Definition and Extent of e-Commerce " e commerce meaning "

 1- Definition " e commerce meaning "

E-commerce, short for "electronic commerce," refers to the buying and selling of goods, services, or information over the internet. It involves online transactions and interactions between businesses, individuals, or entities, where products can be browsed, selected, purchased, and often delivered digitally or physically through electronic platforms or websites. E-commerce has become a significant and convenient way for people to conduct commercial activities, offering a virtual marketplace accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

E-commerce has several features:-

The transfer of digitized data between entities encompasses various scenarios, such as communication between two parties, orchestrating the movement of products and services, or transmitting electronic requests. These data swaps occur among both individuals and organizations.

Technology-driven e-commerce pertains to transactions facilitated by technology. Among these technological customer interfaces, web browsers are perhaps the most recognizable. Nevertheless, additional interfaces such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and phone-based electronic banking also fit within the broader realm of e-commerce. In the past, businesses exclusively relied on human interaction to handle transactions with customers and markets. However, in the context of e-commerce, these transactions can now be efficiently managed through the utilization of technology.

This phenomenon is technology-facilitated. Moreover, e-commerce is evolving from mere technology-assisted transactions to technology-mediated interactions. When making purchases within marketplace, technology plays a role in enabling transactions, such as when shoppers interact with a cashier who employs a PC-based order processing system. The distinction in e-commerce lies in the reduced reliance on human interaction for transactions, with technology playing a more prominent role—this shift also extends to customer relationships. The focal point for buyer-seller interactions is transitioning from the traditional brick-and-mortar "marketplace" to the virtual realm of the "online marketplace." Consequently, the prosperity of businesses hinges on the effectiveness of screens and machinery that oversee customer interactions and their expectations. This stands in stark contrast to earlier times when all transactions revolved around direct human engagement, illustrating a significant departure from the norm.

This passage encompasses intra and interorganizational endeavors aimed at facilitating electronic trade. The realm of electronic commerce encompasses all digitally conducted activities within and between organizations that play a role in facilitating marketplace transactions. This concept pertains not only to how business entities interact with external stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, partners, competitors, and markets but also to its impact on internal operations concerning the management of activities, processes, and systems.

A contemporary definition:

E-commerce now refers to the use of technology to facilitate transactions between individuals or businesses, as well as the digital activities within and between organizations that enable these transactions to take place.

E-Commerce Categories:

There are four categories of e-commerce : Business to Business | Business to Consumer | Peer to Peer | Consumer to Business.( look at Exhibit 1 )

Business to Business (B2B):

Business-to-business (B2B) operations encompass the entire range of electronic commercial interactions that transpire between two distinct enterprises. Within this realm, various functions are encompassed, including the procurement and acquisition of goods, the management of suppliers, the control of inventory, the oversight of distribution channels, sales undertakings, the administration of payments, and the provision of services and support. Recognizable names like Dell and General Electric may come to mind, yet there exist equally captivating nascent collaborations that amalgamate the purchasing influence of established rivals; a case in point is the cooperative effort between GM and Ford which gave rise to "govisint". Similar endeavors are also in progress within industry associations, spanning domains like pharmaceuticals, commercial real estate development, and electronic sub-components.

Business to Consumer (B2C):

Business-to-Consumer (B2C) e-commerce pertains to interactions involving businesses and individual consumers, exemplified by activities managed by Amazon. B2C transactions encompass the exchange of tangible or digital goods and services, typically on a smaller scale compared to B2B transactions.

Peer to Peer (P2P):

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) exchanges encompass transactions occurring directly between consumers. These exchanges may incorporate third-party participation, exemplified by platforms like the auction website eBay. Other platforms supporting peer-to-peer interactions include owners.com and craigslist (for classified ads), Gnutella (for music sharing), monster (for job listings), and lavalife (for personal services).

Consumer to Business (C2B):

Consumer-to-Business (C2B) interactions involve consumers joining forces as a buying collective within a Consumer-to-Business relationship. Such collectives might be driven by economic incentives, as seen with demand aggregators, or they could be socially motivated, exemplified by cause-related advocacy groups like those found on speakout.com.