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Read July 10, 2008, 07:40:48 am #0
sri

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What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
In your opinion, what are the key ideas that have enabled web-based commerce? Here is my list of the top 3 key ideas in order:

1. The ecosystem built by online advertising (AdSense, AdWords, etc.) Ads really are critical elements, if not the lifeline for web-based businesses. Ads are what builds the web commerce fabric.

2. The thriving marketplaces built by online auction portals like ebay.

3. Web-enablement of routine activities like ticketing, bill payment, banking, etc.

Your views on this? My next thread will be to speculate on the three key ideas that will make mobile commerce be as common as web commerce is today..

-Sri

PS: I am going to applaud anyone giving insightful answers.. Smiley (and won't smite anyone, promise..Wink)
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Read July 10, 2008, 08:11:42 am #1
ramya

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Got encouraged by the fact that I will not be smitten Grin
My 2 grains:
1. proliferation of easily-accessible PC's (portals to work from). Need not be owned; could be from cyber-cafe. [mobile needs to be owned]
2. security guaranteed (ex: verisign), so you can enter critical info like your credit card number on internet.
[could be ensured in mobile as well]
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Read July 10, 2008, 08:29:40 am #2
sri

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Tried to applaud twice for 2 points, but it seems we have to wait one hour between applauds!  Roll Eyes

Good ones. The first point I think is more relevant to web commerce in India, while the second (secure transactions) definitely is a very key building block.

Any more?

-Sri
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Read July 10, 2008, 10:09:27 am #3
sids

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
One more thing to add to the already mentioned points: availability of niche products/services (the long Tail). An Amazon employee described the Long Tail as follows: "We sold more books today that didn't sell at all yesterday than we sold today of all the books that did sell yesterday."

An interesting set of definitions of Long Tail: http://longtail.typepad.com/the_long_tail/2005/01/definitions_fin.html

http://www.grok.in/
"Ignorance killed the cat, curiosity was framed."
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Read July 10, 2008, 10:28:24 am #4
sri

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
But isn't it the other way round? Web commerce is what enabled the sale of niche goods, rather than the availability of niche goods enabling web commerce?

Cheers
Sri
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Read July 10, 2008, 10:37:32 am #5
sids

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Quote from: sri on July 10, 2008, 10:28:24 am
But isn't it the other way round? Web commerce is what enabled the sale of niche goods, rather than the availability of niche goods enabling web commerce?

Cheers
Sri

A lot of people started buying online because it was more or less the only place they could find those goods. Before the Web if I wanted to buy a Jimi Hendrix coaster I would be out of luck; but it is just a search away now (http://www.myntra.com/creative/Hendrix/1207209257). The Web has changed shopping from "let's go to the shop and get something nice" to "let's buy this" (this being something very specific) for a lot of things.

Perhaps more important than the availability of niche goods is the ability to find them. It's the ease with which things/information can be found on the Web which is probably the root cause of everything else.

http://www.grok.in/
"Ignorance killed the cat, curiosity was framed."
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Read July 10, 2008, 10:42:45 am #6
sri

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Quote from: sids on July 10, 2008, 10:37:32 am
A lot of people started buying online because it was more or less the only place they could find those goods. Before the Web if I wanted to buy a Jimi Hendrix coaster I would be out of luck; but it is just a search away now (http://www.myntra.com/creative/Hendrix/1207209257). The Web has changed shopping from "let's go to the shop and get something nice" to "let's buy this" (this being something very specific) for a lot of things.

Perhaps more important than the availability of niche goods is the ability to find them. It's the ease with which things/information can be found on the Web which is probably the root cause of everything else.

Which actually is precisely my point: that the web enabled the marketplace of niche goods rather than niche goods enabling web commerce.
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Read July 10, 2008, 10:48:22 am #7
sids

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Quote from: sri on July 10, 2008, 10:42:45 am
Quote from: sids on July 10, 2008, 10:37:32 am
A lot of people started buying online because it was more or less the only place they could find those goods. Before the Web if I wanted to buy a Jimi Hendrix coaster I would be out of luck; but it is just a search away now (http://www.myntra.com/creative/Hendrix/1207209257). The Web has changed shopping from "let's go to the shop and get something nice" to "let's buy this" (this being something very specific) for a lot of things.

Perhaps more important than the availability of niche goods is the ability to find them. It's the ease with which things/information can be found on the Web which is probably the root cause of everything else.

Which actually is precisely my point: that the web enabled the marketplace of niche goods rather than niche goods enabling web commerce.

I am trying to say that it worked both ways. The Web enabled a marketplace for niche goods and this marketplace brought in a lot more shoppers (who might otherwise have not moved to online shopping).

http://www.grok.in/
"Ignorance killed the cat, curiosity was framed."
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Read July 10, 2008, 10:53:11 am #8
sri

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Whatever. But I'm not convinced that it was an enabler of web commerce as say SSL. Maybe a secondary enabler: i.e. once there was web commerce, the availability of the niche goods market made it stronger...

No applause.. Wink

Cheers
Sri

PS: My references to applause are just in jest Smiley
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Read July 10, 2008, 11:03:36 am #9
sids

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Quote from: sri on July 10, 2008, 10:53:11 am
Whatever. But I'm not convinced that it was an enabler of web commerce as say SSL. Maybe a secondary enabler: i.e. once there was web commerce, the availability of the niche goods market made it stronger...

No applause.. Wink

Cheers
Sri

PS: My references to applause are just in jest Smiley

Oh it's ok, not saying anything her for the applause, I've already got all the karma that can be had (65535 is the upper limit) Grin.

http://www.grok.in/
"Ignorance killed the cat, curiosity was framed."
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Read August 18, 2008, 08:47:46 am #10
llabhilash

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Re: What are the key ideas that made web based commerce?
Important factors would be ( rather than enabling, these are what made it popular )
1)Time - You can shop at even 2am!
2)Distance - Every shop is at the 'same' distance and you can compare specs/price etc then and there. It also helps save time.
3)Shipping - Sites offer free shipping and sometimes even pay on delivery.

Having said that, my brother bought a watch which looked amazing on the website ( its pics and the 3d view ). But the actual piece was not worth the fortune Undecided.

Web commerce would really take off when it can offer sense of touch,smell,taste..
« Last Edit: August 18, 2008, 08:51:01 am by llabhilash »
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