HIstory & Evolution of E-Commerce

Physically, e-commerce has evolved about a decade ago. However, e-commerce actually exists a long time ago before the computer is created. How is this so? It happen as when the electronic technology is implement through international trade in various form such as import/export. Nevertheless, e-commerce has gone through several stages since 1970s. The history of ecommerce is about how the Information Technology has transformed the business processes.

The beginning of the e-commerce started when the EDI (Electronic Date Interchange) is implemented by mostly large organization since sixties. However, EDI only gains global acceptance during the eighties due to its high cost of implementation, slow development of EDI standards and the complexity of developing the application. Still, it does not stop the companies from adopting the EDI as it does really help the companies to carry out business transaction in a more reliable way in contrast with the traditional way.

In year 1995, two large companies has makes its own way into the electronic commerce world which are the and . This two companies has makes its first moves of conducting business through Internet that allowed its customers experience a total new concept of dealing business. Of course, the security, standardization and privacy issues are taken into account before displaying the products and services on their electronic storefronts.

Electronic commerce has since evolved from 3C’s of first generation E-commerce into nowadays 7C’s of second generation E-commerce. The 7C is stands for Content where it is the place for searching relevant, reliable and useful information. Community is a gathering place for consumers that have similar interests and hobbies. It allows them to exchange information, opinion and idea. Commerce is refers to where the business transaction is taking place. Communication is a creation and maintenance of active relationships and interactions among the consumers. Connectivity refers to the ability to build online active connections among users to share their ideas or users with sites which are related to their needs and their ideas content. Collaboration is where 2 sites or more that have similar ideas or information and intend to gain a mutual agreement through association to achieve specific goals. Customization refers to tailoring the Web-site appearance, content and functionality, based on stored and continuously user-profile information.

Since the e-commerce is so successful in the cyberspace, it is believed that it will continue to grow much better to serve the world and the community. It is undoubtedly to say that e-commerce indeed had done so many thing to ease the burden of everyone.

*By Oi Ming*