|
HISTORY OF ECOMMERCE
E – Commerce or
electronic commerce is a relatively new
concept when compared to other concepts;
nonetheless, it is interesting to look
at a brief history of this super
phenomenon that has changed the way
people do business. The concept of
international trade and commerce has
been in existence from a very long time
and exchange of products and services by
way of global sourcing and import and
export has been happening from long
back. However, e – commerce has only
increased the magnitude of this business
many times over. It has also made it
more convenient, secure and manageable.
This article will look at the history of
e – commerce in brief. This will explain
clearly how much of an influence e –
commerce has on global sourcing, import
and export and international trade.
Actually e –commerce
started much before the existence and
evolution of the miracle machine called
“computer”. Surprised? Electronic
technology was being used much before
computers were invented. Also,
international trade has existed from
several hundred years ago, in various
forms like import and export or exchange
of goods. Global sourcing is just a
viable alternative for the traditional
methods.
However, this is no way
proves or even suggests that e –
commerce has been in existence for
several hundred years. The earliest
available historical records for e –
commerce is from the year 1984, when
“electronic data interchange” or EDI was
invented. This new technology, at that
time, helped global firms to carry on
their dealings in a way that was more
reliable that before in terms of global
sourcing, import and export and
international trade.
The first time in history
when people could purchase things by
sitting at home was in the year 1992.
This was made possible by a company
called “CompuServe”. This definitely did
not change the way global sourcing,
import and export and international
trade was carried out but it did provide
a modest form start for a huge concept
and a phenomenon.
The year 1995 is
unforgettable in the history of e –
commerce because it was the birth year
of 2 big giants: EBay and Amazon. These
2 sites don’t need any introduction
today in the field of global sourcing,
import and export and international
trade. By the year 1999, the sales on
the internet had reached a whopping 20
billion dollars.
The rest is known to
every person who knows what e – commerce
is. The current scope and influence of e
– commerce on global sourcing, import
and export and international trade is
tremendous. The future of electronic
commerce is even brighter when compared
to the present situation. However, some
experts believe that the use of e –
commerce will gradually decrease after
it has reached the saturation point in
some years. Also, many experts are
concerned about the disadvantages or
drawbacks of e – commerce and what kind
of adverse effect they may have on
global sourcing, import and export and
international trade.
This is a brief history
of e – commerce that has caused a
phenomenal change in the way we do
business.
|
