The Characteristics of Electronic Commerce. Technology Research Paper

Characteristics of Electronic Commerce
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Characteristics of Electronic Commerce
Electronic commerce, also known as “E-commerce,” refers to the trading in services or products using digital networks such as the Internet. E-commerce also includes the use of ICT “Information and Communication” to support a syndicate’s activities (Jalonen, 2016). E-commerce comprises the exchange of services and products between people, groups, and businesses, and it is mostly identified as among the essential activities of a company. E-commerce primarily focuses on the application of ICT to enhance the external relationships and operations of companies with people, other syndicates, and groups.
Han & Kim (2016) explain that ICT is broadly used in business organizations and to enhance the collaboration on information and communication systems of the business partners involved. The widespread and systematic use of ICT has been enhanced by technologies accepted across the globe. E-commerce supports business processes by enabling organizations to run their operations across boundaries. Moreover, E-commerce automates business processes in organizations by increasing the speed and economic efficiency of business processes. According to Han & Kim (2016), in the current world, the Internet plays a significant role and has become a global technical infrastructure. For instance, it has created a global virtual place where people and organizations interested in engaging in business activities meet without the time and geographical restrictions. Universal networks facilitate the exchange of information without any hindrances. Therefore, the paper addresses the characteristics of E-commerce by mainly discussing e-commerce technologies. Furthermore, advantages of using e-commerce such as the development of networking platforms where people shop their items online, the establishment of logistics companies, production of goods and services, and the use of network technologies are also discussed.
E-Commerce and Networking Platforms
Social media comprises of online platforms whereby people meet, share information, and communicate virtually. Businesses use social media to increase their revenues and promote their products. As Han & Kim (2016) illustrates, social media has penetrated the lives of people deeply. For instance, approximately 64% of adults in America use social media daily. Besides, about 90% of young adults aged between 17 and 19 years use social media platforms. Across the globe, marketing practitioners utilize social media platforms to communicate and attract targeted customers that use networking sites. For example, in 2016, approximately 74% of the companies listed in Fortune 500 were identified to use Facebook for their marketing needs while 78% of the companies were indicated to use Twitter to communicate with their clients (Han & Kim, 2016). However, 9% of the companies were reported not to use social media sites.
Kumar et al. (2018) explain that social media includes a virtual environment that enables people to communicate and share information. The interpersonal relations of social media allows marketers to construct strong customer relati...