What Is E-commerce?

E-commerce or Electronic Commerce is characterised by the act of distribution, buying products or information, selling products or information, marketing products or information, and providing service over the electronic system. In a single word, it may comprise the act of any commercial transaction held over via electronic system. The channels primarily used to conduct the electronic commerce may include the use of Internet, Intranet, e-mail, Instant Messaging (IM), electronic books, electronic brochures, electronic forms, catalogues, databases and cell phones. In 1981, the consultants named Gary Heiselberg, F. Gordon Zophy, John Seely-Gant and George Fonda at the Booz-Allen & Hamilton Private Ltd first established the U.S. Government electronic commerce system, known as Automation of Procurement and Accounting Data Entry (APADE). This system was designed in order to support the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.