Commerce encompasses the commercial transactions and exchange of information involved in buying and selling commodities or services between individuals. These transactions occur within a market where goods and commodities are exchanged.
In the past, traditional commerce was confined to specific geographical boundaries, limiting the scope of the market to a physical location where buying and selling activities took place.
The introduction of E-Commerce revolutionized the concept of the marketplace. E-Commerce expanded the market beyond its geographical constraints, enabling transactions to occur virtually anywhere. This innovation not only widened the market space but also exponentially increased the number of customers and sellers participating in a particular market.
The growth of E-Commerce has resulted in an expanded customer base and a greater diversity of products. While traditional commerce still exists, E-Commerce offers users a broader range of opportunities and benefits compared to its traditional counterpart.
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Traditional Commerce
Traditional Commerce or Commerce is a part of business, which includes all those activities that facilitate or contribute to exchange. Commerce includes two kinds of activities, i.e. trade and auxiliaries to trade. The phrase “trade” refers to the purchasing and selling of products and services for money or in kind, as well as any actions that successfully enable the exchange between parties, including banking, insurance, transportation, insurance, and product advertising.
In refined terms, commerce encompasses all those activities that simplify the exchange of goods and services, from producer to the final consumer. All the activities that take place from the manufacturing of the product to the eventual consumption by the consumer are included in Commerce. Its main function is to satisfy the wants of consumers by making goods available to them, at the right time and place.
E-Commerce
E-Commerce or electronic commerce is the exchange of commodities, funds or information, between businesses and consumers using the internet or online social network. E-Commerce means trading and facilitating trading activities, through the use of the electronic medium, i.e. all the activities like purchasing, selling, ordering and paying are performed over the Internet. The scope of E-commerce is discussed in the following points:
- B2B commerce: when 2 business houses enter a transaction through the electronic medium it is known as B2B commerce
- B2C commerce: when the business and the customer interact directly for the buying and selling of commodities and services through internet it is known as B2C commerce.
- C2C commerce: when two consumers interact over the internet for the buying and selling of commodities it is known as C2C commerce.
- Intra-B commerce: When the exchange takes place within a firm through electronic mediums like the internet it is known as Intra-B Commerce.
Comparing Traditional Commerce with E-Commerce
The most prominent difference between Traditional and E-Commerce is the presence of the market. The market is present in both cases but traditional commerce relies on a tangible market and interactions between the producer and consumer, E-Commerce does not rely on any such interaction and has an intangible market. The presence of an intangible market or rather the absence of a market allows E-Commerce to flourish round the clock.
There is no specific time wherein the customer has to visit the market and look for the product. The same can be done from anywhere at any time and the producer also can be present at any corner of the world. In traditional commerce, the resource focus is mostly on the supply side as compared to the demand side of E-Commerce. This basically means that Â
In traditional Commerce the requirement of capital is imperative to set up shop. Traditional Commerce requires the producers to invest into establishing a firm base and reputation in the market and maintaining that reputation for their survival. Traditional Commerce demands the attention of the proprietor or the producer to grow and prosper.
The most basic requirement in E-Commerce is the availability of the internet, since all the transactions will take place over the internet. The market in e-Commerce exists on the internet and therefore access to internet is the prerequisite in E-commerce. Another important requirement for E-Commerce is an advertisement. E-Commerce relies on advertisement due to the large market and vivid customers. The product must be unique and should not be something to which the consumer has access to substitutes of.Â
Customer-Centric Approach
The prerogative of the customer is supreme in Traditional commerce. The customer is supreme in both Traditional and E-Commerce, but they have a greater say in traditional commerce as compared to E-Commerce. There is transparency between the seller and the costumer because of the physicality of the market. The product may not be standardized but that is for the consumer to decide and they have the option to choose between the best products amongst different products.
The first-hand experience of the customer places a sense of trust in them as to the product that they are purchasing is up to their requirement and choice. E-Commerce does not take away the right of the consumers to choose but adds another dimension to it. The ambit of E-Commerce allows customers to choose from a wide variety of products that are being offered by an equally large number of sellers.
The consumers get the benefit of a global market. The consumer is ensured the best standards and highest quality of products. E-Commerce also offers a wide variety of sellers that offer products at different prices and the consumer can choose the best price amongst the lot. The consumer has the option of redressal and return of product.
The consumer has the option of instant delivery when it comes to traditional commercial activities. The transaction is instant and quick, whereas in E-Commerce the consumer has to place the order and wait for the delivery date for the delivery of products.
E-commerce and conventional commerce each have advantages and drawbacks to be considered. But given the direction things are heading, there is a significant likelihood that e-commerce now dominates the market and will do so in the future.
Whichever business model is used, E-commerce has taken over the industry and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Recent global events have demonstrated that, when necessary, firms are capable of making swift and efficient environmental adjustments. The moment has come for companies to move their commerce online and enter the Internet Age rather than continuing to operate in the Stone Age.
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