Submitted by dirk_s on Wed, 2012-06-20 09:10

I hope its not the complete definition ;)

Innovative brick and mortar stores are reinventing themselves. They add e-commerce strategies to their business, but still fulfill locally through their stores - even the payment can still be traditional.

Startups develop crowdlogistic concepts, that can deliver quicker from a brick and mortare shop to your home, than an online shop from a warehouse...

Especially when we talk about "Can E-Commerce create new jobs?" I'm not sure. It really depends on the definition of "E-Commerce".

We had an interesting discussion about this topic last weekend at a barcamp in Dresden. That session combined several smart people from e-commerce, m-commerce, marketing and startups. The conclusion was - when traditional local commerce reinvents itself, it will not be replaced by online shopping.

Lets not forget - local economy has also huge impact on welfare in each city & region.

I would vote to include smarter local commerce concepts into the e-commerce definition of the EU. Local Commerce should not be ignored when thinking about ways to boost E-Commerce (with traditional definitions). I refere to the E-Commerce Action plan here (http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/ecommerce-action-plan/)

Please let me know - does E-Commerce include also local commerce? What are your thoughts about it?

(disclosure: I work on online concepts for small business and local businesses.)

Group audience:

E-commerce

Comments

As we see a shift towards

Submitted by Gianluigi Cuccureddu on Wed, 2012-06-20 09:18

As we see a shift towards hybrid commerce (click & bricks), e-commerce is nothing more than a digital layer of physical business/commerce.

Sure, thats the trend...

Submitted by dirk_s on Wed, 2012-06-20 09:51

Sure, thats the trend...
An example scenario: a traditional store informs customers via internet, maybe even let them preorder a product in advance, but delivery and payment is still done the traditional way. Would you consider this as an E-Commerce? Covered by the E-Commerce Action plan?

I think the future will be a

Submitted by mirkogleibe on Wed, 2012-06-20 12:13

I think the future will be a mash-up of local an e-commerce. Local platforms providing products of local traders and doing all the logistic stuff seems to be perfect. If this construction still is e-commerce need to be discussed. Think that this will need still some time to get into markets. Until now there isn't any reliable proof of concept.

I think we need to do a

Submitted by dirk_s on Wed, 2012-06-27 15:01

I think we need to do a redefinition of the term "E-Commerce" as something that could be involved in all steps from marketing to delivery or also only in a single step of the process.
Because otherwise the "e-commerce action plan of the EU" (e.g. double E-Commerce till 2015) might be problematic and do harm to local commerce SMEs. IT should be a balanced approach.

I think we should distinguish

Submitted by David Schoenborn on Sat, 2012-07-28 16:51

I think we should distinguish between global, international, national and local e-commerce. An example of local and national e-commerce -> Older people in a village could online products such as food shopping and more. But you want the eggs from the farmers from the nearest village, although you would have to pay an additional charge for shipping. Now, however, lack the interest of the farmers or he does not recognize this possibility. The example illustrates that the market place is still very limited, as more Mutlinationale companies or National with the E-Commerce romp on the mass market and customers receive care and does not slow the availability of the optimal demand coverage but with alternative products. Local providers have few opportunities in the price war, and this competition. Therefore, these differences can be seen and created for the various levels such as Global, International ... interesting and inspiring concepts.

There will be only Commerce

Submitted by Hanne on Wed, 2012-11-14 10:55

There will be only Commerce 3.0 - we shouldn't waste time on definitions. The point is that it transcends (increasingly) online and offline, connects local and global. I work for eBay and we call it Commerce 3.0: http://www.ebaymainstreet.com/commerce3
Check out the economic research we've commissioned which underscores the remarkable opportunities when technology empowers consumers and traders:
http://www.ebaymainstreet.com/news-events/drilling-deeper-new-data-findi...