e-Commerce (3rd Edition)

Online commerce is more than a storefront: it brings together payment systems, business models, customer relationships, logistics and the infrastructure that supports them. e-Commerce (3rd Edition) takes a wide-angle view of those connected parts, tracing the subject from its foundations to the practical systems and strategies used in digital business.

Start with the foundations of e-commerce

The opening chapter introduces electronic commerce, its development and its place in modern business. It considers different forms of e-commerce, the features of its technology, how it compares with traditional commerce, and the advantages and disadvantages businesses encounter. The discussion also touches on applications, platforms, regulation and the disruption of physical retail.

Follow the systems behind an online transaction

Subsequent chapters turn to the infrastructure and services that make electronic commerce possible, then examine electronic payment systems. Topics include e-cash, e-checks, credit and debit cards, smart cards, e-banking and online banking. Together, these chapters place the customer-facing act of paying in the larger technical and financial context.

From business model to delivery

The book explores e-commerce business models and the relationship between transaction parties, then follows the path from an order to fulfillment. That operational focus leads naturally into sales and marketing strategy, including brokerage, aggregator, community, advertising, subscription and other models, as well as customer relationships and mobile commerce.

Look beyond the storefront

Later chapters cover electronic supply chain management and electronic data interchange (EDI), including EDI standards, components, security and implementation difficulties. The final chapter addresses challenges, opportunities and business-process change. These subjects show how digital commerce reaches into the coordination of organizations—not just the moment a customer clicks to buy.

A broad overview for business and management study

With its progression from introductory concepts to payments, marketing, fulfillment and inter-organizational systems, this edition offers students and other readers a structured introduction to the major areas of e-commerce. It is suited to readers who want to understand how the pieces of digital business relate, rather than focus on a single platform or tactic.