E-Commerce - (Electronic Commerce) - The buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the internet. It is one of the most important aspects of the internet to emerge. It allows people to exchange goods and services immediately and with no barriers of time or distance. Any time of the day or night, you can go online and buy almost anything you want.

However, the road to creating a successful online store can be a difficult and confusing one if you are unaware of the concepts and principles behind e-Commerce. The trick to entering this market smoothly is to find out what you need to do before you have to do it.

Typically there are three types of e-commerce transactions: business to business, business to consumer, and consumer to consumer.

The following flowchart explains the process of e-commerce:
Electronic commerce comprises electronic trading of goods and services and falls into two categories:

Indirect E-Commerce: electronic ordering of tangible goods; the actual goods are however delivered in a traditional form (via DHL etc.)

Direct E-Commerce: electronic ordering and delivery of intangible goods (electronic material e.g. software, games, video, etc.)

Some of the many advantages of E-Commerce for the consumer are:

Avoiding crowds by shopping online in the comfort of your home or office
Shopping on your time (internet stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days per year)
Your purchases are delivered directly to your home or office.
Unlimited Choices

There are many advantages for businesses as well, particularly small and/or home businesses such as: