnishing, decoration, and services. In e-commerce, however, a good user experience (UX) is necessary to achieve this effect. Companies in the e-commerce sector should therefore always keep the improvement of the UX for their online shop in mind in order to achieve the best possible success for their business <ref> Moczarny, de Villiers and van Biljon, 2012, pp. 216-217, 223-224 </ref>. | ||
==Examples of E-commerce== | |||
* '''Online Shopping''': E-commerce is best known for online shopping, which is the process of buying goods and services over the internet. This can be done through websites such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and many others. | |||
* '''Digital Marketplaces''': Digital marketplaces are another form of e-commerce. These are websites that allow buyers and sellers to come together to trade goods and services. Examples of digital marketplaces include Etsy, Alibaba, and Fiverr. | |||
* '''Online Payments''': E-commerce also includes the ability to pay for goods and services online. This is commonly done through payment processors such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square. | |||
* '''Mobile Commerce''': Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, is the practice of buying and selling goods and services using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This can be done through apps such as Uber, Airbnb, and Amazon. | |||
* '''Social Media Commerce''': Social media commerce, also known as s-commerce, is the process of selling goods and services on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. | |||
* '''Voice Commerce''': Voice commerce, or v-commerce, is the practice of buying and selling goods and services using voice commands. This can be done through virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. | |||
==Limitations of E-commerce== | |||
E-commerce has become an increasingly popular form of business transaction, but there are several limitations that must be taken into consideration: | |||
* '''Security risks''': As e-commerce relies on the internet, it is vulnerable to cyber security threats, such as data breaches and hacking. This can have a negative impact on customers’ trust in the [[system]], as well as the financial losses that can be caused by such attacks. | |||
* '''Lack of personal interaction''': In e-commerce, customers are unable to directly interact with salespeople and ask for advice or recommendations. This can be a disadvantage for customers who are looking for a more personalized shopping experience. | |||
* '''Technical issues''': Technical issues can be a big problem in e-commerce. If the website is slow or unreliable, or if the payment system is down, customers may be unable to complete their transaction. | |||
* '''Payment issues''': Customers may be reluctant to pay online due to concerns about their personal information being compromised, or because of the fees associated with certain payment methods. | |||
* '''Legal issues''': E-commerce businesses must comply with relevant laws and regulations in order to operate legally. This can be a challenge for businesses that are not familiar with the applicable laws. | |||
==Other approaches related to E-commerce== | |||
E-commerce is a business transaction facilitated by technological infrastructures such as the internet or other telecommunication technologies. Other approaches related to E-commerce include: | |||
* '''Mobile commerce (m-commerce)''': This term is used to describe the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets for online shopping. | |||
* '''Social commerce (s-commerce)''': This term is used to describe the use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for online shopping. | |||
* '''Online payments''': This term is used to describe the use of digital payment methods such as credit or debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets for online payments. | |||
* '''Omni-channel retailing''': This term is used to describe the use of multiple physical and digital touchpoints to create an integrated, seamless shopping experience for customers. | |||
In summary, e-commerce is a business transaction facilitated by technological infrastructures such as the internet or other telecommunication technologies. Other approaches related to e-commerce include mobile commerce, social commerce, online payments, and omni-channel retailing. | |||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
{{infobox5|list1={{i5link|a=[[Carding forum]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[Perkscoin]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[Anonymous Trading]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[Hybrid business]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[Indirect sales]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[Digital cash]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[E hub]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[Business correspondent]]}} — {{i5link|a=[[Credit card dump]]}} }} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Gregor, B. and Kalińska-Kula, M. (2020) [https://sciendo.com/it/article/10.2478/foli-2020-0043 ''The Development of E-Commerce and Consumer Attitudes | * Gregor, B. and Kalińska-Kula, M. (2020) [https://sciendo.com/it/article/10.2478/foli-2020-0043 ''The Development of E-Commerce and Consumer Attitudes - A Comparative Analysis of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus''], Folia oeconomica stetinensia. | ||
* Jędrzejczak-Gas, J., Barska, A. and Siničáková, M. (2019) [https://yadda.icm.edu.pl/baztech/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-a364ca02-da60-420b-9d79-512ec7d73a7b/c/Mn2019_1_jedrzejczak_level.pdf ''Level of development of e-commerce in EU countries''], Management (Zielona Góra). | * Jędrzejczak-Gas, J., Barska, A. and Siničáková, M. (2019) [https://yadda.icm.edu.pl/baztech/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-a364ca02-da60-420b-9d79-512ec7d73a7b/c/Mn2019_1_jedrzejczak_level.pdf ''Level of development of e-commerce in EU countries''], [[Management]] (Zielona Góra). | ||
* Moczarny, I., de Villiers, M. and van Biljon, J. (2012) [https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/2389836.2389862?casa_token=JqBarmLuWpgAAAAA:OCWsB3jtTGHJN0tzoU9Jcjhuk2xOROOvxrbUyngi4rA7QwRNRxKM9dkutNge5V0gTMQxyhbPyuD5 ''How can usability contribute to user experience?: a study in the domain of e-commerce''], in ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. NEW YORK: ACM (SAICSIT ’12). | * Moczarny, I., de Villiers, M. and van Biljon, J. (2012) [https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/2389836.2389862?casa_token=JqBarmLuWpgAAAAA:OCWsB3jtTGHJN0tzoU9Jcjhuk2xOROOvxrbUyngi4rA7QwRNRxKM9dkutNge5V0gTMQxyhbPyuD5 ''How can usability contribute to user experience?: a study in the domain of e-commerce''], in ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. NEW YORK: ACM (SAICSIT ’12). | ||
* Nescott, B.K. (2011) ''E-commerce Coming Into Its Own. Hauppauge'', NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc (Internet Theory, Technology and Applications). | * Nescott, B.K. (2011) ''E-commerce Coming Into Its Own. Hauppauge'', NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc (Internet Theory, Technology and Applications). | ||
* Sudhakaran, N. (2022) [http://journals.resaim.com/ijresm/article/view/292 ''Consumer Buying Behaviour towards E-Commerce during COVID-19''], International journal on global business management & research. | * Sudhakaran, N. (2022) [http://journals.resaim.com/ijresm/article/view/292 ''Consumer Buying Behaviour towards E-Commerce during COVID-19''], International journal on global business management & research. | ||
[[Category: E-Business]] | [[Category: E-Business]] | ||
{{a|Janina Klüsch}} | {{a|Janina Klüsch}} | ||
Latest revision as of 20:31, 17 November 2023
Electronic commerce (e-commerce) describes the business transaction using technological infrastructures like the internet or other telecommunication technology [1]. This term includes not only the buying and selling of goods and services itself but also all processes connected to those transactions. Thus, the digital payment process and the digital exchange of data are also part of e-commerce [2].
Development of e-commerce
In 1997 the term e-commerce was first mentioned by IBM [3]. As the barriers to accessing the internet lowered and the general public was able to use the internet and other telecommunication technologies, e-commerce experienced its boom. The number of online shops as well as the number of customers shopping online increased year by year. Even today, the e-commerce sector is still growing steadily. The increase in internet speed and the expanding global spread of the internet are driving factors of e-commerce. However, it should be noted that the development of e-commerce varies not only from continent to continent but also from country to country [4]. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the e-commerce sector experienced another strong increase. Due to lockdowns in many countries, consumption via online shops increased strongly and this trend is still very much in evidence [5].
E-commerce categories
There are various categories into which e-commerce can be divided:
- Business to Business (B2B): transactions between two companies; this is the fastest-growing e-commerce sector
- Business to Consumer (B2C): transactions between a company and the consumer; a traditional buyer-seller combination
- Consumer to Business (C2B): transactions between a company and a consumer but the consumer takes the role of the seller and the company the role of the buyer
- Consumer to Consumer(C2C): transactions between two customers
If state administration is also considered, the following categories can be added:
- Business to Government (B2G) or Business to Administration (B2A): transactions between a party from the business sector and a representative from the public sector
- Government to Business (G2B): transactions between a public office and a company
- Government to Consumer(G2C): transactions with a flow from the public sector to a consumer
- Consumer to Government (C2G): transactions involving a consumer and a public sector body
- Government to Government (G2G): transaction where two parties of the public sector are involved
It is important to note that especially in G2B, G2C, and G2G sectors the transactions often contain the flow of administrative information, customer documents, and statistics. Therefore, it does not necessarily have to be a purchase or sale of goods or services [6].
Advantages and adaptations
E-commerce brings advantages to customers. 24-hour availability, easy and fast home delivery, and simple payment methods are just some of them [7]. However, suppliers also profit from doing business via the internet. Considering the supplier side, e-commerce, for example, eliminates the cost of retail space, reduces administration costs, and they don’t have to adhere to the legal opening hours of shops. The use of the Internet and other telecommunications technologies also makes it possible to collect customer data. Data on the shopping behavior of customers enables suppliers to tailor their offers and their communication with each customer individually. Such personalization would not be possible in a non-electronic transaction [8]. However, to make use of this data and maximize the profit, suppliers must first attract customers to their online shop and ensure that customers visit the website again. In a physical shop, for example in a shopping center, this is attempted through furnishing, decoration, and services. In e-commerce, however, a good user experience (UX) is necessary to achieve this effect. Companies in the e-commerce sector should therefore always keep the improvement of the UX for their online shop in mind in order to achieve the best possible success for their business [9].
Examples of E-commerce
- Online Shopping: E-commerce is best known for online shopping, which is the process of buying goods and services over the internet. This can be done through websites such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and many others.
- Digital Marketplaces: Digital marketplaces are another form of e-commerce. These are websites that allow buyers and sellers to come together to trade goods and services. Examples of digital marketplaces include Etsy, Alibaba, and Fiverr.
- Online Payments: E-commerce also includes the ability to pay for goods and services online. This is commonly done through payment processors such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
- Mobile Commerce: Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, is the practice of buying and selling goods and services using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This can be done through apps such as Uber, Airbnb, and Amazon.
- Social Media Commerce: Social media commerce, also known as s-commerce, is the process of selling goods and services on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Voice Commerce: Voice commerce, or v-commerce, is the practice of buying and selling goods and services using voice commands. This can be done through virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Limitations of E-commerce
E-commerce has become an increasingly popular form of business transaction, but there are several limitations that must be taken into consideration:
- Security risks: As e-commerce relies on the internet, it is vulnerable to cyber security threats, such as data breaches and hacking. This can have a negative impact on customers’ trust in the system, as well as the financial losses that can be caused by such attacks.
- Lack of personal interaction: In e-commerce, customers are unable to directly interact with salespeople and ask for advice or recommendations. This can be a disadvantage for customers who are looking for a more personalized shopping experience.
- Technical issues: Technical issues can be a big problem in e-commerce. If the website is slow or unreliable, or if the payment system is down, customers may be unable to complete their transaction.
- Payment issues: Customers may be reluctant to pay online due to concerns about their personal information being compromised, or because of the fees associated with certain payment methods.
- Legal issues: E-commerce businesses must comply with relevant laws and regulations in order to operate legally. This can be a challenge for businesses that are not familiar with the applicable laws.
E-commerce is a business transaction facilitated by technological infrastructures such as the internet or other telecommunication technologies. Other approaches related to E-commerce include:
- Mobile commerce (m-commerce): This term is used to describe the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets for online shopping.
- Social commerce (s-commerce): This term is used to describe the use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for online shopping.
- Online payments: This term is used to describe the use of digital payment methods such as credit or debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets for online payments.
- Omni-channel retailing: This term is used to describe the use of multiple physical and digital touchpoints to create an integrated, seamless shopping experience for customers.
In summary, e-commerce is a business transaction facilitated by technological infrastructures such as the internet or other telecommunication technologies. Other approaches related to e-commerce include mobile commerce, social commerce, online payments, and omni-channel retailing.
Footnotes
- ↑ Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 210
- ↑ Nescott, 2011, p. VII
- ↑ Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 210
- ↑ Gregor and Kalińska-Kula, 2020, pp. 184-186
- ↑ Sudhakaran, 2022, p. 81
- ↑ Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, pp. 210-211
- ↑ Gregor and Kalińska-Kula, 2020, p. 184
- ↑ Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska and Siničáková, 2019, p. 211
- ↑ Moczarny, de Villiers and van Biljon, 2012, pp. 216-217, 223-224
| E-commerce — recommended articles |
| Carding forum — Perkscoin — Anonymous Trading — Hybrid business — Indirect sales — Digital cash — E hub — Business correspondent — Credit card dump |
References
- Gregor, B. and Kalińska-Kula, M. (2020) The Development of E-Commerce and Consumer Attitudes - A Comparative Analysis of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus, Folia oeconomica stetinensia.
- Jędrzejczak-Gas, J., Barska, A. and Siničáková, M. (2019) Level of development of e-commerce in EU countries, Management (Zielona Góra).
- Moczarny, I., de Villiers, M. and van Biljon, J. (2012) How can usability contribute to user experience?: a study in the domain of e-commerce, in ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. NEW YORK: ACM (SAICSIT ’12).
- Nescott, B.K. (2011) E-commerce Coming Into Its Own. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc (Internet Theory, Technology and Applications).
- Sudhakaran, N. (2022) Consumer Buying Behaviour towards E-Commerce during COVID-19, International journal on global business management & research.
Author: Janina Klüsch
