Lesson 1-2 Flashcards
E-commerce, short for
Electronic commerce
refers to the buying and selling of goods, services, or information over the internet or other electronic networks.
E-commerce
It involves online transactions between businesses (B2B), businesses and consumers (B2C), and even between consumers (C2C).
E-commerce
Encompasses a wide range of activities, from online shopping and digital payments to electronic data interchange (EDI) between businesses.
E-commerce
The origins of e-commerce can be traced back to the development of electronic data interchange (EDI). EDI allowed businesses to exchange electronic documents and conduct transactions using standardized formats. However, it was primarily used for B2B transactions between large enterprises.
1960s-1970s: Early Precursors
Technologies like Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) started being used more widely for business transactions.
1980s: The Emergence of Online Shopping
Invented the World Wide Web, laying the foundation for the modern internet.
Tim Berners-Lee
founded Amazon.com as an online bookstore, which later expanded into a massive online marketplace.
Jeff Bezos
saw a rapid proliferation of online retailers, including eBay (1995) and PayPal (1998).
1990s: Rapid Growth and Dot-Com Boom
Online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon became household names, while traditional retailers started establishing online stores.
2000s: Expansion and Consolidation
saw the emergence of mobile commerce (m-commerce) with the launch of smartphones and mobile apps.
Mid-2000s: Rise of Mobile Commerce
The advent of social commerce, where products are sold through social media platforms, gained popularity.
2010s: Dominance of E-Commerce Giants
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of e-commerce as people turned to online shopping for safety and convenience.
E-commerce sales surged, and businesses rapidly adapted to meet the growing demand for online products and services.
2020s: Acceleration and Pandemic Impact
The 2020s also witnessed the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and blockchain into e-commerce, enhancing user experiences and security.
Emerging Technologies:
E-commerce transcends geographical boundaries, allowing businesses to reach a global customer base. It provides access to markets that were previously inaccessible or costly to target.
Global Reach
E-commerce offers unparalleled convenience to consumers. Shoppers can browse, compare, and purchase products or services at any time, from anywhere, using a variety of devices.
Convenience and Accessibility
For businesses, e-commerce often involves lower operational costs compared to traditional brick-and-mortar retail. There are no physical store expenses, and digital marketing can be more cost-effective than traditional advertising.
Cost Efficiency
E-commerce enables small and medium-sized businesses to compete with larger enterprises on a more level playing field. It allows startups to enter markets without the need for extensive physical infrastructure.
Market Expansion
E-commerce platforms gather data on customer behavior and preferences, enabling businesses to offer personalized recommendations and marketing strategies. This enhances the overall shopping experience.
Customer Personalization
E-commerce provides consumers with an extensive range of products and services. Shoppers have access to a diverse selection of products, often more than what is available in physical stores.
Consumer Choice
E-commerce offers a variety of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and cryptocurrencies. This flexibility caters to diverse customer preferences.
Convenient Payment Options
E-commerce generates economic growth by creating jobs in areas like technology, logistics, and digital marketing. It also drives economic development in regions where traditional retail might not be feasible.
Economic Impact
It allowed businesses to continue operating when physical stores were closed, demonstrating its importance in times of crisis.
Resilience
Individuals and small businesses can create online stores and start selling products or services with relative ease.
Entrepreneurship
This model involves businesses selling products or services directly to individual consumers. Examples include online retail stores like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay.
Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
Model where businesses sell products or services to other businesses. It often involves bulk purchasing, supply chain management, and specialized industry solutions. Example includes Alibaba and Amazon Business
Business-to-Business (B2B)
platforms facilitate transactions between individual consumers. Examples include online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Carousell.
Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)
In this model, individual consumers offer products or services to businesses. For example, freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr allow individuals to offer their skills and services to businesses.
Consumer-to-Business (C2B)
This model involves customers paying a recurring fee for access to products or services. Examples include subscription boxes, streaming services like Netflix, and SaaS (Software as a Service) companies.
Subscription-Based Model
Act as intermediaries between suppliers and customers. They don’t hold inventory but instead fulfill orders directly from suppliers when a customer makes a purchase. Examples include Dropify.
Dropshipping