There exists a big population in this world that continuously fails to differentiate the contrast between Mobile Commerce and Electronic Commerce also known as M-Commerce and E-commerce. A thin line of difference exists between the two. However, many times it’s seen that the concept of both trades is intermixed and mingled. Corporate workers should have profound knowledge regarding these two very different trading fields.
What is Commerce?
Before delving into the depth of these two topics under discussion, we need to understand the basic concept of ‘Commerce’. In simple words, commerce is a trading method of buying and selling products and services. It is the lifeline of all businesses. Businesses are centric on the creation of products and services and their sales. The key participants and formers of Commerce are sellers and buyers. Therefore the act of purchasing produced goods and designed services provide oxygen to the functioning of a business. Profit is the parameter of success in the field of commerce. Therefore, the procedure of trading, be it any medium, comes under the large shade of Commerce.
The two types of Commerce under study, namely, Mobile Commerce and Ecommerce, follow the core aspects of trading and commerce. However, both of them are transacted on different types of mediums. As for Ecommerce, it is carried out electronically. Similarly, Mobile Commerce follows the same pattern but it stands as a subpart of E-commerce. Let’s dive further into these topics in clear categories.
What is Ecommerce?
E-Commerce Definition: The method of selling and buying goods and services electronically, through the means of the internet, is called E-commerce.
As mentioned above, E-Commerce is electronic commerce where the process of selling and buying is based on the electronic medium. Powered by the internet, the stores are created electronically and the entire procedure of surveying the products and services occurs digitally, followed by online purchases.
Practical Insight of E-commerce:
For example, in a practical world or as commerce is traditionally carried out, items are manufactured, transported to a godown, or directly to a practical shop where the items are exhibited to attract the public. People come, survey the items, and purchase as per they wish.
The same pattern is followed in the world of Ecommerce. The goods are manufactured but they are not displayed in a real-world store. In contrast to practical shopping, e-shopping has virtual stores which function on apps or websites. The public can go through these shops by easily sitting on their couch and viewing as many products as they want without the energy investment of a seller.
Every retailer cannot afford to create his website or application. Virtual commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Flipkart allow thousands of retailers to easily put up their profiles with their product photographs and details for display on the net.
The setup and office in E-commerce can be entirely virtual with no physical office. In the digital era today, businesses flourish through digital meetings where each piece of data is shared through software. E-commerce follows the same manner.
What is Mobile Commerce?
M-Commerce Definition: The electronic trade of selling and buying goods and services solely through a mobile phone is called Mobile Commerce.
Practical Insight of M-Commerce
As written above, Mobile Commerce is a sub-branch of Ecommerce. Therefore, it follows the same procedure in the same medium. It is also powered by the internet where retailers function their trade through the means of e-stores on websites and software applications.
The significant catch here remains that Mobile Commerce, as the name suggests, is limited to commerce relating to mobile devices. When a trade is processed only in the channel of a mobile device, it is stated as Mobile Commerce.
Key Differences between Mobile Commerce and E-commerce
1. Medium or Transaction – The primary difference between Ecommerce and Mobile Commerce is the difference in the medium they are carried out. Although both follow electronic mode, Ecommerce is mainly transacted on desktops and laptops while Mobile Commerce is transacted on mobiles.
2. Origin – E-commerce came into existence much before Mobile Commerce. Mobile commerce is a sub-branch of E-commerce that comes under it. Mobile is a newer concept in comparison to Ecommerce. E-commerce was developed in the 1970s, 20 years before Mobile Commerce originated.
3. Portability – When it comes to portability, Mobile Commerce is easier to carry due to its small and easy-to-handle size. Mobiles are any day easier to carry in comparison to laptops, and carrying a desktop around is out of the question.
4. Trackability – Again another difference that substantiates the upper hand of Mobile Commerce over E-Commerce is its efficiency in trackability. We all know that GPS works more efficiently in portable digital devices, such as mobiles, tablets, and other PDA devices.
5. Usage of the Internet – In E-Commerce the usage of the internet is mandatory. In contrast to this, M-Commerce can in certain instances be carried out with the usage of an internet connection.
6. Connectivity – As a reflection of the above point, larger connectivity is more prominent in M-Commerce while Ecommerce shows smaller connectivity. Since work today runs on mobile phones where the majority of the population has a personal mobile phone, M-Commerce has more connectivity.
Looking at the differences, it seems that although M-Commerce is a sub-branch of E-commerce and is derived from it, it has higher proficiency in today’s time. In terms of connectivity, portability, and trackability, M-Commerce excels further in comparison to E-commerce. Since M-Commerce is based on mobile devices which are found more in number among the public than desktops and laptops, it has an upper hand.