E-Commerce

E-commerce is defined as commerce that is transacted electronically, as over the internet. Most people think of E-commerce as buying things on the web. In reality, it is much more than that. It does include purchases from such places as Amazon or Borders for you books, to an array of sporting goods stores for your outdoor activities. It also includes services, such as banking. There is business to consumer (B2C) transactions that most of us use today. Another form is consumer to consumer (C2C), which included the popular auction sites. There is also business to business (B2B) commerce done on the internet. They are all forms of E-commerce

In 1968 E-commerce got its start through an electronic data interface which allowed companies the ability to complete transactions with each other. It wasn't until 1984 that a standard called ASC X12 was introduced to make sure both companies had the same transaction capabilities to allow them to interact reliably and quickly.

In 1992, Netscape introduced an internet browser that allowed for point and click capabilities. This was the beginning of the internet shopping craze. This was the first time that ordinary people could get on the internet and navigate fairly easily. Up until this point, it was mainly reserved for computer programmers.

In 1995, the two most recognizable E-commerce companies today were introduced. Both Amazon.com and eBay.com came onto the scene. They have survived the tremendous swings in the business and are going strong and getting larger by the day. I am able to buy books and music from Amazon. Most of the books are used for the classes. On eBay, I am able to buy and sell goods. I can find many products that I wouldn't be able to find locally and purchase, have them shipped, and pay for them through a third party, all without ever leaving my home. I am also able to sell goods that I no longer need or cannot use. I often will sell tickets on eBay to people from all over the Northeast and sometimes throughout the U.S. There is also Priceline.com, the reverse auction site for travelers. Instead of the consumer bidding on a trip, the consumer enters the price they want to pay and companies can accept the offer in exchange for the accommodations the customer is looking for.