E-Commerce Times Talkback

Re: Is E-Commerce Being All It Can Be?
Posted by: Keith Regan 2002-01-16 14:37:48

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When all e-commerce consisted of pure-play Web companies, it was easy to spot e-commerce. But
now, if a consumer surfs the Internet to research a product purchase but buys the
product at a physical store, can that be considered e-commerce? When the Web plays
any role in the buying process, be it decision-making, content help, customer service
or anything in between, e-commerce should get credit.

Re: Is E-Commerce Being All It Can Be?
Posted by: laurellane 2002-01-17 11:44:52 In reply to: Keith Regan

I am an Internet Business Development specialist for a major newspaper company - I develop and implement advertising web sites and train print reps on how to sell online advertising. I have been in the Internet space for 4 years. I also teach E-Commerce and Marketing at the Art Institute of Colorado to Multimedia students- and very first thing I tell them is E-Commerce is NOT buying something online - E-Commerce is exactly what the words mean- electronic commerce - any type of transaction occurring on an electronic medium. Commerce, according to Dictionary.com, means "The buying and selling of goods, especially on a large scale, as between cities or nations. OR
Intellectual exchange or social interaction"

Electronic Commerce did not originate with the Internet- rather, it came to be when the house-sized supercomputers were adopted by banks in the 60s and our bank transactions were recorded in a database- or with any other form of transactions taking place over electronic mediums.

I agree with the key points of your article- the general public uses the term E-Commerce in reference to buying on the web, and they absolutely must realize that buying on the web is just one form of E-Commerce. The term has been a misnomer from the start. Your article articulates the reality. I just think we need to continue to educate the public on the real history of E-commerce.
Thank you - Laurel Lane

Re: Is E-Commerce Being All It Can Be?
Posted by: raymondyoung 2002-01-16 23:47:02 In reply to: Keith Regan

yes it's e-commerce but it may not be so commercial (in the short term) ...

It costs money for, say, 10 businesses to put up websites, but in your scenario, mainly it is the consumer who reaps the benefits in terms of ease of finding product information. Only 1 business wins the purchase. Has anyone has managed to reduce other costs?

Is it worth it?

Yes for complex purchases which would have required more staff time to explain/demonstrate a product, but in terms of commodities - only if long-term shopping behaviour moves to the internet (and reduces catalogue or other advertising costs).

In the commodity case, it is a short-medium term expense made for the sake of long-term survival. Maybe marketing has to move people this way, with good offers only available from the web.