E-commerce: Buying and selling everything online
E-commerce refers to the process of online shopping where visitors are allowed to shop conveniently through Internet. Easy and secured payment mode is another reason why more and more customers are opting for online shopping.
E-commerce is one of the most important aspects of Internet and is widely recognized as a successful online shopping medium in recent times. E commerce refers to carrying out business online and facilitating the process of buying and selling through computers.
E-commerce allows individuals to carry on transactions without any time or geographical constraints. One only needs to have an Internet access to buy and sell products at any point of time; a single mouse click and a transaction is made successfully. The cost of the products gets transferred online. Thus, e-commerce forms an online market, where products and services are bought and sold just like in any other practical marketplace.
E commerce eliminates any form of human interaction in the online buying and selling process. It ensures faster and convenient shopping for visitor, eliminating any form of processing errors at the same time.
E-commerce is perhaps the cheapest means of doing business. There has been a significant increase in the amount of transactions done electronically. More and more E-commerce companies are coming up, taking advantage of the widespread Internet usage. All categories of products and services are now readily available over Internet at reasonable rates. Infact most big brands offer e-commerce services, allowing customers to place orders through shopping carts and make payments through easy payment options.
E-commerce in India is not just about buying and selling of products. It encompasses the entire process of developing a website that includes all essentials to facilitate online shopping. An ecommerce website needs comprehensive web applications and a well-secured payment application system. The website should be structured in a systematic manner so that when a visitor wants to purchase something, he can easily make comparisons in between products, the cost of products and features. The navigation of e-commerce website should be smooth and payment should be secured.
There are several advantages of e commerce. From the perspective of an online buyer, the benefits of e commerce are:
- Easy comparison between products
- Quick buying decisions
- Reduction in buying time
- No hassles in invoicing
E commerce companies also get operational benefits from online shopping. It reduces time and cost on other resources like personnel. E commerce is equally beneficial for small businesses. At lower costs, small businesses can grow to great extents. E commerce does not need any physical space, so there are costs incurred on insurance, infrastructure and storage that are eliminated here. E commerce also signifies better and quicker customer service. The delivery service also allows customers to keep a track of their order. Through the electronic network, there is better access to information. Sellers can easily promote their products and drive consumers to make purchases by offering discounts and other special services.
E-commerce is an example of how Internet can be used successfully for marketing of different brands through easy processing. Everything is now available under the roof of Internet and the definitions of buying and selling have changed with the emerging trend of online shopping.