[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article","articleBody":"When considering time itself, the history of e-commerce is fairly short, but for most of us, the idea of life without online shopping is virtually inconceivable. \nFrom groceries to diamonds to services to enterprise level product solutions, almost anything you can imagine can be purchased electronically. \nBut where did it all begin, and how far will it go?\nDefining e-commerce: What\u2019s included?\nThe evolution of e-commerce has been rapid, growing at an almost mind-boggling pace. Over even just the last decade, online marketplaces have blossomed, as has the sheer volume of products and services being offered to support sales. \nThese are things that might seem invisible to the consumer, but are an integral part of running a business, including:\nCredit card processing\nWebsite development \nAdvertising\nAnd, yes, all of this is also e-commerce.\nWhen we think of e-commerce, most of us focus on what it means with regard to the B2C world, but it\u2019s much more than that. E-commerce refers to all manners of conducting business online \u2013 so any form of products or services bought or sold over an electronic medium qualifies.\nThe history of e-commerce: 1960s \u2013 1980s\nFor beginning just a short while ago, the history of e-commerce is dramatic. In 1969, CompuServe was the first major e-commerce company to be formed in the United States. Although it seems distant now, computer time-sharing services grew from email providers to facilitating tele-shopping in the 1970s.\u00a0\nWhile the rest of us were just beginning to celebrate the wonder of cable television at the beginning of the 1980s, some tech savvy users formed the Boston Computer Exchange, which was a bulletin board system-based marketplace established to facilitate the sale or trade of used computers. This company was a trailblazer in crafting a fully automated, on-line auction and marketplace for general commerce.\nHistory of e-commerce infographic\nHere we are now, entertain us: e-commerce in the \u201990s\nFor many years, e-commerce existed quietly, but in 1990, the first web browser, aptly named \u201cWorldWideWeb,\u201d was launched. \nAround this time, development of the internet kicked into high gear, going from the ability to display basic style sheets to the launch of Amazon and eBay within just a few short years. Needless to say, those two have become smashing successes as they evolved into massive e-commerce platforms, selling and enabling consumers to sell their own wares to others on a global scale, as well as to subscribe to items they need \u2013 no more going to the store to purchase standard household goods.\nBy the late 1990s, we were all getting too much email, and DVDs began to outpace VHS tapes as the preferred method of viewing films \u2013 but that didn\u2019t last long. \nIn 1997, we saw the launch of Netflix as the world\u2019s first online movie rental store. \nBuilding their reputation on the model of flat-fee unlimited rentals without due dates, late fees, shipping and handling fees or per-title rental fees, Netflix wittingly upped the customer service game of all would-be online merchants while turning the entertainment industry on its head.\nJust one year later, Paypal, in its first iteration as Confinity, entered the scene as a tool for transferring money. The company now functions as a bank that executes payment processing for online vendors, auction sites, personal, and commercial users. It\u2019s a service that allows their customers to send, receive, and hold funds in 26 currencies worldwide. Today, Paypal Holdings, and its subsidiary, Venmo are two huge names in the digital wallet game.\n \nGenerational payment methods: How Gen Z, millennials, and boomers compare\n How do Gen Zers, millennials, and boomers compare when it comes to generational payment methods? New data reveals intriguing insights that can help you provide smarter payment experiences. \nI want it now: 2000s usher in era of immediate expectations\nAs every item you could ever want became available in the digital sphere, it was inevitable that demand for streamlining another major household expense would reach fever pitch. \nIn 2012, a former Amazon employee launched Instacart in San Francisco. As the business has grown, Instacart has established partnerships with over 300 national, regional, and local retailers. Instacart personal shoppers pick, pack and deliver the order within the customer\u2019s designated time frame.\nBy 2014, Apple capitalized on the amount of time that we\u2019re spending on our portable devices, and developed Apple Pay as a digital wallet and mobile payment tool. It\u2019s currently supported on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. CEO Tim Cook said that \u200cApple Pay\u200c would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019, but the current full list of \u200cApple Pay\u200c countries and regions are viewable now on Apple\u2019s website.\u00a0\nAs e-commerce rapidly develops, we\u2019ve seen social sites become shoppable, with a notable milestone in 2015 when Pinterest added buyable Pins to their boards. These pins allow board followers to purchase straight from the site without having to ever leave Pinterest. Additionally, many boards without these shopping enabled pins are now offering shopping recommendations based on the content displayed.\u00a0\nSince the days of eBay sidling up to PayPal, companies have partnered or acquired additional organizations to diversify or otherwise enhance their business model, and this practice shows no sign of stopping. Most notably in recent history, Amazon acquired natural foods retailer, Whole Foods, and mass retail giant Walmart picked up Flipkart for a cool $16B.\n \nClick, click, buy: 2021 e-commerce trends driven by DTC, mobile, social\n 2021 e-commerce trends reflect a society that's forever changed. Brands must focus on DTC, mobile, social as a search tool, and data. \nThe history of e-commerce meets the future of commerce\nMassive changes across the e-commerce industry has seen large retailers continue to push online sales, and even small, local operations increasingly turning to digital methods to drive business. \nAs the buying habits of both consumers and businesses have changed, companies have risen to the occasion, using AI and automation to meet their clients and prospects wherever they can be found on their customer journey, and anyone engaged in e-commerce will also be hustling to find these shoppers and adapting tactics to help them capture more sales.\u00a0\n \nThe future is here: 4 ways AI improves B2B e-commerce\n Artificial intelligence in B2B e-commerce is helping companies boost customer experience and improve efficiency. Here are four ways AI works its magic for B2B e-commerce. \nIf history has taught us anything, it\u2019s that e-commerce will continue to evolve at a lightning pace, capturing an ever-increasing shares across all sectors. \nCreating efficient, convenient, and\u00a0personalized experiences with highly sophisticated tools will be the order of the day. Regardless of the trends your organization chooses to pursue, make sure that the work is intentional and reaching toward a seamless and engaging experience for all.\nKick-a$$ commerce. \ud83d\udcf2 Innovation.\ud83d\udcf2 \ud83c\udf43Sustainability.\ud83c\udf43 \u23f1 Service + support.\u23f1 Customers expect a lot from brands. Hear the best in the biz talk how to deliver.","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article_Person","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article_Person_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Josh-Maday-profile-pic-150x150.jpg"},"name":"Josh Maday","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoshMaday","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/josh-maday-a703a814\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/josh-maday\/"},"dateModified":"2021-09-10T20:56:39+00:00","datePublished":"2020-01-30T18:00:00+00:00","description":"The history of e-commerce provides a roadmap for businesses and consumers with regard to the buying and selling of goods and services on the internet.","headline":"The history of e-commerce: A long and winding 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B2B.","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/"},{"@type":["Article"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article","@context":{"@vocab":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","kg":"http:\/\/g.co\/kg"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/","publisher":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/"}],"author":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article_author_Person","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article_author_Person_image_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/cdn-bijap.nitrocdn.com\/AuMaQmessFRMSicXmZsEecJFLEquAyoT\/assets\/static\/optimized\/rev-b3d386d\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Josh-Maday-profile-pic-150x150.jpg"}],"sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoshMaday","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/josh-maday-a703a814\/\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/JoshMaday"],"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/josh-maday\/\nhttps:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/josh-maday\/","name":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/josh-maday\/\nhttps:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/josh-maday\/"}],"subjectOf":[{"@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article_subjectOf_FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity0","name":"Defining e-commerce: What\u2019s included?","acceptedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity0_acceptedAnswer_Answer","text":"The evolution of e-commerce has been <\/a><\/span>rapid<\/a>, growing<\/span> at an almost mind-boggling pace. <\/span>Over even just the last decade, online marketplaces<\/a> have blossomed, as has the sheer volume of products and services being offered to support sales.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>These are things that might seem invisible to the consumer, but are an integral part of running a business, including:<\/span>
  • Credit card processing<\/span><\/li>
  • Website development <\/span><\/li>
  • Advertising<\/span><\/li> And, yes, all of this is also e-commerce.<\/span>When we think of e-commerce, most of us focus on what it means with regard to the B2C world, but it\u2019s much more than that. E-commerce refers to all manners of conducting business online<\/a> \u2013 so any form of products or services bought or sold over an electronic medium qualifies.<\/span>"}]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity1","name":"The history of e-commerce: 1960s \u2013 1980s","acceptedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity1_acceptedAnswer_Answer","text":"For beginning just a short while ago, the history of e-commerce is dramatic. In 1969, CompuServe was the first major e-commerce company to be formed in the United States. Although it seems distant now, computer time-sharing services grew from email providers to facilitating tele-shopping in the 1970s. <\/span>While the rest of us were just beginning to celebrate the wonder of cable television at the beginning of the 1980s, some tech savvy users formed the Boston Computer Exchange, which was a bulletin board system<\/span>-based marketplace <\/span>established to facilitate the sale or trade of used computers. <\/span>This company was a trailblazer in crafting a fully automated, on-line auction and marketplace for general commerce.<\/span>"}]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity2","name":"History of e-commerce infographic","acceptedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity2_acceptedAnswer_Answer","text":"\"history<\/a>"}]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity3","name":"Here we are now, entertain us: e-commerce in the \u201990s","acceptedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity3_acceptedAnswer_Answer","text":"For many years, e-commerce existed quietly, but in 1990, the first web browser, aptly named \u201cWorldWideWeb,\u201d was launched. <\/span>Around this time, development of the internet kicked into high gear, going from the ability to display basic style sheets to the launch of Amazon and eBay within just a few short years. Needless to say, those two have become smashing successes as they evolved into massive <\/span>e-commerce platforms<\/span><\/a>, selling and enabling consumers to sell their own wares to others on a global scale, as well as to subscribe to items they need<\/a> \u2013 no more going to the store to purchase standard household goods.<\/span>By the late 1990s, we were all getting too much email, and DVDs began to outpace VHS tapes as the preferred method of viewing films \u2013 but that didn\u2019t last long.
    <\/span>In 1997, we saw the launch of Netflix as the world\u2019s first online movie rental store. <\/span>Just one year later,     Paypal, in its first iteration as Confinity,<\/a> entered the scene as a tool for transferring money. <\/span>The company now functions as a bank that executes payment processing for online vendors, auction sites, personal, and commercial users. It\u2019s a service that allows their customers to send, receive, and hold funds in 26 currencies worldwide. Today, Paypal Holdings, and its subsidiary, Venmo are two huge names in the digital wallet game.<\/span>"}]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity4","name":"I want it now: 2000s usher in era of immediate expectations","acceptedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity4_acceptedAnswer_Answer","text":"As every item you could ever want became available in the digital sphere, it was inevitable that demand for streamlining another major household expense<\/a> would reach fever pitch. <\/span>In 2012, a former Amazon employee launched Instacart in San Francisco. <\/span>As the business has grown, Instacart has established partnerships with over 300 national, regional, and local retailers. Instacart personal shoppers pick, pack and deliver the order within the customer\u2019s designated time frame.<\/span>By 2014, Apple capitalized on the amount of time that we\u2019re spending on our portable devices, and developed Apple Pay as a digital wallet and mobile payment tool. It\u2019s currently supported on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. <\/span>CEO Tim Cook said that \u200cApple Pay\u200c would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019, but the current full list of \u200cApple Pay\u200c countries and regions are viewable now on <\/span>Apple\u2019s website<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>As e-commerce rapidly develops<\/a>, we\u2019ve seen social sites become shoppable, with a notable milestone in 2015 when Pinterest added buyable Pins to their boards. These pins allow board followers to purchase straight from the site without having to ever leave Pinterest. Additionally, many boards without these shopping enabled pins are now offering shopping recommendations based on the content displayed. <\/span>Since the days of eBay sidling up to PayPal, companies have partnered or acquired additional organizations to diversify or otherwise enhance their business model, and this practice shows no sign of stopping. Most notably in recent history, Amazon acquired natural foods retailer, Whole Foods<\/a>, and mass retail giant Walmart picked up Flipkart for a cool $16B.<\/span>"}]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity5","name":"The history of e-commerce meets the future of commerce","acceptedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#subjectOf_FAQPage_mainEntity5_acceptedAnswer_Answer","text":"Massive changes across the e-commerce industry has seen large retailers continue to push online sales, and even small, local operations increasingly turning to digital methods to drive business. <\/span>If history has taught us anything, it\u2019s that e-commerce will continue to evolve at a lightning pace, capturing an ever-increasing shares across all sectors. <\/span>Creating efficient, convenient, and <\/span>personalized experiences<\/span><\/a> with highly sophisticated tools will be the order of the day. Regardless of the trends your organization chooses to pursue, make sure that the work is intentional and reaching toward a seamless and engaging experience for all.<\/span>"}]}]}],"image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/#Article_image_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/thumbnail-40278d2637c5bca5f4e620b540ec87fb-1200x630.jpeg","width":"1200","height":"630"}],"mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/30\/history-of-e-commerce\/","articleBody":" When considering time itself, the history of e-commerce is fairly short, but for most of us, the idea of life without online shopping is virtually inconceivable. From groceries to diamonds to services to enterprise level product solutions, almost anything you can imagine can be purchased electronically. But where did it all begin, and how far will it go? Defining e-commerce: What\u2019s included? The evolution of e-commerce has been rapid, growing at an almost mind-boggling pace. Over even just the last decade, online marketplaces have blossomed, as has the sheer volume of products and services being offered to support sales. These are things that might seem invisible to the consumer, but are an integral part of running a business, including: Credit card processing Website development Advertising And, yes, all of this is also e-commerce. When we think of e-commerce, most of us focus on what it means with regard to the B2C world, but it\u2019s much more than that. E-commerce refers to all manners of conducting business online \u2013 so any form of products or services bought or sold over an electronic medium qualifies. The history of e-commerce: 1960s \u2013 1980s For beginning just a short while ago, the history of e-commerce is dramatic. In 1969, CompuServe was the first major e-commerce company to be formed in the United States. Although it seems distant now, computer time-sharing services grew from email providers to facilitating tele-shopping in the 1970s.  While the rest of us were just beginning to celebrate the wonder of cable television at the beginning of the 1980s, some tech savvy users formed the Boston Computer Exchange, which was a bulletin board system-based marketplace established to facilitate the sale or trade of used computers. This company was a trailblazer in crafting a fully automated, on-line auction and marketplace for general commerce. History of e-commerce infographic Here we are now, entertain us: e-commerce in the \u201990s For many years, e-commerce existed quietly, but in 1990, the first web browser, aptly named \u201cWorldWideWeb,\u201d was launched. Around this time, development of the internet kicked into high gear, going from the ability to display basic style sheets to the launch of Amazon and eBay within just a few short years. Needless to say, those two have become smashing successes as they evolved into massive e-commerce platforms, selling and enabling consumers to sell their own wares to others on a global scale, as well as to subscribe to items they need \u2013 no more going to the store to purchase standard household goods. By the late 1990s, we were all getting too much email, and DVDs began to outpace VHS tapes as the preferred method of viewing films \u2013 but that didn\u2019t last long. In 1997, we saw the launch of Netflix as the world\u2019s first online movie rental store. Building their reputation on the model of flat-fee unlimited rentals without due dates, late fees, shipping and handling fees or per-title rental fees, Netflix wittingly upped the customer service game of all would-be online merchants while turning the entertainment industry on its head. Just one year later, Paypal, in its first iteration as Confinity, entered the scene as a tool for transferring money. The company now functions as a bank that executes payment processing for online vendors, auction sites, personal, and commercial users. It\u2019s a service that allows their customers to send, receive, and hold funds in 26 currencies worldwide. Today, Paypal Holdings, and its subsidiary, Venmo are two huge names in the digital wallet game. Generational payment methods: How Gen Z, millennials, and boomers compare How do Gen Zers, millennials, and boomers compare when it comes to generational payment methods? New data reveals intriguing insights that can help you provide smarter payment experiences. I want it now: 2000s usher in era of immediate expectations As every item you could ever want became available in the digital sphere, it was inevitable that demand for streamlining another major household expense would reach fever pitch. In 2012, a former Amazon employee launched Instacart in San Francisco. As the business has grown, Instacart has established partnerships with over 300 national, regional, and local retailers. Instacart personal shoppers pick, pack and deliver the order within the customer\u2019s designated time frame. By 2014, Apple capitalized on the amount of time that we\u2019re spending on our portable devices, and developed Apple Pay as a digital wallet and mobile payment tool. It\u2019s currently supported on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. CEO Tim Cook said that \u200cApple Pay\u200c would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019, but the current full list of \u200cApple Pay\u200c countries and regions are viewable now on Apple\u2019s website.  Think ya got e-commerce game?  Take our quiz and find out! As e-commerce rapidly develops, we\u2019ve seen social sites become shoppable, with a notable milestone in 2015 when Pinterest added buyable Pins to their boards. These pins allow board followers to purchase straight from the site without having to ever leave Pinterest. Additionally, many boards without these shopping enabled pins are now offering shopping recommendations based on the content displayed.  Since the days of eBay sidling up to PayPal, companies have partnered or acquired additional organizations to diversify or otherwise enhance their business model, and this practice shows no sign of stopping. Most notably in recent history, Amazon acquired natural foods retailer, Whole Foods, and mass retail giant Walmart picked up Flipkart for a cool $16B. The future is here: 4 ways AI improves B2B e-commerce Artificial intelligence in B2B e-commerce is helping companies boost customer experience and improve efficiency. Here are four ways AI works its magic for B2B e-commerce. The history of e-commerce meets the future of commerce Massive changes across the e-commerce industry has seen large retailers continue to push online sales, and even small, local operations increasingly turning to digital methods to drive business. As the buying habits of both consumers and businesses have changed, companies have risen to the occasion, using AI and automation to meet their clients and prospects wherever they can be found on their customer journey, and anyone engaged in e-commerce will also be hustling to find these shoppers and adapting tactics to help them capture more sales.  If history has taught us anything, it\u2019s that e-commerce will continue to evolve at a lightning pace, capturing an ever-increasing shares across all sectors. Creating efficient, convenient, and personalized experiences with highly sophisticated tools will be the order of the day. Regardless of the trends your organization chooses to pursue, make sure that the work is intentional and reaching toward a seamless and engaging experience for all. Get to market fast with API-first, headless architecture built for modern storefronts. Start here. 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