Electronic Commerce, commonly known as E-commerce or eCommerce, is trading in products or services using computer networks, such as the Internet. Electronic commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web for at least one part of the transaction's life cycle, although it may also use other technologies such as e-mail.

E-commerce businesses usually employ some or all of the following practices:

  • Provide Etail or virtual storefront on websites with online catalogs, sometimes gathered into a "virtual mall"
  • Buy or sell on online marketplaces.
  • Gather and use demographic data through web contacts and social media.
  • Use electronic data interchange, the business-to-business exchange of data.
  • Reach prospective and established customers by e-mail or fax (for example, with newsletters).
  • Use business-to-business buying and selling.
  • Provide secure business transactions.

Mobile Commerce

The phrase mobile commerce was originally coined in 1997 by Kevin Duffey at the launch of the Global Mobile Commerce Forum, to mean "the delivery of electronic commerce capabilities directly into the consumer’s hand, anywhere, via wireless technology."[1] Many choose to think of Mobile Commerce as meaning "a retail outlet in your customer’s pocket."

Mobile commerce is worth US$230 billion, with Asia representing almost half of the market, and has been forecast to reach US$700 billion in 2017.[2] According to BI Intelligence[3] in January 2013, 29% of mobile users have now made a purchase with their phones. Walmart estimated[4] that 40% of all visits to their internet shopping site in December 2012 was from a mobile device. Bank of America predicts[5] $67.1 billion in purchases will be made from mobile devices by European and U.S. shoppers in 2015. Mobile retailers in UK alone are expected to increase revenues up to 31% in FY 2013–14.