Definition of e-commerce
Although there are many definitions and explanations of
e-commerce, the following definition provides a clear distinction. The reader
is advised to look at the recommended texts for their interpretations of the
following:
• Electronic commerce, or e-commerce, is defined to be
the process of businesses trading with other businesses and the formulation of
internal processes using electronic links.
• Electronic business, or e-business, is a term often
used interchangeably with e-commerce, but is more concerned with the
transformation of key business processes through the use of internet technologies.
From your reading it should be apparent to you that
electronic commerce is more than online shopping. A more generic definition of
electronic commerce would include electronic funds transfers used by many banks
as well as business to business communications using the internet, extranet and
intranet networks.
