Advantages and disadvantages of E-commerce websites

Hello everybody! Topic of today's blog is advantages and disadvantages of E-commerce websites.

"The advantages of E-commerce 

Recently, there has been a noticeable rise in the percentage of online shopping. With more customers, this percentage has been increasing as time goes by. Customers, organizations, as well as the society are getting great benefits from E-Commerce. To illustrate, in the past years when traditional marketing systems used to prevail, customers wasted lots of time and energy commuting to the physical shops to do their conventional shopping. With the advent of e-marketing, customers can give up on the usual exhausting trip to the supermarket to purchase the desired goods. With the web-enabled computers, laptops or mobile devices, shopping is much easier. This unconventional shopping allows customers to do shopping everywhere while sitting comfortably in their house (Aonerank, 2019). Now, the question remains in why we notice such an interest in online transactions? The rise of interest in online shopping has a bunch of reasons. The most common one is the fact that this shopping is enjoyable for both customers and merchants. It is called a win-win situation where both parties are getting benefits. Below is a summary of classification of e-commerce benefits as listed by Franco, et al. (2016).

The main classifications for the benefits of e-commerce:

• Advantage to the customer 

• Advantage to the organization 

• Advantage to the society "(Taher, 2021, p.160)

Benefits of E- commerce to the customers:

• Buying 24/7 all year long
• Convenience
• Time Saving
• Comparison in prices
• Many options and range (options & options)
• Accessible

Benefits for the companies:

• No Geographical Limitations 
• Money Saving
• Increasing efficiency of companies
• Laser targeting market
• Easy to initiate and administer a company
• Higher Ad returns "(Taher, 2021)

"Advantages for the Society (Clarke, 1999).

 Customers do not need to move from one place to another to do their shopping. This process results in less transportation on streets and reduced air pollution. It reduces the pricepoint range of items due to less fixed expenditures, so consumers with lower incomes are also able to buy items. It has allowed remote zones in the countryside to contact items and anemities that were not accessible previously.It aids governments in delivering communal services. For example, medical charges, schooling fees, and communal service industries can be obtainable to citizens with less cost and more developed method." (Taher, 2021, p.162-163)

"The disadvantages of E-commerce

Like any other business where there are always ups and downs, E-commerce has benefits and drawbacks. Running this kind of business has its own challenges. However, being aware of such challenges will help people in charge of this business avoid common consequences. The e-commerce downsides can be classified into two main categories: technical and nontechnical. "(Taher, 2021, p.163)

Non-technical disadvantage:

• Inability to test items first-hand before buying
• Lack of the personal touch
• Delay in delivery
• Cost and product feature comparison
• Damage during Transportation and Delivery
• Restricted Consumer Services

Technical Disadvantages:

• Security issue
• Need for Internet Connection
• Credit card Fraud
• Software development (Taher, 2021)

"Conclusion 

A significant amount of studies and analysis have been conducted on the topic of e-commerce. Electronic commerce has extended quickly throughout the decade and is expected to further expand at this speed or faster. In the forthcoming period, the limits amid "conventional" and "electronic" trade will become progressively distorted as more and more companies transfer segments of their operations online. Electronic trade will undoubtedly increase significantly in the coming years (Sharp, 1998). Despite what was mentioned earlier in this paper about the technical and non-technical disadvantages of e-commerce, the numerous advantages of this business manage to successfully attract the attention of both companies and customers. As we have already mentioned technology is evolving tremendously and quickly, so it is possible to witness the prevention of technological defects in particular in the near future. It is also worth not to forget that today there is a new generation of influencers who are soon to make their touches on the future of e-commerce. For example, individuals belonging to Generation Z— individuals born between 1995 and 2010— have reached the workplace and are bringing change and challenges with them. These people are true digital natives for they have been exposed to the internet, social networks, and mobile phones since a very young age. Moreover, those members prefer remote work and favor flexible work conditions. They prefer to work in remote areas and do the jobs that rely mostly on technology. So in short, electronic commerce is the future."(Taher, 2021, p. 164-165)

References:

Taher, G., 2021.  'E-commerce: advantages and limitations.' International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting Finance and Management Sciences, 11(1), pp.153-165. [online] Available at: <http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARAFMS/v11-i1/8987>[Accessed 18 January 2023]