Definition for E-Commerce

E-Commerce: E-Commerce is shorthand for Electronic Commerce which may also be referred to by the acronym EC. This is the trade, buying and selling of goods and services on the internet or other electronic communications network via computer. The computer in question may be anything from a regular desktop PC that a consumer uses at home with a typical web browser; to an automated process running on a server; to a mobile phone; or other modern computerized communication device. E-Commerce allows an organization to extend their reach beyond traditional borders in the physical world. This applies to both location and time borders. A small business running an e-Commerce web site in a remote part of Pennsylvania can easily provide goods and services to a consumer from California or Brazil at any time of day. Something that previous to widespread use of e-Commerce was only possible by very large corporations with a worldwide footprint. E-Commerce can help equalize the playing field for businesses of all sizes. A number of related gimmicky terms may be found or used in lieu of the general e-Commerce term in order to make a solution appear to have some unique functionality or ability. Some such terms are: e-business; e-tailing, e-transactions, B2B, B2C, m-commerce.

Glossary