View source for E-commerce

{{Short description|Type of business industry usually conducted over the internet}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Ecommerce}}
'''E-commerce''' ('''electronic commerce''') refers to [[Commerce|commercial activities]] including the electronic buying or selling [[Goods and services|products and services]] which are conducted on online platforms or over the [[Internet]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=E-COMMERCE |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/e-commerce |website=Cambridge Dictionary}}</ref> E-commerce draws on technologies such as [[mobile commerce]], [[electronic funds transfer]], [[supply chain management]], [[Online advertising|Internet marketing]], [[online transaction processing]], [[electronic data interchange]] (EDI), [[Inventory management software|inventory management systems]], and automated [[data collection]] systems. E-commerce is the largest sector of the [[electronics industry]] and is in turn driven by the technological advances of the [[semiconductor industry]].

== Defining e-commerce ==
The term was coined and first employed by Robert Jacobson, Principal Consultant to the California State Assembly's Utilities & Commerce Committee, in the title and text of California's Electronic Commerce Act, carried by the late Committee Chairwoman Gwen Moore (D-L.A.) and enacted in 1984.

E-commerce typically uses the [[World Wide Web|web]] for at least a part of a transaction's life cycle although it may also use other technologies such as [[Email|e-mail]]. Typical e-commerce transactions include the purchase of products (such as books from [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]) or services (such as [[music download]]s in the form of [[digital distribution]] such as the [[iTunes Store]]).<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 2016|title=Retail e-commerce sales CAGR forecast in selected countries from 2016 to 2021|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/220177/b2c-e-commerce-sales-cagr-forecast-for-selected-countries/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126014712/https://www.statista.com/statistics/220177/b2c-e-commerce-sales-cagr-forecast-for-selected-countries/|archive-date=26 November 2017|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Statista]]}}</ref> There are three areas of e-commerce: [[online retailing]], [[electronic markets]], and [[online auction]]s. E-commerce is supported by [[electronic business]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wienclaw| first=Ruth A.|date=2013|title=B2B Business Models |url=https://www.ebscohost.com/uploads/imported/thisTopic-dbTopic-1074.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Research Starters: Business]]|archive-date=18 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718091809/http://www.ebscohost.com/uploads/imported/thisTopic-dbTopic-1074.pdf}}</ref> The existence value of e-commerce is to allow consumers to shop online and pay online through the Internet, saving the time and space of customers and enterprises, greatly improving transaction efficiency, especially for busy office workers, and also saving a lot of valuable time.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Subramani |first1=Mani |last2=Walden |first2=Eric |date=June 2001 |title=The Impact of E-Commerce Announcements on the Market Value of Firms |url=http://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/isre.12.2.135.9698 |journal=Information Systems Research |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=135–154 |doi=10.1287/isre.12.2.135.9698 |issn=1047-7047 |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615223403/http://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/isre.12.2.135.9698 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

E-commerce businesses may also employ some or all of the following:
* [[Online shopping]] for [[direct selling|retail sales direct]] to consumers via [[web sites]] and [[mobile apps]], [[conversational commerce]] via [[live chat]], [[chatbot]]s, and [[voice assistants]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Bussey|first=Ed|date=6 March 2018|title=How to prepare your products and brand for conversational commerce|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/06/how-to-prepare-your-products-and-brand-for-conversational-commerce/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[VentureBeat]]|archive-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929193753/https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/06/how-to-prepare-your-products-and-brand-for-conversational-commerce/}}</ref>
* Providing or participating in [[online marketplace]]s, which process third-party [[business-to-consumer]] (B2C) or [[consumer-to-consumer]] (C2C) sales;
* [[B2B e-commerce|Business-to-business (B2B)]] buying and selling.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Ultimate Guide to eCommerce Marketing|url=https://www.mayple.com/ecommerce-marketing-strategy|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Mayple]]|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428042004/https://www.mayple.com/ecommerce-marketing-strategy}}</ref>
* Gathering and using demographic data through web contacts and social media.
* B2B [[electronic data interchange]].
* Marketing to prospective and established [[customer]]s by [[email marketing|e-mail]] or fax (for example, with [[newsletter]]s).
* Engaging in [[pretail]] for launching new products and services.
* Online financial exchanges for currency exchanges or trading purposes.

There are five essential categories of E-commerce:<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Simjanović |first1=Dušan J. |last2=Zdravković |first2=Nemanja |last3=Vesić |first3=Nenad O. |date=March 2022 |title=On the Factors of Successful e-Commerce Platform Design during and after COVID-19 Pandemic Using Extended Fuzzy AHP Method |journal=Axioms |language=en |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=105 |doi=10.3390/axioms11030105 |issn=2075-1680|doi-access=free }}</ref>
* Business to Business
* Business to Consumer
* Business to Government
* Consumer to Business
* Consumer to Consumer

== Forms ==
Contemporary electronic commerce can be classified into two categories. The first category is business based on types of goods sold (involves everything from ordering "digital" content for immediate online consumption, to ordering conventional goods and services, to "meta" services to facilitate other types of electronic commerce). The second category is based on the nature of the participant ([[B2B e-commerce|B2B]], [[Retail|B2C]], [[Consumer-to-business|C2B]] and [[Customer to customer|C2C]]).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khurana |first=Ajeet |date=25 November 2019 |title=Did You Know That There Are 4 Types of Ecommerce? |work=[[The Balance Small Business]] |publisher=[[Dotdash]] |url=https://www.thebalancesmb.com/ecommerce-businesses-understanding-types-1141595 |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122135823/https://www.thebalancesmb.com/ecommerce-businesses-understanding-types-1141595 |archive-date=22 January 2021}}</ref>

On the institutional level, big corporations and financial institutions use the internet to exchange financial data to facilitate domestic and international business. [[Data integrity]] and [[data security|security]] are pressing issues for electronic commerce.

Aside from traditional e-commerce, the terms m-Commerce ([[mobile commerce]]) as well (around 2013) [[t-Commerce]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Hacon |first=Tom |date=4 March 2013 |title=T-Commerce – What the tablet can do for brands and their consumers |url=http://www.governor.co.uk/news-plus-views/2013/march/t-commerce-what-the-tablet-can-do-for-brands-and-their-consumers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607185627/https://www.governor.co.uk/news-plus-views/2013/march/t-commerce-what-the-tablet-can-do-for-brands-and-their-consumers/ |archive-date=7 June 2016 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Governor Technology]]}}</ref> have also been used.

== Governmental regulation ==
In the United States, California's Electronic Commerce Act (1984), enacted by the Legislature, the more recent [[California Privacy Rights Act]] (2020), enacted through a popular election proposition and to control specifically how electronic commerce may be conducted in California. In the US in its entirety, electronic commerce activities are regulated more broadly by the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC). These activities include the use of commercial e-mails, online advertising and [[consumer privacy]]. The [[CAN-SPAM Act of 2003]] establishes national standards for direct marketing over e-mail. The [[Federal Trade Commission Act]] regulates all forms of advertising, including online advertising, and states that advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 2000|title=Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road|url=https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-marketing-internet-rules-road|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308111628/https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-marketing-internet-rules-road|archive-date=8 March 2020|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Federal Trade Commission]]}}</ref> Using its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices, the FTC has brought a number of cases to enforce the promises in corporate privacy statements, including promises about the security of consumers' personal information.<ref>{{cite web|title=Privacy and Security|url=https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/privacy-and-security|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Federal Trade Commission]]|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504101605/https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/privacy-and-security}}</ref> As a result, any corporate privacy policy related to e-commerce activity may be subject to enforcement by the FTC.

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008, which came into law in 2008, amends the [[Controlled Substances Act]] to address [[Online pharmacy|online pharmacies]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2 October 2008|title=H.R. 6353 (110th): Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr6353/summary|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[GovTrack]]|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319223858/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr6353/summary}}</ref>

Conflict of laws in cyberspace is a major hurdle for harmonization of legal framework for e-commerce around the world. In order to give a uniformity to e-commerce law around the world, many countries adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce (1996).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://uncitral.un.org/sites/uncitral.un.org/files/media-documents/uncitral/en/19-04970_ebook.pdf|title=UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce|publisher=[[United Nations Commission on International Trade Law]]|year=1999|isbn=92-1-133607-4|location=New York|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225221820/https://uncitral.un.org/sites/uncitral.un.org/files/media-documents/uncitral/en/19-04970_ebook.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Internationally''' there is the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), which was formed in 1991 from an informal network of government customer fair trade organisations. The purpose was stated as being to find ways of co-operating on tackling consumer problems connected with cross-border transactions in both goods and services, and to help ensure exchanges of information among the participants for mutual benefit and understanding. From this came Econsumer.gov, an ICPEN initiative since April 2001. It is a portal to report complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies.

There is also '''Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation'''. APEC was established in 1989 with the vision of achieving stability, security and prosperity for the region through free and open trade and investment. APEC has an Electronic Commerce Steering Group as well as working on common privacy regulations throughout the APEC region.

In '''Australia''', trade is covered under Australian Treasury Guidelines for electronic commerce and the [[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]|publisher=[[Government of Australia]]|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503171522/https://www.accc.gov.au/}}</ref> regulates and offers advice on how to deal with businesses online,<ref>{{cite web|title=Dealing with other businesses online|url=http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54056|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119002704/http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54056|archive-date=19 January 2013|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]|publisher=[[Government of Australia]]}}</ref> and offers specific advice on what happens if things go wrong.<ref>{{cite web|title=What to do if thing go wrong in Australia|url=http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/815341|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212103511/http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/815341|archive-date=12 February 2013|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]]|publisher=[[Australian Federal Government]]}}</ref>

The '''European Union''' undertook an extensive enquiry into e-commerce in 2015–16 which observed significant growth in the development of e-commerce, along with some developments which raised concerns, such as increased use of selective distribution systems, which allow manufacturers to control routes to market, and "increased use of contractual restrictions to better control product distribution". The [[European Commission]] felt that some emerging practices might be justified if they could improve the quality of product distribution, but "others may unduly prevent consumers from benefiting from greater product choice and lower prices in e-commerce and therefore warrant Commission action" in order to promote compliance with [[European Union competition law|EU competition rules]].<ref>European Commission, [https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/ict/sector-inquiry-e-commerce_en Sector inquiry into e-commerce] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206060506/https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/ict/sector-inquiry-e-commerce_en |date=6 February 2023 }}, accessed 6 February 2023</ref>

In '''the United Kingdom''', the [[Financial Services Authority]] (FSA)<ref>{{cite web|title=Financial Services Authority|url=http://www.fsa.gov.uk/portal/site/fsa|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228184712/http://www.fsa.gov.uk/portal/site/fsa|archive-date=28 December 2012|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Financial Services Authority]]}}</ref> was formerly the regulating authority for most aspects of the EU's [[Payment Services Directive]] (PSD), until its replacement in 2013 by the [[Prudential Regulation Authority (United Kingdom)|Prudential Regulation Authority]] and the [[Financial Conduct Authority]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Parker|first1=George|last2=Masters|first2=Brooke|date=16 June 2010|title=Osborne abolishes FSA and boosts Bank|work=[[Financial Times]]|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0203b99e-797f-11df-b063-00144feabdc0|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308132651/https://www.ft.com/content/0203b99e-797f-11df-b063-00144feabdc0|url-status=live}}</ref> The UK implemented the PSD through the Payment Services Regulations 2009 (PSRs), which came into effect on 1 November 2009. The PSR affects firms providing payment services and their customers. These firms include banks, non-bank credit card issuers and non-bank merchant acquirers, e-money issuers, etc. The PSRs created a new class of regulated firms known as payment institutions (PIs), who are subject to prudential requirements. Article 87 of the PSD requires the European Commission to report on the implementation and impact of the PSD by 1 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 February 2009|title=The Payment Services Regulations 2009|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/209/contents/made|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[legislation.gov.uk]]|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312123339/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/209/contents/made}}</ref>

In '''India''', the [[Information Technology Act 2000]] governs the basic applicability of [[E-commerce in India|e-commerce]].

In '''China''', the Telecommunications Regulations of the People's Republic of China (promulgated on 25 September 2000), stipulated the [[Ministry of Industry and Information Technology]] (MIIT) as the government department regulating all telecommunications related activities, including electronic commerce.<ref>{{cite web|date=25 September 2000|title=Telecommunications Regulations of the People's Republic of China|url=http://www.china.org.cn/business/laws_regulations/2010-01/20/content_19273945.htm|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[China Internet Information Center]]|archive-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405012152/http://www.china.org.cn/business/laws_regulations/2010-01/20/content_19273945.htm}}</ref> On the same day, the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services were released, the first administrative regulations to address profit-generating activities conducted through the Internet, and lay the foundation for future regulations governing e-commerce in China.<ref>{{cite web|date=20 September 2000|title=Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services|url=http://www.china.org.cn/business/2010-01/20/content_19274704.htm|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[China Internet Information Center]]|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716184027/http://www.china.org.cn/business/2010-01/20/content_19274704.htm}}</ref> On 28 August 2004, the eleventh session of the tenth NPC Standing Committee adopted an Electronic Signature Law, which regulates data message, electronic signature authentication and legal liability issues. It is considered the first law in China's e-commerce legislation. It was a milestone in the course of improving China's electronic commerce legislation, and also marks the entering of China's rapid development stage for electronic commerce legislation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Swan|first=Erin|date=30 October 2015|title=The PRC Electronic Signature Law|url=https://www.efilecabinet.com/the-prc-electronic-signature-law/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[eFileCabinet]]|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024110/https://www.efilecabinet.com/the-prc-electronic-signature-law/}}</ref>

==Global trends==
E-commerce has become an important tool for small and large businesses worldwide, not only to sell to customers, but also to engage them.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Eisingerich|first1=Andreas B.|last2=Kretschmer|first2=Tobias|date=March 2008|title=In E-Commerce, More is More|url=https://hbr.org/2008/03/in-e-commerce-more-is-more|journal=[[Harvard Business Review]]|volume=86|pages=20–21|url-access=limited|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203204602/https://hbr.org/2008/03/in-e-commerce-more-is-more|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Burgess|first1=Stephen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n9KF8HtigrAC|title=Effective Web Presence Solutions for Small Businesses: Strategies for Successful Implementation: Strategies for Successful Implementation|last2=Sellitto|first2=Carmine|last3=Karanasios|first3=Stan|date=28 February 2009|publisher=[[IGI Global]]|isbn=9781605662251|publication-date=28 February 2009|access-date=4 May 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223600/https://books.google.com/books/?id=n9KF8HtigrAC}}</ref>

Cross-border e-Commerce is also an essential field for e-Commerce businesses.  It has responded to the trend of globalization. It shows that numerous firms have opened up new businesses, expanded new markets, and overcome trade barriers; more and more enterprises have started exploring the cross-border cooperation field. In addition, compared with traditional cross-border trade, the information on cross-border e-commerce is more concealed. In the era of globalization, cross-border e-commerce for inter-firm companies means the activities, interactions, or social relations of two or more e-commerce enterprises. However, the success of cross-border e-commerce promotes the development of small and medium-sized firms, and it has finally become a new transaction mode. It has helped the companies solve financial problems and realize the reasonable allocation of resources field. SMEs ( small and medium enterprises) can also precisely match the demand and supply in the market, having the industrial chain majorization and creating more revenues for companies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Si-Hua |last2=Xiao |first2=Hua |last3=Huang |first3=Wen-de |last4=He |first4=Wei |date=2022-01-02 |title=Cooperation of Cross-border E-commerce: A reputation and trust perspective |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/1097198X.2021.2022396 |journal=Journal of Global Information Technology Management |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=7–25 |doi=10.1080/1097198X.2021.2022396 |s2cid=246867732 |issn=1097-198X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 2012, e-commerce sales topped $1 trillion for the first time in history.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 February 2013|title=Ecommerce Sales Topped $1 Trillion for First Time in 2012|url=https://www.emarketer.com/Article/Ecommerce-Sales-Topped-1-Trillion-First-Time-2012/1009649|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|work=[[eMarketer]]|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330180629/https://www.emarketer.com/Article/Ecommerce-Sales-Topped-1-Trillion-First-Time-2012/1009649}}</ref>

Mobile devices are playing an increasing role in the mix of e-commerce, this is also commonly called mobile commerce, or m-commerce. In 2014, one estimate saw purchases made on mobile devices making up 25% of the market by 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last=Enright|first=Allison|date=25 April 2013|title=U.S. e-commerce sales could top $434 billion in 2017|url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2013/04/25/us-e-commerce-sales-could-top-434-billion-2017/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Digital Commerce 360]]|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202043908/https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2013/04/25/us-e-commerce-sales-could-top-434-billion-2017/}}</ref>

For traditional businesses, one research stated that information technology and cross-border e-commerce is a good opportunity for the rapid development and growth of enterprises. Many companies have invested an enormous volume of investment in mobile applications. The DeLone and McLean Model stated that three perspectives contribute to a successful e-business: information system quality, service quality and users' satisfaction.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=DeLone|first1=William H.|last2=McLean|first2=Ephraim R.|date=8 December 2014|title=Measuring e-Commerce Success: Applying the DeLone & McLean Information Systems Success Model|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10864415.2004.11044317|journal=International Journal of Electronic Commerce|volume=9|issue=1|pages=31–47|doi=10.1080/10864415.2004.11044317|via=Taylor & Francis|s2cid=205751936|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323032755/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10864415.2004.11044317|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> There is no limit of time and space, there are more opportunities to reach out to customers around the world, and to cut down unnecessary intermediate links, thereby reducing the cost price, and can benefit from one on one large customer data analysis, to achieve a high degree of personal customization strategic plan, in order to fully enhance the core competitiveness of the products in the company.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bakos|first1=Yannis|date=2001|title=The Emerging Landscape for Retail E-Commerce|url=https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.15.1.69|url-status=live|journal=[[Journal of Economic Perspectives]]|volume=15|issue=1|pages=69–80|citeseerx=10.1.1.4.9128|doi=10.1257/jep.15.1.69|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118041827/https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257%2Fjep.15.1.69}}</ref>

Modern 3D graphics technologies, such as [[Facebook 3D Posts]], are considered by some social media marketers and advertisers as a preferable way to promote consumer goods than static photos, and some brands like Sony are already paving the way for augmented reality commerce. Wayfair now lets you inspect a 3D version of its furniture in a home setting before buying.<ref>{{cite news|last=Constine|first=Josh|date=20 February 2018|title=Facebook's plan to unite AR, VR and News Feed with 3D posts|work=[[TechCrunch]]|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/20/facebook-3d-posts/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504090211/https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/20/facebook-3d-posts/}}</ref>

=== China ===
{{Main article|E-commerce in China}}
Among emerging economies, China's e-commerce presence continues to expand every year. With 668 million Internet users as of 2014, China's online shopping sales reached $253 billion in the first half of 2015, accounting for 10% of total Chinese consumer retail sales in that period.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Millward |first=Steven |date=18 August 2015 |title=China is making a huge shift to mobile |url=https://www.techinasia.com/china-internet-social-media-ecommerce-stats-2015 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306203048/https://www.techinasia.com/china-internet-social-media-ecommerce-stats-2015 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Tech in Asia]] |type=Infographic}}</ref> The Chinese retailers have been able to help consumers feel more comfortable shopping online.<ref>{{cite news |last=Olsen |first=Robert |date=18 January 2010 |title=China's Migration To E-Commerce |newspaper=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/01/18/china-internet-commerce-markets-equities-alibaba.html/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806145344/https://www.forbes.com/2010/01/18/china-internet-commerce-markets-equities-alibaba.html |archive-date=6 August 2017}}</ref> e-commerce transactions between China and other countries increased 32% to 2.3 trillion yuan ($375.8 billion) in 2012 and accounted for 9.6% of China's total international trade.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tong |first=Frank |date=16 September 2013 |title=China's cross‑border e‑commerce tops $375 billion in 2012 |newspaper=[[Digital Commerce 360]] |publisher=[[Vertical Web Media LLC]] |url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2013/09/16/chinas-cross-border-e-commerce-tops-375-billion-2012/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018171240/https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2013/09/16/chinas-cross-border-e-commerce-tops-375-billion-2012/ |archive-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> In 2013, [[Alibaba Group|Alibaba]] had an e-commerce market share of 80% in China.<ref>{{cite web |author=Millward |first=Steven |date=17 September 2014 |title=Here are all the must-see numbers on Alibaba ahead of record-breaking IPO |url=http://www.techinasia.com/alibaba-numbers-ipo-breaks-records-2014/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920190816/http://www.techinasia.com/alibaba-numbers-ipo-breaks-records-2014/ |archive-date=20 September 2014 |access-date=4 May 2021 |work=[[Tech in Asia]]}}</ref> In 2014, Alibaba still dominated the B2B marketplace in China with a market share of 44.82%, followed by several other companies including Made-in-China.com at 3.21%, and GlobalSources.com at 2.98%, with the total transaction value of China's B2B market exceeding 4.5 billion yuan.<ref>{{cite web |last=PYMNTS.com |date=22 October 2014 |title=China B2B Passes 4.5B Yuan |url=https://www.pymnts.com/news/2014/china-b2b-passes-4-5b-yuan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308085620/https://www.pymnts.com/news/2014/china-b2b-passes-4-5b-yuan/ |archive-date=8 March 2023 |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=PYMNTS.com}}</ref>

China is also the largest e-commerce market in the world by value of sales, with an estimated {{USD|899 billion}} in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last=Millward |first=Steven |date=18 August 2016 |title=Asia's ecommerce spending to hit record $1 trillion this year – but most of that is China |url=https://www.techinasia.com/asia-ecommerce-spending-1-trillion-dollars-2016 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819043228/https://www.techinasia.com/asia-ecommerce-spending-1-trillion-dollars-2016 |archive-date=19 August 2016 |access-date=4 May 2021 |work=[[Tech in Asia]]}}</ref> It accounted for 42.4% of worldwide retail e-commerce in that year, the most of any country.<ref name="Hu-2023">{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Richard |title=Reinventing the Chinese City |date=2023 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-21101-7 |location=New York}}</ref>{{Rp|page=110}} Research shows that Chinese consumer motivations are different enough from Western audiences to require unique e-commerce app designs instead of simply porting Western apps into the Chinese market.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Parker |first1=Christopher J. |last2=Wenyu |first2=Lu |date=13 May 2019 |title=What influences Chinese fashion retail? Shopping motivations, demographics and spending |url=https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFMM-09-2017-0093/full/html |url-status=live |journal=Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=158–175 |doi=10.1108/jfmm-09-2017-0093 |issn=1361-2026 |s2cid=170031856 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308110006/https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFMM-09-2017-0093/full/html |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref>

The expansion of e-commerce in China has resulted in the development of [[Taobao village]]s, clusters of e-commerce businesses operating in rural areas.<ref name="Hu-2023" />{{Rp|page=112}} Because Taobao villages have increased the incomes or rural people and entrepreneurship in rural China, Taobao villages have become a component of rural revitalization strategies.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Yang |first1=Saidi |last2=Wang |first2=Puqing |last3=Zhou |first3=Deyi |chapter=Transformation and Development of Taobao Village in China Based on "Zhijiang Mode" |date=2021 |title=Proceedings of the 2020 3rd International Seminar on Education Research and Social Science (ISERSS 2020) |location=Paris, France |publisher=Atlantis Press |doi=10.2991/assehr.k.210120.053|doi-access=free |isbn=978-94-6239-316-5 }}</ref>{{Rp|page=278}}

In 2015, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] promoted the Internet Plus initiative, a five-year plan to integrate traditional manufacturing and service industries with big data, cloud computing, and [[Internet of things]] technology.<ref name=":Zhang">{{Cite book |last=Zhang |first=Angela Huyue |title=High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197682258}}</ref>{{Rp|page=44}} The State Council provided support for Internet Plus through policy support in area including cross-border e-commerce and rural e-commerce.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=44}}

In 2019, the city of [[Hangzhou]] established a pilot program artificial intelligence-based [[Hangzhou Internet Court|Internet Court]] to adjudicate disputes related to e-commerce and internet-related [[Intellectual property in China|intellectual property]] claims.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Šimalčík |first=Matej |title=Contemporary China: a New Superpower? |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-03-239508-1 |editor-last=Kironska |editor-first=Kristina |chapter=Rule by Law |editor-last2=Turscanyi |editor-first2=Richard Q.}}</ref>{{Rp|page=124}}

=== Europe ===
In 2010, the United Kingdom had the highest per capita e-commerce spending in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=James |date=28 October 2010 |title=UK's internet industry worth £100bn |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |type=report |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/oct/28/net-worth-100bn-uk |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090350/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/oct/28/net-worth-100bn-uk |archive-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> As of 2013, the Czech Republic was the European country where e-commerce delivers the biggest contribution to the enterprises' total revenue. Almost a quarter (24%) of the country's total turnover is generated via the online channel.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 June 2013 |title=Ecommerce contribution in Europe |url=https://ecommercenews.eu/infographic-ecommerce-contribution-in-europe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125131628/https://ecommercenews.eu/infographic-ecommerce-contribution-in-europe/ |archive-date=25 January 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Ecommerce News]] |type=infographic}}</ref>

=== Arab states ===
The rate of growth of the number of internet users in the Arab countries has been rapid – 13.1% in 2015. A significant portion of the e-commerce market in the Middle East comprises people in the 30–34 year age group. Egypt has the largest number of internet users in the region, followed by Saudi Arabia and Morocco; these constitute 3/4th of the region's share. Yet, internet penetration is low: 35% in Egypt and 65% in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 June 2016 |title=Ecommerce in the Middle East – What are the demographics? |url=https://www.embitel.com/blog/ecommerce-blog/ecommerce-in-the-middle-east-what-are-the-demographics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827010001/https://www.embitel.com/blog/ecommerce-blog/ecommerce-in-the-middle-east-what-are-the-demographics |archive-date=27 August 2017 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Embitel]]}}</ref>

The [[Gulf Cooperation Council]] countries have a rapidly growing market and are characterized by a population that becomes wealthier (Yuldashev). As such, retailers have launched Arabic-language websites as a means to target this population. Secondly, there are predictions of increased mobile purchases and an expanding internet audience (Yuldashev). The growth and development of the two aspects make the GCC countries become larger players in the electronic commerce market with time progress. Specifically, research shows that the e-commerce market is expected to grow to over $20 billion by 2020 among these GCC countries (Yuldashev). The e-commerce market has also gained much popularity among western countries, and in particular Europe and the U.S. These countries have been highly characterized by consumer-packaged goods (CPG) (Geisler, 34). However, trends show that there are future signs of a reverse. Similar to the GCC countries, there has been increased purchase of goods and services in online channels rather than offline channels. Activist investors are trying hard to consolidate and slash their overall cost and the governments in western countries continue to impose more regulation on CPG manufacturers (Geisler, 36). In these senses, CPG investors are being forced to adapt to e-commerce as it is effective as well as a means for them to thrive.

The future trends in the GCC countries will be similar to that of the western countries. Despite the forces that push business to adapt e-commerce as a means to sell goods and products, the manner in which customers make purchases is similar in countries from these two regions. For instance, there has been an increased usage of smartphones which comes in conjunction with an increase in the overall internet audience from the regions. Yuldashev writes that consumers are scaling up to more modern technology that allows for mobile marketing.
However, the percentage of smartphone and internet users who make online purchases is expected to vary in the first few years. It will be independent on the willingness of the people to adopt this new trend (The Statistics Portal). For example, UAE has the greatest smartphone penetration of 73.8 per cent and has 91.9 per cent of its population has access to the internet. On the other hand, smartphone penetration in Europe has been reported to be at 64.7 per cent (The Statistics Portal). Regardless, the disparity in percentage between these regions is expected to level out in future because e-commerce technology is expected to grow to allow for more users.

The e-commerce business within these two regions will result in competition. Government bodies at the country level will enhance their measures and strategies to ensure sustainability and [[consumer protection]] (Krings, et al.). These increased measures will raise the environmental and social standards in the countries, factors that will determine the success of the e-commerce market in these countries. For example, an adoption of tough sanctions will make it difficult for companies to enter the e-commerce market while lenient sanctions will allow ease of companies. As such, the future trends between GCC countries and the Western countries will be independent of these sanctions (Krings, et al.). These countries need to make rational conclusions in coming up with effective sanctions.

=== India ===
{{Main article|E-commerce in India}}
India has an Internet user base of about 460 million as of December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keelery |first=Sandhya |date=7 July 2020 |title=Internet usage in India – statistics & facts |url=https://www.statista.com/topics/2157/internet-usage-in-india/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114442/https://www.statista.com/topics/2157/internet-usage-in-india/ |archive-date=30 December 2017 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Statista]]}}</ref> Despite being the third largest user base in the world, the penetration of the Internet is low compared to markets like the United States, United Kingdom or France but is growing at a much faster rate, adding around six million new entrants every month.{{Citation needed|date = October 2015}} In India, cash on delivery is the most preferred payment method, accumulating 75% of the e-retail activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasumarthy |first=Phani Bhaskar |date=December 2016 |title=AFFECT OF DEMONETIZATION ON E-COMMERCE |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311518414 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026152116/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311518414_AFFECT_OF_DEMONETIZATION_ON_E-COMMERCE |archive-date=26 October 2020 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[ResearchGate]]}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date = October 2015}} The India retail market is expected to rise from 2.5% in 2016 to 5% in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2016 |title=Fulfilled!:India's e-commerce retail logistics growth story |url=https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/in/pdf/2016/08/E-commerce-retail-logistics-India.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508153115/https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/in/pdf/2016/08/E-commerce-retail-logistics-India.pdf |archive-date=8 May 2020 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[KPMG]]}}</ref>

=== Brazil ===
In 2013, Brazil's e-commerce was growing quickly with retail e-commerce sales expected to grow at a double-digit pace through 2014. By 2016, eMarketer expected retail e-commerce sales in Brazil to reach $17.3 billion.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2013 |title=More Buyers Join Brazil's Robust Ecommerce Market |newspaper=[[eMarketer]] |url=https://www.emarketer.com/Article/More-Buyers-Join-Brazils-Robust-Ecommerce-Market/1009725 |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804174125/https://www.emarketer.com/Article/More-Buyers-Join-Brazils-Robust-Ecommerce-Market/1009725 |archive-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>

== Logistics ==
Logistics in e-commerce mainly concerns fulfillment. Online markets and retailers have to find the best possible way to fill orders and deliver products. Small companies usually control their own logistic operation because they do not have the ability to hire an outside company. Most large companies hire a fulfillment service that takes care of a company's logistic needs.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Kawa|first=Arkadiusz|date=2017|title=Fulfillment Service in E-Commerce Logistics|url=https://www.logforum.net/pdf/13_4_4_17.pdf|journal=[[LogForum]]|volume=13|issue=4|pages=429–438|doi=10.17270/J.LOG.2017.4.4|issn=1895-2038|eissn=1734-459X|doi-access=free|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223600/https://www.logforum.net/pdf/13_4_4_17.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The optimization of logistics processes that contains long-term investment in an efficient storage infrastructure system and adoption of inventory management strategies is crucial to prioritize customer satisfaction throughout the entire process, from order placement to final delivery.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gomes |first1=Alysson Cáceres |last2=Junior |first2=Francisco Bezerra de Lima |last3=Soliani |first3=Rodrigo Duarte |last4=Oliveira |first4=Pollyana Rufino de Souza |last5=Oliveira |first5=Dion Alves de |last6=Siqueira |first6=Reinaldo Maia |last7=Nora |first7=Leonardo Augusto Rodrigues da Silva |last8=Macêdo |first8=Jailson Juracy Souza de |date=2023-05-10 |title=Logistics management in e-commerce: challenges and opportunities |url=https://ojs.revistagesec.org.br/secretariado/article/view/2119 |journal=Revista de Gestão e Secretariado (Management and Administrative Professional Review) |language=en |volume=14 |issue=5 |pages=7252–7272 |doi=10.7769/gesec.v14i5.2119 |issn=2178-9010|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Impacts==
===Impact on markets and retailers===
[[File:Store_Closing_Flags.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|325x325px|Store closing flags outside a [[Toys "R" Us|Toys R Us]] in Deptford, New Jersey. Despite investments, the chain struggled to win market share in the age of digital commerce. ]]
E-commerce markets are growing at noticeable rates. The online market is expected to grow by 56% in 2015–2020. In 2017, retail e-commerce sales worldwide amounted to 2.3 trillion US dollars and e-retail revenues are projected to grow to 4.891 trillion US dollars in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sabanoglu|first=Tugba|date=26 March 2021|title=Retail e-commerce sales worldwide from 2014 to 2024|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/379046/worldwide-retail-e-commerce-sales/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Statista]]|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122172313/https://www.statista.com/statistics/379046/worldwide-retail-e-commerce-sales/}}</ref> Traditional markets are only expected 2% growth during the same time. [[Brick and mortar]] retailers are struggling because of online retailer's ability to offer lower prices and higher efficiency. Many larger retailers are able to maintain a presence offline and online by linking physical and online offerings.<ref name="BBC News" />

E-commerce allows customers to overcome geographical barriers and allows them to purchase products anytime and from anywhere. Online and traditional markets have different strategies for conducting business. Traditional retailers offer fewer assortment of products because of shelf space where, online retailers often hold no inventory but send customer orders directly to the manufacturer. The pricing strategies are also different for traditional and online retailers. Traditional retailers base their prices on store traffic and the cost to keep inventory. Online retailers base prices on the speed of delivery.

There are two ways for marketers to conduct business through e-commerce: fully online or online along with a brick and mortar store. Online marketers can offer lower prices, greater product selection, and high efficiency rates. Many customers prefer online markets if the products can be delivered quickly at relatively low price. However, online retailers cannot offer the physical experience that traditional retailers can. It can be difficult to judge the quality of a product without the physical experience, which may cause customers to experience product or seller uncertainty. Another issue regarding the online market is concerns about the security of online transactions. Many customers remain loyal to well-known retailers because of this issue.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dimoka|first1=Angelika|last2=Hong|first2=Yili|last3=Pavlou|first3=Paul A.|date=June 2012|title=On Product Uncertainty in Online Markets: Theory and Evidence|url=https://yilihong.github.io/paper/Product%20Uncertainty%20in%20Online%20Markets_Dimoka_Hong_Pavlou2012.pdf|url-status=dead|journal=[[Management Information Systems Quarterly]]|volume=36|issue=2|pages=395–426|doi=10.2307/41703461|jstor=41703461|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106174640/http://yilihong.github.io/paper/Product%20Uncertainty%20in%20Online%20Markets_Dimoka_Hong_Pavlou2012.pdf|archive-date=6 January 2018|access-date=4 May 2021|s2cid=8963257}}</ref>

Security is a primary problem for e-commerce in developed and developing countries. E-commerce security is protecting businesses' websites and customers from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction. The type of threats include: malicious codes, unwanted programs ([[Adware|ad ware]], [[spyware]]), [[phishing]], [[Hacker|hacking]], and [[Vandalism|cyber vandalism]]. E-commerce websites use different tools to avert security threats. These tools include [[Firewall (computing)|firewalls]], [[encryption software]], digital certificates, and passwords.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}

===Impact on supply chain management===
{{main|Supply chain management}}

For a long time, companies had been troubled by the gap between the benefits which supply chain technology has and the solutions to deliver those benefits. However, the emergence of e-commerce has provided a more practical and effective way of delivering the benefits of the new supply chain technologies.<ref name="Marincas-2008">{{cite journal|author=Marincas|first=Delia Adriana|date=2008|title=Information system for the supply chain management|url=https://ideas.repec.org/a/aes/amfeco/v10y2008i24p236-253.html|journal=[[The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC Journal]]|volume=10|issue=24|pages=236–253|access-date=8 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518065928/https://ideas.repec.org/a/aes/amfeco/v10y2008i24p236-253.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

E-commerce has the capability to integrate all inter-company and intra-company functions, meaning that the three flows (physical flow, financial flow and information flow) of the supply chain could be also affected by e-commerce. The affections on physical flows improved the way of product and inventory movement level for companies. For the information flows, e-commerce optimized the capacity of information processing than companies used to have, and for the financial flows, e-commerce allows companies to have more efficient payment and settlement solutions.<ref name="Marincas-2008" />

In addition, e-commerce has a more sophisticated level of impact on supply chains: Firstly, the performance gap will be eliminated since companies can identify gaps between different levels of supply chains by electronic means of solutions; Secondly, as a result of e-commerce emergence, new capabilities such implementing ERP systems, like [[SAP ERP]], [[Xero (software)|Xero]], or Megaventory, have helped companies to manage operations with customers and suppliers. Yet these new capabilities are still not fully exploited. Thirdly, technology companies would keep investing on new e-commerce software solutions as they are expecting investment return. Fourthly, e-commerce would help to solve many aspects of issues that companies may feel difficult to cope with, such as political barriers or cross-country changes. Finally, e-commerce provides companies a more efficient and effective way to collaborate with each other within the supply chain.<ref name="Marincas-2008" />

=== Impact on employment ===
E-commerce helps create new job opportunities due to information related services, software app and digital products. It also causes job losses. The areas with the greatest predicted job-loss are retail, postal, and travel agencies. The development of e-commerce will create jobs that require highly skilled workers to manage large amounts of information, customer demands, and production processes. In contrast, people with poor technical skills cannot enjoy the wages welfare. On the other hand, because e-commerce requires sufficient stocks that could be delivered to customers in time, the warehouse becomes an important element. Warehouse needs more staff to manage, supervise and organize, thus the condition of warehouse environment will be concerned by employees.<ref name="Terzi-2011">{{Cite journal|last=Terzi|first=Nuray|date=2011|title=The impact of e-commerce on international trade and employment|journal=Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences|volume=24|pages=745–753|doi=10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.09.010|doi-access=|hdl=11424/223579|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

=== Impact on customers ===
E-commerce brings [[convenience]] for customers as they do not have to leave home and only need to browse websites online, especially for buying products which are not sold in nearby shops. It could help customers buy a wider range of products and save customers' time. Consumers also gain power through online shopping. They are able to research products and compare prices among retailers. Thanks to the practice of user-generated ratings and reviews from companies like [[Bazaarvoice]], [[Trustpilot]], and [[Yelp]], customers can also see what other people think of a product, and decide before buying if they want to spend money on it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=Consumers trump marketers in battle for purchasing influence |url=https://www.hometextilestoday.com/brands-amp-marketing/consumers-trump-marketers-in-battle-for-purchasing-influence/ |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Home Textiles Today |language=en-US |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107222125/https://www.hometextilestoday.com/brands-amp-marketing/consumers-trump-marketers-in-battle-for-purchasing-influence/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-05-22 |title=Ecommerce Rating and Review Tools Market – A Comprehensive Study by Key Players |url=https://thedailyvale.com/2022/05/22/ecommerce-rating-and-review-tools-market-a-comprehensive-study-by-key-playerstrustpilot-feefo-kiyoh-bazaarvoice-ekomi-trustspot-reevoo-reziew-yelp-reviews-co-uk-yotpo-powerreview/ |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=The Daily Vale |language=en-US |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103214341/https://thedailyvale.com/2022/05/22/ecommerce-rating-and-review-tools-market-a-comprehensive-study-by-key-playerstrustpilot-feefo-kiyoh-bazaarvoice-ekomi-trustspot-reevoo-reziew-yelp-reviews-co-uk-yotpo-powerreview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also, online shopping often provides sales promotion or discounts code, thus it is more price effective for customers. Moreover, e-commerce provides products' detailed information; even the in-store staff cannot offer such detailed explanation. Customers can also review and track the order history online.

E-commerce technologies cut transaction costs by allowing both manufactures and consumers to skip through the intermediaries. This is achieved through by extending the search area best price deals and by group purchase. The success of e-commerce in urban and regional levels depend on how the local firms and consumers have adopted to e-commerce.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Evans|first1=Richard|date=1 May 2002|title=E-commerce, Competitiveness and Local and Regional Governance in Greater Manchester and Merseyside: A Preliminary Assessment|journal=[[Urban Studies]]|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]]|volume=39|issue=5–6|pages=947–975|doi=10.1080/00420980220128390|jstor=43084757|bibcode=2002UrbSt..39..947E |s2cid=154155858}}</ref>

However, e-commerce lacks human interaction for customers, especially who prefer face-to-face connection. Customers are also concerned with the security of online transactions and tend to remain loyal to well-known retailers. In recent years, clothing retailers such as [[Tommy Hilfiger]] have started adding Virtual Fit platforms to their e-commerce sites to reduce the risk of customers buying the wrong sized clothes, although these vary greatly in their fit for purpose.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Januszkiewicz|first=Monika|date=October 2017|title=Online Virtual Fit Is Not Yet Fit For Purpose: An Analysis of Fashion e-Commerce Interfaces|url=https://www.3dbody.tech/cap/papers/2017/17210januszkiewicz.pdf|journal=[[Proceedings of 3DBODY.TECH 2017]]|pages=210–217|doi=10.15221/17.210|isbn=9783033064362|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722014228/http://www.3dbody.tech/cap/papers/2017/17210januszkiewicz.pdf|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}</ref> When the customer regret the purchase of a product, it involves returning goods and refunding process. This process is inconvenient as customers need to pack and post the goods. If the products are expensive, large or fragile, it refers to safety issues.<ref name="BBC News">{{Cite web|title=Electronic money and electronic commerce|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zkrgscw/revision/3|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|publisher=[[BBC News]]|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223617/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zkrgscw/revision/3}}</ref>

=== Impact on the environment ===
In 2018, E-commerce generated {{convert|1.3|e6ST|abbr=off}} of container [[cardboard]] in North America, an increase from {{convert|1.1|e6ST|abbr=values}}) in 2017. Only 35 percent of North American cardboard manufacturing capacity is from recycled content. The recycling rate in Europe is 80 percent and Asia is 93 percent. Amazon, the largest user of [[Cardboard box|boxes]], has a strategy to cut back on packing material and has reduced packaging material used by 19 percent by weight since 2016. Amazon is requiring retailers to manufacture their product packaging in a way that does not require additional shipping packaging. Amazon also has an 85-person team researching ways to reduce and improve their packaging and shipping materials.<ref>{{cite news|last=DePillis|first=Lynda|date=16 July 2019|title=Amazon's incredible, vanishing cardboard box|work=[[CNN Business]]|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/16/business/amazon-cardboard-box-prime-day/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716130808/https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/16/business/amazon-cardboard-box-prime-day/index.html|archive-date=2019-07-16}}</ref>

Accelerated movement of packages around the world includes accelerated movement of living things, with all [[invasive species|its attendant risks]].<ref name="Newman-2020" /> [[Weed]]s, [[crop pest|pests]], and [[crop disease|disease]]s all sometimes travel in packages of seeds.<ref name="Newman-2020" /> Some of these packages are part of [[brushing (e-commerce)|brushing manipulation]] of e-commerce reviews.<ref name="Newman-2020">{{cite news | access-date=2022-09-17 | year=2020 | last1=Newman | first1=Jesse | last2=Bunge | first2=Jacob | newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-postal-service-is-urged-to-stop-delivering-mysterious-seeds-11596555249 | title=U.S. Postal Service Is Urged to Stop Delivering Mysterious Seeds | archive-date=20 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920192435/https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-postal-service-is-urged-to-stop-delivering-mysterious-seeds-11596555249 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Impact on traditional retail ===
E-commerce has been cited as a major force for the failure of major U.S. retailers in a trend frequently referred to as a "retail apocalypse."<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Barrabi|first1=Thomas|last2=Carter|first2=Shawn M.|date=2017-07-14|title=Retail Apocalypse: Pier 1 and the other retailers closing, filing for bankruptcy|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/features-retail-apocalypse-bankruptcy-stores-closing|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Fox Business]]|archive-date=12 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812203525/https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/features-retail-apocalypse-bankruptcy-stores-closing}}</ref> The rise of e-commerce outlets like Amazon has made it harder for traditional retailers to attract customers to their stores and forced companies to change their sales strategies. Many companies have turned to sales promotions and increased digital efforts to lure shoppers while shutting down brick-and-mortar locations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Forte|first=Daniela|date=11 March 2019|title=Store Closures, Failures Continue to Mount as Retailers Seek to Pivot Faster|url=https://multichannelmerchant.com/ecommerce/store-closures-failures-continue-to-mount-as-retailers-seek-to-pivot-faster/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Multichannel Merchant]]|publisher=[[Access Intelligence, LLC]]|archive-date=13 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813025717/https://multichannelmerchant.com/ecommerce/store-closures-failures-continue-to-mount-as-retailers-seek-to-pivot-faster/}}</ref> The trend has forced some traditional retailers to shutter its brick and mortar operations.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 August 2019|title=The retail apocalypse is shutting down flagship stores|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/08/01/retail-flagship-stores-close-rent-online-shopping-skyrockets/1888004001/|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-date=13 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813033959/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/08/01/retail-flagship-stores-close-rent-online-shopping-skyrockets/1888004001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== E-commerce during COVID-19 ==
{{further|Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic}}
In March 2020, global retail website traffic hit 14.3 billion visits<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clement|first=J.|date=12 February 2021|title=Most popular online retail websites worldwide in 2020, by average monthly traffic|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/274708/online-retail-and-auction-ranked-by-worldwide-audiences/|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Statista]]|archive-date=21 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521233438/https://www.statista.com/statistics/274708/online-retail-and-auction-ranked-by-worldwide-audiences/}}</ref> signifying an unprecedented growth of e-commerce during the lockdown of 2020. Later studies show that online sales increased by 25% and online grocery shopping increased by over 100% during the crisis in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Song |first=Zhouying |date=January 2022 |title=The geography of online shopping in China and its key drivers |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23998083211002189 |journal=Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science |language=en |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=259–274 |doi=10.1177/23998083211002189 |s2cid=233623855 |issn=2399-8083 |access-date=15 April 2022 |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210000327/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23998083211002189 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Meanwhile, as many as 29% of surveyed shoppers state that they will never go back to shopping in person again; in the UK, 43% of consumers state that they expect to keep on shopping the same way even after the lockdown is over.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kuhuk|first=Jane|date=19 May 2020|title=COVID-19 shopping behavior: what products would customers rather buy online?|url=https://competera.net/resources/articles/ecommerce-online-shopping-behavior-retail-infographic|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2021|website=[[Competera]]|type=Infographic|archive-date=21 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521233436/https://competera.net/resources/articles/ecommerce-online-shopping-behavior-retail-infographic}}</ref>

Retail sales of e-commerce shows that COVID-19 has a significant impact on e-commerce and its sales are expected to reach $6.5 trillion by 2023.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Anam|first1=Bhatti|last2=Akram|first2=Hamza|last3=Basit|first3=Hafiz Muhammad|last4=Khan|first4=Ahmed Usman|last5=Naqvi|first5=Syeda Mahwish Raza|last6=Bilal|first6=Muhammad|date=2020|title=E-commerce trends during COVID-19 Pandemic|url=https://lovacky.eu/ws/media-library/8291b8bb61d0458d9bec753432dc4842/qualitativepaper.pdf|journal=[[International Journal of Future Generation Communication and Networking]]|volume=13|issue=2|pages=1449–1452|issn=2233-7857|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230160442/https://www.lovacky.eu/ws/media-library/8291b8bb61d0458d9bec753432dc4842/qualitativepaper.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Business application ==
[[File:Automated online assistant.png|thumb|200px|An example of an older generation of avatar-style [[automated online assistant]] on a merchandising website]]
Some common applications related to electronic commerce are:

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[B2B e-commerce]] ([[business-to-business]])
* B2C e-commerce ([[business-to-consumer]])
* [[Conversational commerce]]: e-commerce via chat
* [[Digital wallet|Digital Wallet]]
* [[Document automation]] in [[supply chain]] and logistics
* [[Electronic ticket]]s
* [[Enterprise content management]]
* [[Group buying]]
* [[Instant messaging]]
* [[Internet security]]
* [[Online auction]]
* [[Online banking]]
* [[Online office suite]]s
* [[Online shopping]] and [[Track and trace|order tracking]]
* [[Online transaction processing]]
* [[Pretail]]
* [[Print on demand]]
* [[Shopping cart software]]
* [[Social networking service|Social networking]]
* [[Teleconference]]
* [[Usenet newsgroup]]
* [[Virtual assistant]]
* Domestic and international [[payment system]]s
}}

==Timeline==
A timeline for the development of e-commerce:
* 1971 or 1972: The [[ARPANET]] is used to arrange a [[cannabis]] sale between students at the [[Stanford University centers and institutes|Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory]] and the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], later described as "the seminal act of e-commerce" in [[John Markoff]]'s book ''[[What the Dormouse Said]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Power |first=Michael 'Mike' |date=19 April 2013 |title=Online highs are old as the net: the first e-commerce was a drugs deal |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/apr/19/online-high-net-drugs-deal |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130044158/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/apr/19/online-high-net-drugs-deal |archive-date=30 November 2016}}</ref>
* 1979: [[Michael Aldrich]] demonstrates the first [[online shopping]] system.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tkacz |first1=Ewaryst |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9_NJIBC87gC |title=Internet – Technical Development and Applications |last2=Kapczynski |first2=Adrian |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media]] |year=2009 |isbn=9783642050190 |page=255 |quote=The first pilot system was installing in Tesco in the UK (first demonstrated in 1979 by Michael Aldrich). |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223615/https://books.google.com/books?id=a9_NJIBC87gC |archive-date=4 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1981: Thomson Holidays UK is the first [[B2B e-commerce|business-to-business (B2B)]] online shopping system to be installed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Palmer |first=Colin |date=December 1988 |title=Using IT for competitive advantage at Thomson holidays |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0024630188901550 |url-status=live |journal=[[Long Range Planning]] |volume=21 |issue=6 |pages=26–29 |doi=10.1016/0024-6301(88)90155-0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223609/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0024630188901550 |archive-date=4 May 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |via=Elsevier Science Direct|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* 1982: [[Minitel]] was introduced nationwide in France by [[Orange S.A.|France Télécom]] and used for online ordering.
* 1983: [[California State Assembly]] holds first hearing on "electronic commerce" in Volcano, California.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 March 2013 |title=E Commerce |url=https://www.studymode.com/essays/e-Commerce-1554293.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805215334/https://www.studymode.com/essays/e-Commerce-1554293.html |archive-date=5 August 2020 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[StudyMode]]}}</ref> Testifying are CPUC, MCI Mail, Prodigy, CompuServe, Volcano Telephone, and Pacific Telesis. (Not permitted to testify is Quantum Technology, later to become AOL.) California's Electronic Commerce Act was passed in 1984.
* 1983: Karen Earle Lile (AKA Karen Bean) and [[Kendall Ross Bean]] create e-commerce service in [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. Buyers and sellers of pianos connect through a database created by Piano Finders on a [[Kaypro]] personal computer using [[DOS]] interface. Pianos for sale are listed on a [[Bulletin board system]]. Buyers print list of pianos for sale by a [[dot matrix printer]]. Customer service happened through a Piano Advice Hotline listed in the [[San Francisco Chronicle]] classified ads and money transferred by a bank [[wire transfer]] when a sale was completed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Piano Entrepreneurs |work=Newspaper |agency=Contra Costa Times |publisher=Contra Costa Newspapers |date=February 11, 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In Tune With The Times - Piano Business Thrives in Slump |work=Newspaper |agency=The Daily Review |publisher=Contra Costa Newspapers |date=June 26, 1986}}</ref>
* 1984: [[Gateshead]] SIS/[[Tesco]] is first B2C online shopping system<ref>{{cite news |date=16 September 2013 |title=Online shopping: The pensioner who pioneered a home shopping revolution |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24091393 |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717063557/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24091393 |archive-date=17 July 2018}}</ref> and Mrs Snowball, 72, is the first online home shopper<ref>{{cite web |last=Aldrich |first=Michael |date=March 2009 |title=Finding Mrs Snowball |url=http://www.aldricharchive.com/snowball.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207045137/http://www.aldricharchive.com/snowball.html |archive-date=7 December 2020 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Michael Aldrich Archive]]}}</ref>
* 1984: In April 1984, [[CompuServe]] launches the Electronic Mall in the US and Canada. It is the first comprehensive electronic commerce service.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 April 2010 |title=The Electronic Mall |url=http://www.gsbrown.org/compuserve/electronic-mall-1984-04/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326123900/http://gsbrown.org/compuserve/electronic-mall-1984-04/ |archive-date=26 March 2016 |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=GS Brown}}</ref>
* 1989: In May 1989, Sequoia Data Corp. introduced Compumarket, the first internet based system for e-commerce. Sellers and buyers could post items for sale and buyers could search the database and make purchases with a credit card.
* 1990: [[Tim Berners-Lee]] writes the first web browser, [[WorldWideWeb]], using a [[NeXTSTEP|NeXT]] computer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Berners-Lee |first=Tim |title=The WorldWideWeb browser |url=https://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/WorldWideWeb.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501222006/https://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/WorldWideWeb.html |archive-date=1 May 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[World Wide Web Consortium]]}}</ref>
* 1992: [[Book Stacks Unlimited]] in Cleveland opens a commercial sales website (www.books.com) selling books online with credit card processing.
* 1993: Paget Press releases edition No. 3<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geiger |first1=Conrad |date=15 September 1992 |title=NeXT Nugget News Digest |url=http://next.68k.org/ftp.peak.org/next/documents/newsletters/NuggetNewsText/vol.04.11.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310211403/http://next.68k.org/ftp.peak.org/next/documents/newsletters/NuggetNewsText/vol.04.11.txt |archive-date=10 March 2016 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[NeXT]]}}</ref> of the first<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tayler |first=Jesse |date=11 April 2016 |title=Jesse Tayler talks App Store and NeXTSTEP with AppStorey |url=https://appstorey.com/2016/04/11/jesse-tayler-talks-appstore-and-nextstep-with-appstorey/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063209/https://appstorey.com/2016/04/11/jesse-tayler-talks-appstore-and-nextstep-with-appstorey/ |archive-date=21 March 2018 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[AppStorey]]}}</ref> [[app store]], The Electronic AppWrapper<ref>{{cite web |date=28 September 1993 |title=PRESS RELEASE: AppWrapper Volume1 Issue 3 Ships |url=https://groups.google.com/g/comp.sys.next.announce/c/0mE2n2zaeVE/m/znflGBPPqlYJ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223607/https://groups.google.com/g/comp.sys.next.announce/c/0mE2n2zaeVE/m/znflGBPPqlYJ |archive-date=4 May 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Google Groups]] |type=Press Release}}</ref>
* 1994: [[Netscape]] releases the Navigator browser in October under the code name [[Mozilla]]. [[Netscape Navigator|Netscape]] 1.0 is introduced in late 1994 with [[Transport Layer Security|SSL]] encryption that made transactions secure.
* 1994: [[Ipswitch IMail Server]] becomes the first software available online for sale and immediate download via a partnership between [[Ipswitch, Inc.]] and [[OpenMarket]].
* 1994: "Ten Summoner's Tales" by Sting becomes the first secure online purchase through [[NetMarket]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Peter H. |date=12 August 1994 |title=Attention Shoppers: Internet Is Open |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/attention-shoppers-internet-is-open.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903095512/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/12/business/attention-shoppers-internet-is-open.html |archive-date=3 September 2017 |access-date=4 May 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
* 1995: The US [[National Science Foundation]] lifts its former strict prohibition of commercial enterprise on the Internet.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kelly |first=Kevin |date=August 2005 |title=We Are the Web |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/tech.html?pg=2 |url-status=dead |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824064357/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/tech.html?pg=2 |archive-date=24 August 2013}}</ref>
* 1995: Thursday 27 April 1995, the purchase of a book by Paul Stanfield, product manager for [[CompuServe]] UK, from [[W H Smith]]'s shop within CompuServe's UK Shopping Centre is the UK's first national online shopping service secure transaction. The shopping service at launch featured [[W H Smith]], [[Tesco]], [[Virgin Megastores]]/[[Our Price]], Great Universal Stores ([[GUS (retailer)|GUS]]), [[Interflora]], [[Dixons Retail]], Past Times, [[PC World (retailer)]] and Innovations.
* 1995: [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] is launched by [[Jeff Bezos]].
* 1995: [[eBay]] is founded by computer programmer [[Pierre Omidyar]] as AuctionWeb. It is the first [[online auction]] site supporting person-to-person transactions.<ref name="Bunnell">{{cite book |last1=Bunnell |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pnict8L-_iYC |title=The ebay Phenomenon: Business Secrets Behind the World's Hottest Internet Company |date=16 May 2001 |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |isbn=9780471436799 |pages=71–81 |chapter=The eBay Business Model |access-date=5 September 2019 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pnict8L-_iYC&pg=PA71 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223601/https://books.google.com/books?id=pnict8L-_iYC |archive-date=4 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1995: The first commercial-free 24-hour, internet-only radio stations, Radio HK and [[NetRadio]] start broadcasting.
* 1996: The use of [[Excalibur BBS]] with replicated "storefronts" was an early implementation of electronic commerce started by a group of [[Sysop|SysOps]] in [[Australia]] and replicated to global partner sites.
* 1998: [[Electronic stamp|Electronic postal stamps]] can be purchased and downloaded for printing from the Web.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 April 1998 |title=First Electronic Stamps Being Put to Test |page=16 |newspaper=[[Sunday Business]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6EVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5537%2C1474649 |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504223612/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6EVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5537%2C1474649 |archive-date=4 May 2021}}</ref>
* 1999: [[Alibaba Group]] is established in China. [[Business.com]] sold for US$7.5 million to eCompanies, which was purchased in 1997 for US$149,000. The peer-to-peer filesharing software [[Napster]] launches. [[ATG Stores]] launches to sell decorative items for the home online.
* 1999:  Global e-commerce reaches $150 billion<ref name="Terzi-2011" />
* 2000: The [[dot-com bust]].
* 2001: [[eBay]] has the largest userbase of any e-commerce site.<ref name="Bunnell" />
* 2001: [[Alibaba Group|Alibaba.com]] achieved profitability in December 2001.
* 2002: [[eBay]] acquires [[PayPal]] for $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 July 2002 |title=eBay acquires PayPal |url=http://investor.ebay.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=84142 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006214543/http://investor.ebay.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=84142 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |access-date=4 May 2021 |work=[[eBay]]}}</ref> Niche retail companies [[Wayfair]] and [[NetShops]] are founded with the concept of selling products through several targeted domains, rather than a central portal.
* 2003: [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] posts first yearly profit.
* 2004: [[DHgate.com]], China's first online B2B transaction platform, is established, forcing other B2B sites to move away from the "[[yellow pages]]" model.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diane Wang: Rounding up the "Ant" Heroes |url=http://www.zwgl.com.cn/article_info.asp?nid=4243 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223015245/http://www.zwgl.com.cn/article_info.asp?nid=4243 |archive-date=23 February 2012 |access-date=3 September 2011 |publisher=Sino Foreign Management}}</ref>
* 2007: [[Business.com]] acquired by [[R.H. Donnelley]] for $345 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=26 July 2007 |title=R.H. Donnelley Acquires Business.com for $345M |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2007/07/26/rh-donnelley-acquires-businesscom-for-345m/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408054344/https://domainnamewire.com/2007/07/26/rh-donnelley-acquires-businesscom-for-345m/ |archive-date=8 April 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Domain Name Wire]] |publisher=[[Brainstorm Labs, LLC]]}}</ref>
* 2014: US e-commerce and online retail sales projected to reach $294 billion, an increase of 12 percent over 2013 and 9% of all retail sales.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kodali |first=Sucharita |date=12 May 2014 |title=US eCommerce Forecast: 2013 to 2018 |url=https://www.forrester.com/report/US+eCommerce+Forecast+2013+To+2018/-/E-RES115513 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123105902/https://www.forrester.com/report/US+eCommerce+Forecast+2013+To+2018/-/E-RES115513 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[Forrester Research]]}}</ref> [[Alibaba Group]] has the largest [[Initial public offering]] ever, worth $25 billion.
* 2015: [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] accounts for more than half of all e-commerce growth,<ref>{{cite web |last=Garcia |first=Tonya |date=22 December 2015 |title=Amazon will account for more than half of 2015 e-commerce growth, says Macquarie |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-will-account-for-more-than-half-of-2015-e-commerce-growth-says-macquarie-2015-12-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128162404/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-will-account-for-more-than-half-of-2015-e-commerce-growth-says-macquarie-2015-12-22 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[MarketWatch]]}}</ref> selling almost 500 Million SKU's in the US.
* 2016: The [[Government of India]] launches the [[BHIM|BHIM UPI]] digital payment interface. In the year 2020 it has 2 billion digital payment transactions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPI crosses 2 billion transactions milestone in October, up 80% from year-ago; value nears Rs 4 lakh cr |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/banking-finance/upi-crosses-2-billion-transactions-milestone-in-october-up-80-from-year-ago-value-nears-rs-4-lakh-cr/2118690/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Financialexpress |date=November 2020 |language=en |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926011703/https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/banking-finance/upi-crosses-2-billion-transactions-milestone-in-october-up-80-from-year-ago-value-nears-rs-4-lakh-cr/2118690/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India: number of BHIM transactions 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1055414/india-number-of-transactions-through-bhim/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324044607/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1055414/india-number-of-transactions-through-bhim/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2017: Retail e-commerce sales across the world reaches $2.304 trillion, which was a 24.8 percent increase than previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mcnair |first=Corey |date=29 January 2018 |title=Worldwide Retail and Ecommerce Sales: eMarketer's Updated Forecast and New Mcommerce Estimates for 2016—2021 |url=https://www.emarketer.com/Report/Worldwide-Retail-Ecommerce-Sales-eMarketers-Updated-Forecast-New-Mcommerce-Estimates-20162021/2002182 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127152046/https://www.emarketer.com/Report/Worldwide-Retail-Ecommerce-Sales-eMarketers-Updated-Forecast-New-Mcommerce-Estimates-20162021/2002182 |archive-date=27 November 2018 |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=[[eMarketer]] |publisher=[[Insider Intelligence Inc.]]}}</ref>
* 2017: Global e-commerce transactions generate {{US$|29.267 trillion|long=no}}, including {{US$|25.516 trillion|long=no}} for business-to-business (B2B) transactions and {{US$|3.851 trillion|long=no}} for [[business-to-consumer]] (B2C) sales.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 March 2019 |title=Global e-Commerce sales surged to $29 trillion |publisher=[[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]] |type=Press Release |url=https://unctad.org/press-material/global-e-commerce-sales-surged-29-trillion |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502055911/https://unctad.org/press-material/global-e-commerce-sales-surged-29-trillion |archive-date=2 May 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
<!-- Please keep entries in alphabetical order & add a short description [[WP:SEEALSO]] -->
{{div col|small=yes|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Comparison of free software e-commerce web application frameworks]]
* [[Comparison of shopping cart software]]
* [[Customer intelligence]]
* [[Digital economy]]
* [[E-commerce credit card payment system]]
* [[Electronic bill payment]]
* [[Electronic money]]
* [[Non-store retailing]]
* [[Online shopping]]
* [[Payments as a service]]
* [[South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.]]
* [[Types of e-commerce]]
* [[Timeline of e-commerce]]
{{div col end}}
<!-- please keep entries in alphabetical order -->

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|64em}}
* {{cite book|last1=Laudon|first1=Kenneth C.|first2=Carol Guercio|last2=Traver|year=2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-cgDnwEACAAJ|title=E-commerce: Business, Technology, Society|publisher=[[Pearson plc]]|isbn=9781292009094|edition=10th|access-date=5 May 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505004149/https://books.google.com/books?id=-cgDnwEACAAJ}}
* {{cite book|last1=Chaudhury|first1=Abijit|first2=Jean-Pierre|last2=Kuilboer|year=2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHoeAQAAIAAJ|title=E-business and E-commerce Infrastructure: Technologies Supporting the E-business Initiative|publisher=[[McGraw Hill Education]]|isbn=9780071123136|access-date=5 May 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505004143/https://books.google.com/books?id=zHoeAQAAIAAJ}}
* {{Cite journal|last1=Frieden|first1=Jonathan D.|last2=Roche|first2=Sean Patrick|title=E-Commerce: Legal Issues of the Online Retailer in Virginia|journal=[[Richmond Journal of Law and Technology]]|volume=13|issue=2|date=2006|url=http://jolt.richmond.edu/jolt-archive/v13i2/article5.pdf|access-date=5 May 2021|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922172841/http://jolt.richmond.edu/jolt-archive/v13i2/article5.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Graham|first=Mark|title=Warped Geographies of Development: The Internet and Theories of Economic Development|journal=Geography Compass|publisher=[[Blackwell publishing]]|volume=2|issue=3|date=2008|url=http://geospace.co.uk/files/compass.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126085903/http://geospace.co.uk/files/compass.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 November 2016|access-date=5 May 2021|via=Wiley Online Library|doi=10.1111/j.1749-8198.2008.00093.x|pages=771–789|bibcode=2008GComp...2..771G |s2cid=16190907}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Humeau|first1=Philippe|last2=Jung|first2=Matthieu|title=In depth benchmark of 12 ecommerce solutions|date=21 June 2013|url=http://docshare01.docshare.tips/files/18925/189257997.pdf|access-date=5 May 2021|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505004106/http://docshare01.docshare.tips/files/18925/189257997.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{Citation | url = https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-12-22-shoppers_x.htm | last = Kessler | first = Michelle | title = More shoppers proceed to checkout online | access-date = 5 May 2021 | date = 22 December 2003 | archive-date = 31 December 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201231093120/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-12-22-shoppers_x.htm | url-status = live }}
* {{Citation|last1=Lowry|first1=Paul Benjamin|title=Online Payment Gateways Used to Facilitate E-Commerce Transactions and Improve Risk Management|url=https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=006067124031002012102073005071102028121003067016049005125101029123091116107006103088033000018125109112124079012078102065108100010041074039018102125087094069029023054054032101027123099084006096096098113025008086066011113125031124019127031001124116068|volume=17|issue=6|pages=1–48|publication-date=January 2006|ssrn=879797|access-date=5 May 2021|last2=Wells|first2=Taylor Michael|last3=Moody|first3=Greg|last4=Humpherys|first4=Sean|last5=Kettles|first5=Degan|date=3 February 2006|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505004134/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=879797|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Kotler|first=Philip|year=2009|title=Marketing Management|url=https://archive.org/details/frameworkformark00kotl_2|url-access=registration|publisher=[[Prentice Hall]]|isbn=9780136026600|edition=4th|location=[[Upper Saddle River, New Jersey]]|oclc=1149204899|author-link=Philip Kotler|access-date=5 May 2021}}
* {{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Roger LeRoy|year=2002|url=https://www.google.com/books/?id=4wQ9AQAAIAAJ|title=The Legal and E-Commerce Environment Today: Business in Its Ethical, Regulatory, and International Setting|last2=Cross|first2=Frank B.|publisher=South-Western|isbn=9780324061888|edition=3rd|access-date=5 May 2021|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505004111/https://books.google.com/books/?id=4wQ9AQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Nissanoff|first=Daniel|year=2006|title=FutureShop: How the New Auction Culture Will Revolutionize the Way We Buy, Sell and Get the Things We Really Want|url=https://archive.org/details/futureshophownew00niss|access-date=5 May 2021|url-access=registration|publisher=[[The Penguin Press]]|isbn=978-1-59420-077-9|location=[[New York City]]|oclc=1149173925}}
* {{cite book|last=Seybold|first=Patricia B.|year=2001|title=The Customer Revolution|publisher=[[Crown Business]]|isbn=978-0-609-60772-5|edition=1st|location=[[New York City]]|oclc=1148801120|access-date=5 May 2021|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/customerrevoluti00seyb}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
<!-- This is ''not'' the place to advertise your website. -->
{{sister project links|d=y|b=E-Commerce and E-Business|wikt=e-commerce|s=no|q=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|c=Category:electronic commerce|n=Category:Economy and business}}
* {{Citation | url = http://www.sba.gov/content/ecommerce-resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521010809/https://www.sba.gov/managing-business/running-business/using-technology/ecommerce-resources| title = E-Commerce Resources | publisher = [[Small Business Administration]]|archive-date=21 May 2017}}

{{Retail}}
{{Computer science}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:E-commerce}}
[[Category:E-commerce| ]]
[[Category:Electronics industry]]
[[Category:Non-store retailing]]
[[Category:Retail formats]]
[[Category:Supply chain management]]