Continuing with the history of e-Commerce, it can be said that in 1991, the Internet was officially opened for commercial use, which marked the beginning of an exponential growth in the use of e-commerce.
The first online purchase is believed to have been made in 1994, when a buyer purchased a Sting CD from the NetMarket website.
In 1994, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookstore. Over time, Amazon expanded its product offerings and became one of the world’s largest online retailers.
In 1995, Pierre Omidyar launched eBay, an online auction platform that allowed users to buy and sell products directly.
These companies were instrumental in popularising e-commerce and demonstrating its potential on a global scale.
In electronic payments, PayPal was founded in 1998, facilitating secure and affordable online payments for consumers and small businesses. PayPal played a key role in building consumer confidence in online shopping.
The consolidation and diversification of e-Commerce took place between 2000 and 2010.
In the early years of the 21st century, e-commerce continued to expand rapidly. Companies improved their online platforms, and consumers began to rely more on online shopping.
Physical retailers began to see the value of online sales and many launched their own e-commerce platforms. Walmart, Best Buy and other large chains began to offer their products via the web.
In 2006 Shopify appeared, a platform that allowed small and medium-sized businesses to easily create and manage online shops. Shopify democratised access to e-commerce for entrepreneurs.
Between 2010 and 2020 came the mobile and omni-channel era. With the rise of smartphones and mobile apps, e-commerce became more accessible and convenient.
With the growth of smartphones, online shopping moved to mobile devices. Apps from retailers such as Amazon, eBay and physical shops allowed consumers to shop on the go.
Retailers also began to integrate their physical and online experiences, creating an omni-channel shopping experience. This included the ability to buy online and collect in shop (click and collect) or cross-channel returns.
The pandemic accelerated the growth of e-commerce, as many people turned to online shopping due to mobility restrictions and the temporary closure of physical shops. Companies such as Amazon, Walmart and Alibaba saw an unprecedented surge in demand.
New business models, such as same-day or one-hour delivery, became more common thanks to services such as Instacart, Amazon Prime and Uber Eats.
The integration of commerce with social media (such as Instagram and TikTok) has allowed consumers to buy products directly through these platforms. With the growth of environmental awareness, many e-Commerce companies have adopted more sustainable practices, using recyclable packaging and promoting eco-friendly products.
E-commerce continues to evolve rapidly with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and blockchain. These technologies promise to transform the online shopping experience, making it more personalised, interactive and secure.
E-commerce has come a long way from its beginnings in the 1960s to become a fundamental part of the global economy.
Technology remains a key factor in its development, and innovations are expected to continue to drive its growth in the coming years.
The other, however, is undoubtedly logistics. How do all those orders get to our homes? We will continue to talk about it.
