E-commerce is a technology-mediated exchange between parties irrespective individuals or organizations as well as the electronically based intra-or inter-organizational activities that facilitate such exchanges. In addition, E-commerce consists of the distributing, buying, selling, marketing, and servicing of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. E-commerce helps to generate demand for products and services and improves order management, payment, and other support functions.Previously, buying and selling activity was conducted manually and both demander and supplier of goods and services have to meet face-to-face to carry out the transaction. As we move into electronic era, the way individuals and organizations conduct transaction and business has changed to electronic commerce from manual way. In electronic commerce, we are engaging in paperless and limited physical interaction. With technological advancement, we are able to communicate and conduct meeting with customer and supplier using teleconferencing and videoconferencing. The emergence of electronic commerce started in the early 1970s with one of the system which is electronic funds transfer (EFT), which allows organizations to transfer funds between one another electronically. Not long after, electronic data interchange (EDI) was introduced. This technology helps to extend interbusiness transactions and provide transaction and information exchanges from supplier to end user.
E-commerce began to evolve in the mid 1800s when Telegraph is used. The usage of telegraph enables us to order goods and services remotely and we do not have to go to a particular location to make an order or inquire about the goods and services. After that, we start to have house telephone that requires the use of telephone line followed by hand phones. With evolution, the hand phones available are in different shapes, sizes, design and function. With technological advancement, we are able to connect to internet using cell phones and conduct transaction using internet. Besides that, we can make phone call to supplier to make an order directly compared to telegraph which takes longer time to pass the message to the other party. The invention of computer in the early 1800s has make communication more easily and flexible. We can conduct transaction using internet without the need to meet each other face-to-face in a certain location. Moreover, customer can make an order online and there are options that they can choose and some supplier even has websites that allow customer to make appointment and customization according to their preference. For example, there are certain restaurants that allow you to make reservation according to the seats available, order the food in advance, decide on the mixture of the food, decorations preferred and so on.
In conclusion, the evolution of e-commerce has brought numerous benefits and convenient to our lives. However, we should not misuse the technology to conduct some illegal activities. The creation of e-commerce should be appreciate and used to create value to the people and society.
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