E-commerce is a business activity based on network communication technology. There are many different definitions according to their location and the different angles and degrees of participation in e-commerce.
Even though e-commerce has different definitions in different countries or fields, its key is still the business model that relies on electronic equipment and network technology. With the rapid development of e-commerce, it includes not only the main connotation of shopping, but also auxiliary services such as logistics and distribution.
E-commerce includes electronic currency exchange, supply chain management, electronic trading market, online marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management and automatic data collection system. In this process, the information technologies used include: Internet, extranet, e-mail, database, electronic directory and mobile phone.
First of all, e-commerce is divided into broad sense and narrow sense. E-commerce in a broad sense is defined as using various electronic tools to engage in business activities; In a narrow sense, e-commerce is defined as mainly using the Internet to engage in business or activities.
Regardless of the broad or narrow concept of e-commerce, e-commerce covers two aspects: first, it cannot be called e-commerce without the platform of Internet; Second, what is done through the Internet is a commercial activity.