E-commerce

Since the start of the World Wide Web in the beginning of 90s, it is clear that the new invention could be used for 3 major purposes: communication, information, commerce. Today the commercial activities in the net 2 terms are used:

– Electronic commerce (e-Commerce)

– Electronic business (e-Business)

The e-commerce is special term part of bigger meaning – electronic business. The e-commerce we understand trade with goods and services through different type of e-shops, warehouses and auctions.

The e-business contains the e-commerce and each commercial activity, which can be executed through the net. Practically, almost every Internet site could become a form of e-business.

Forms of e-business

There is a big variety of e-business forms. The e-commerce is close to the traditional trade to a certain extend. The difference is that through Internet you can offer your goods and services on the global market, formed by billions of potential clients from around the world, which now can shop without leaving their homes. The only thing they need is an Internet connection and a Credit card.    The e-shops and stores are selling general goods or specialized ones. They offer online purchase of clothes, jewellery, cosmetics, food, books, cars, toys, technologies and everything you can imagine.  The turnover of the global e-commerce is measured in trillions of us dollars and the expectations in the next 10-12 years are that practically 70-90%from the retail sales and wholesales, in the developing countries, will be executed through Internet.

In the Internet age new exotic businesses appeared.  For the Bulgarian consumer may sound strange, but there are people who are not able to arrange flowers, choose curtains that best mach their furniture, wondering how to organize a party. They are ready to pay for good advice, which will help them in the “different” situation. Many other people, usually house wives, have solutions for such problems and are ready to advice according to a certain payment rate.  This is a typical example for a form of e-business. Online consulting and advising.

You are practicing e-business if through your web site some of the below described activities are executed:

– paid access to information

– paid listing of information in a catalog and links to other sites

– online paid registration in organization, club

– paid consulting on different topics

– online enquires for paid services  that will be executed later on a different place

– retail and wholesales of art or hand made goods and materials

– sales of services executed by you or suppliers

– different types of paid advertisements

– realizing profit through affiliate programs