Unit 1
Text A
What Is E-commerce？
Electronic commerce or e-commerce refers to a wide range of online business activities for products and services.It also pertains to “any form of business transaction in which the parties interact electronically rather than by physical exchanges or direct physical contact”.
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E-commerce is usually associated with buying and selling over the Internet， or conducting any transaction involving the transfer of ownership or rights to use goods or services through a computer-mediated network. Though popular，this definition is not comprehensive enough to capture recent developments in this new and revolutionary business phenomenon.A more complete definition is：E-commerce is the use of electronic communications and digital information processing technology in business transactions to create，transform，and redefine relationships for value creation between or among organizations，and between organizations and individuals.
The major different kinds of e-commerce are：Business-to-Business（B2B）；Business-to-Consumer（B2C）；Business-to-Government（B2G）；Consumer-to-Consumer（C2C）；and Mobile Commerce （M-commerce）.
1.What Is B2B E-commerce？
B2B e-commerce is simply defined as e-commerce between companies.This is the type of e-commerce that deals with relationships between and among businesses.About 80% of e-commerce is of this type，and most experts predict that B2B e-commerce will continue to grow faster than the B2C segment.The B2B market has two primary components：e-infrastructure and e-markets.
E-infrastructure is the architecture of B2B，primarily consisting of the following：
• logistics—transportation，warehousing and distribution（e.g.，Procter and Gamble）；
• application service providers—deployment，hosting and management of packaged software from a central facility（e.g.，Oracle and Linkshare）；
• outsourcing of functions in the process of e-commerce，such as web-hosting，security and customer care solutions（e.g.，outsourcing providers such as eShare，NetSales，iXL Enterprises and Universal Access）；
• auction solutions software for the operation and maintenance of real-time auctions in theInternet（e.g.，Moai Technologies and OpenSite Technologies）；
• content management software for the facilitation of website content management and delivery（e.g.，Interwoven and ProcureNet）；and
• Web-based commerce enablers（e.g.，Commerce One，a browser-based，XML-enabled purchasing automation software）.
E-markets are simply defined as websites where buyers and sellers interact with each other and conduct transactions.
Most B2B applications are in the areas of supplier management（especially purchase order processing），inventory management（i.e.，managing order-ship-bill cycles），distribution management（especially in the transmission of shipping documents），channel management（i.e.，information dissemination on changes in operational conditions），and payment management（e.g.，Electronic Payment Systems[1] or EPS）.
2.What Is B2C E-commerce？
Business-to-Consumer e-commerce，or commerce between companies and consumers，involves gathering customers information；purchasing physical goods（i.e.，tangibles such as books or consumer products）or information goods（or goods of electronic material or digitized content，such as software，or e-books）；and，for information goods，receiving products over an electronic network.
It is the second largest and the earliest form of e-commerce.Its origins can be traced to online retailing（or e-tailing）.Thus，the more common B2C business models are the online retailing companies such as Amazon.com，Drugstore.com，Beyond.com，Barnes and Noble and ToysRus.Other B2C examples involving information goods are E-Trade and Travelocity.
The more common applications of this type of e-commerce are in the areas of purchasing products and information，and personal finance management，which pertains to the management of personal investments and finances with the use of online banking tools.
B2C e-commerce reduces transactions costs（particularly search costs）by increasing consumer access to information and allowing consumers to find the most competitive price for a product or service.B2C e-commerce also reduces market entry barriers since the cost of putting up and maintaining a website is much cheaper than installing a “brick-and-mortar” structure for a firm.In the case of information goods，B2C e-commerce is even more attractive because it saves firms from factoring in the additional cost of a physical distribution network.Moreover，for countries with a growing and robust Internet population，delivering information goods becomes increasingly feasible.
3.What Is B2G E-commerce？
Business-to-Government e-commerce or B2G is generally defined as commerce between companies and the public sector.It refers to the use of the Internet for public procurement，licensing procedures，and other government-related operations.This kind of e-commerce has two features：first，the public sector assumes a pilot/leading role in establishing e-commerce；and second，it is assumed that the public sector has the greatest need for making its procurement system more effective.
Web-based purchasing policies increase the transparency of the procurement process and reduces the risk of irregularities.To date，however，the size of the B2G e-commerce market as a component of total e-commerce is insignificant，as government e-procurement systems remain undeveloped.
4.What Is C2C E-commerce？
Consumer-to-Consumer e-commerce or C2C is simply commerce between private individuals or consumers.This type of e-commerce is characterized by the growth of electronic marketplaces and online auctions，particularly in vertical industries where firms/businesses can bid for what they want from among multiple suppliers.It perhaps has the greatest potential for developing new markets.
This type of e-commerce comes in at least three forms：
• auctions facilitated at a portal，such as eBay，which allows online real-time bidding on items being sold in the Web；
• peer-to-peer systems，such as the Napster model（a protocol for sharing files between users used by chat forums similar to IRC）and other file exchange and later money exchange models；and
• classified ads at portal sites，such as Excite Classifieds and eWanted，Pakwheels.com（an interactive，online marketplace where buyers and sellers can negotiate and which features “Buyer Leads & Want Ads”）.
There is little information on the relative size of global C2C e-commerce.However，C2C figures of popular C2C sites such as eBay and Napster indicate that this market is quite large.These sites produce millions of dollars in sales every day.
（1）Advantages of C2C Sites
Consumer to Consumer e-commerce has many benefits.The primary benefit to consumers is reduction in cost.Buying ad space on other e-commerce sites is expensive.Sellers can post their items for free or with minimal charge depending on the C2C website.C2C websites form a perfect platform for buyers and sellers who wish to buy and sell related products.The ability to find related products leads to an increase in the visitor to customer conversion ratio.Business owners can cheaply maintain C2C websites and increase profits without the additional costs of distribution locations.A good example of a C2C e-commerce website is Esty，a site that allows consumers to buy and sell handmade or vintage items and supplies including art，photography，clothing，jewelry，food，bath and beauty products，quilts，knick-knacks，and toys.
（2）Disadvantages of C2C Sites
There are a couple of disadvantages to these type of sites as well.Doing transaction on these type of websites requires cooperation between the buyer and seller.It has been noted many times that these two do not cooperate with each other after a transaction has been made.They do not share the transaction information which may be via credit or debit card or Internet banking.This can result in online fraud since the buyer and seller are not very well versed with each other.This can lead to lawsuit being imposed on either ends or also on the site if it has not mentioned the disclaimer in it’s terms and conditions.This may also hamper the C2C website’s reputation.Companies which handle consumer to consumer e-commerce websites seem to have becoming very cautious to prevent online scams.
5.What Is M-commerce？
M-commerce（mobile commerce）is the buying and selling of goods and services through wireless technology—i.e.，handheld devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants（PDAs）.
As content delivery over wireless devices becomes faster，more secure，and scalable，some believe that m-commerce will surpass wireline e-commerce as the method of choice for digital commerce transactions.This may well be true for the Asia-Pacific where there are more mobile phone users than there are Internet users.
Industries affected by m-commerce include：
1）Financial services，including mobile banking（when customers use their hand-held devices to access their accounts and pay their bills），as well as brokerage services（in which stock quotes can be displayed and trading conducted from the same hand-held device）.
2）Telecommunications，in which service changes，bill payment and account reviews can all be conducted from the same hand-held device.
3）Service/retail，as consumers are given the ability to place and pay for orders on the fly.
4）Information services，which include the delivery of entertainment，financial news，sports figures and traffic updates to a single mobile device.
6.Is E-commerce the Same as E-business？
While “e-commerce” and “e-business” can be used interchangeably，they are distinct concepts.In e-commerce，Information and Communications Technology（ICT）is used in inter-business or inter-organizational transactions（transactions between and among firms/organizations）and in business-to-consumer transactions（transactions between firms/organizations and individuals）.
In e-business，on the other hand，ICT is used to enhance one’s business.It includes any process that a business organization（either a for-profit，governmental or non-profit entity）conducts over a computer-mediated network.A more comprehensive definition of e-business is：
“The transformation of an organization’s processes to deliver additional customer value through the application of technologies，philosophies and computing paradigm of the new economy.”
Three primary processes are enhanced in e-business：
1）Production processes，which include procurement，ordering and replenishment of stocks；processing of payments；electronic links with suppliers；and production control processes，among others.
2）Customer-focused processes，which include promotional and marketing efforts，selling over the Internet，processing of customers’ purchase orders and payments，and customer support，among others.
3）Internal management processes，which include employee services，training，internal information-sharing，videoconferencing，and recruiting.Electronic applications enhance information flow between production and sales forces to improve sales force productivity.Workgroup communications and electronic publishing of internal business information are likewise made more efficient.
New Words
e-commerce n. 电子商务
activity n. 行动，行为，活跃，活动性
transaction n. 交易，事务，办理，处理
interact v. 互相作用，互相影响
Internet n. 互联网，因特网
conduct v. 实施，执行，引导，管理
n. 行为
comprehensive adj. 全面的，广泛的，能充分理解的，包容的
capture n. 捕获，战利品
v. 捕获，夺取
phenomenon n. 现象
communication n. 通信
digital adj. 数字的，数位的
n. 数字，数字式
transform v. 转换，改造，使……变形，改变，转化，变换
redefine v. 重新定义
relationship n. 关系，关联
individual n. 个人，个体
adj. 个别的，单独的，个人的
expert n. 专家，行家
adj. 老练的，内行的，专门的
predict v. 预知，预言，预报，做出预言
segment n. 段，节，片断
v. 分割
e-infrastructure n. 电子基础设施
e-market n. 电子市场
architecture n. 体系结构
logistics n. 物流，后勤
transportation n. 运输，运送
warehousing n. 仓库储存
distribution n. 分配，分发，发送
deployment n. 展开，配置
hosting n. 托管
facility n. 便利，敏捷，设备，工具
outsourcing n. 外部采办，外购，外包
software n. 软件
maintenance n. 维护，保持
real-time adj. 实时的
facilitation n. 简易化，助长
browser-based adj. 基于浏览器的
enabler n. 赋能者，使能者，使能器，推动者
automation n. 自动控制，自动操作
supplier n. 供应者，补充者，厂商，供给者
dissemination n. 传播，分发
payment n. 付款，支付，报酬
tangible adj. 切实的
search n. 搜寻，查究
v. 搜索，搜寻，探求，调查
cost n. 成本
barrier n. 障碍物，栅栏，屏障
brick-and-mortar adj. 实体的
firm n. 公司，（合伙）商号
adj. 结实的，坚固的，稳固的，严格的
v. 使牢固，使坚定，变稳固，变坚实
adv. 稳固地，坚定地
attractive adj. 吸引人的，有魅力的
robust adj. 稳健的，坚固的，强壮的，精力充沛的
procedure n. 程序，手续
establish v. 建立，设立，安置
transparency n. 透明，透明度
irregularity n. 不规则，无规律
component n. 成分
adj. 组成的，构成的
insignificant adj. 无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的
undeveloped adj. 不发达的，未开发的
marketplace n. 市场，集市，商场
online n. 联机，在线式
potential adj. 潜在的，可能的
n.潜能，潜力
portal n. 入口，门户
protocol n. 协议
classified v. 分类
adj. 机密的
interactive adj. 交互式的
negotiate v. 买卖，商议，谈判，磋商
indicate v. 指出，显示
ad n. 广告
item n.（可分类或列举的）项目，条款
profit n. 利润，益处，得益
v. 得益，利用，有益于，有利于
handmade adj. 手工的，手制的
cooperation n. 合作，协作
fraud n. 欺骗，诡计，骗子，假货
lawsuit n. 诉讼（尤指非刑事案件）
disclaimer n. 放弃，拒绝，不承诺
condition n. 条件，情形，环境
v. 以……为条件
hamper v. 妨碍，牵制
reputation n. 名誉，名声
cautious adj. 谨慎的，小心的
scam n. 诡计，故事
secure adj. 安全的，可靠的
v. 保护
scalable adj. 可升级的
surpass v. 超越，胜过
wireline n. 有线线路
telecommunication n. 电讯，无线电通信，电信学
e-business n. 电子业务
enhance v. 提高，增强
philosophy n. 哲学，哲学体系
paradigm n. 范例
ordering n. 排序，分类
replenishment n. 补给，补充
stock n. 库存，股票，股份
adj. 常备的，存货的
v. 进货，采购
link n. 链接
employee n. 职工，雇员，店员
videoconference n. 视频会议
productivity n. 生产力
workgroup n. 工作组
Phrases
electronic commerce 电子商务
pertain to 属于，关于，附属，适合
associate with 联合
transfer of ownership 所有权转让
mobile commerce 移动电子商务
deal with 安排，处理，涉及
consist of… 由……组成
Procter and Gamble 宝洁公司
interact with… 与……相互作用，与……相互影响，与……相互配合
purchase order 订单
inventory management 库存管理
shipping document 货运单据
channel management 渠道管理
information dissemination 信息传播
trace to 上溯
online retailing 在线零售
personal investment 个人投资
online banking 在线银行
transactions cost 交易成本
competitive price 竞争价格，公开招标价格
factor in 考虑，把……计算在内，包括
distribution network 配送网络
public sector 公共部门，公共成分
be characterized by… ……的特点在于，……的特点是
bid for 投标，许诺以获支持
peer-to-peer system 对等网系统
classified ads 分类广告
a couple of 两个，几个
debit card 借记卡
result in 导致
impose on 利用，欺骗，施加影响于
handheld device 手持设备
cellular telephone 移动电话
mobile banking 移动银行
brokerage service 经纪服务，佣金服务
on the fly 在百忙中；急忙地；直接地
financial news 财经新闻；交易所新闻，股票消息
on the other hand 另一方面
information flow 信息流
Abbreviations
B2B（Business-to-Business） 企业对企业
B2C（Business-to-Consumer） 企业对消费者
B2G（Business-to-Government） 企业对政府
C2C（Consumer-to-Consumer） 消费者对消费者
XML（eXtensible Markup Language） 可扩展标记语言
EPS（Electronic Payment Systems） 电子支付系统
IRC（Internet Relay Chatting） 互联网在线聊天系统
PDA（Personal Digital Assistant） 个人数字助理，掌上电脑
ICT（Information and Communications Technology）信息与通信技术
Exercises
[Ex.1] Answer the following questions according to the text.
1.What does electronic commerce refer to？What is it usually associated with？
2.What are the major different kinds of e-commerce mentioned in the text？
3.What is B2B e-commerce defined as？What does it deal with？
4.What is the definition of e-market？
5.How does B2C e-commerce reduce transactions costs（particularly search costs）？
6.What are the two features B2G has？
7.What are the three forms C2C comes in？
8.What is m-commerce？
9.What industries are affected by m-commerce？
10.What are the three primary processes which are enhanced in e-business？
[Ex.2] Translate the following terms or phrases from English into Chinese and vice versa.
1.transportation 1.____
2.competitive price 2.____
3.electronic commerce 3.____
4.inventory management 4.____
5.online retailing 5.____
6.通信 6.____
7.基于浏览器的 7.____
8.传播，分发 8.____
9.电子基础设施 9.____
10.可升级的 10.____
[Ex.3] Translate the following passage into Chinese.
What Is E-commerce？
Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a term for any type of business，or commercial transaction，which involves the transfer of information across the Internet.It covers a range of different types of businesses，from consumer based retail sites，through auction sites，to business exchanges trading goods and services between corporations.It is currently one of the most important aspects of the Internet to emerge.
The history of e-commerce dates back to 1970，when for the first time，Electronic Data Interchange（EDI）and electronic fund transfer were introduced.Since then，a rapid growth of e-commerce has pervaded almost every aspect of business such as supply chain management， transaction processing，Internet marketing，and inventory management.
E-commerce allows consumers to electronically exchange goods and services with no barriers of time or distance.It has expanded rapidly over the past five years and is predicted to continue at this rate，or even accelerate.In the near future the boundaries between “conventional” and “electronic” commerce will become increasingly blurred as more and more businesses move sections of their operations onto the Internet.
[Ex.4] Fill in the blanks with the words given below.
onlineaccountmakeconsiderationbusiness
wantsiteneede-commerceresearch
To start an online business it is best to find a niche product that consumers have difficulty finding in malls or department stores.Also take shipping into 1.Pets.com found out the hard way：dog food is expensive to ship FedEx！Then you need an e-commerce enabled website.This can either be a new 2 developed from scratch，or an existing site to which you can add e-commerce shopping cart capabilities.
The next step，you need a means of accepting 3 payments.This usually entails obtaining a merchant 4 and accepting credit cards through an online payment gateway.Some smaller sites stick with simpler methods of accepting payments such as PayPal.
Lastly，you 5 a marketing strategy for driving targeted traffic to your site and a means of enticing repeat customers.If you are new to 6 keep things simple—know your limitations.
E-commerce has proved to be a suitable alternative for people who 7 to shop and transact from the confines of their home.It can be a very rewarding venture，but you cannot 8 money overnight.It is important to do a lot of 9 ，ask questions，work hard and make on business decisions on facts learned from researching e-commerce.Don’t rely on “gut” feelings.We hope our online e-commerce tutorial has helped your 10 make a better decision in choosing an online shopping cart for your e-commerce store.
Text B
E-commerce and Selling Online
1.Overview
E-commerce plays an increasingly important role in the way in which products and services are purchased.Selling products and services online can help your business become more profitable and lower your costs.E-commerce can also strengthen and improve the efficiency of your relationships with suppliers and other key trading partners.
It's important to plan for the ongoing development and maintenance of any e-commerce system from the start.You also need to be aware of your legal obligations when selling online.
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2.Get Started with E-commerce
Investigate your options for getting online.Make sure you choose the right website and e-mail addresses so your customers and suppliers can find you quickly and easily.
Consider the different ways to connect your business to the Internet.A range of options are available including ADSL，dial-up，cable and satellite.
Pay attention to the design of your site.The overall look and feel will play an important role in its usability.There are also legal issues to consider in the design of the website.For example，you must ensure it’s accessible for disabled people.
If you want to sell directly through your website，you’ll need to have the infrastructure in place to showcase your products and services and process orders electronically.
To complete your e-commerce solution，you’ll need to set up the facility to accept payment through your website.
Once your shop is online，consider how to monitor its effectiveness，make it more powerful and ultimately sell more through it.Think about how you can drive traffic to your site.
3.Maintain and Develop Your E-commerce Services
Your work doesn’t end once your initial e-commerce system is up and running.You need to maintain the site，constantly review how well it is operating and consider new opportunities and ways of working that it may present to you.
（1）Maintaining Your E-commerce Site
You must ensure that the content of the site is accurate and updated regularly.This will help to promote a positive image for the business，attracting and retaining visitors to the site.
As your e-commerce presence grows，you must protect yourself against the threats posed by hackers，viruses and fraudsters.Identify the risks they pose and implement appropriate security controls to counter them.
（2）Identifying New Opportunities
Mobile commerce（m-commerce）is a type of e-commerce using mobile devices such as mobile phones，smart-phones，tablet computers and other devices with a wireless connection.M-commerce brings new opportunities to small businesses both to sell new services and to operate existing businesses more efficiently.
Extranets enables your business to communicate and collaborate more effectively with selected business partners，suppliers and customers.They can play an important role in enhancing business relationships and improving supply chain management.Intranets are an invaluable way to communicate with employees，especially for businesses with multiple locations and staff who work remotely or from home.
An e-marketplace allows you to use a variety of online services such as electronic catalog，business directory listings and online auctions to sell your goods and services more effectively to other businesses.
4.Selling Online：the Advantages
Selling online has a number of advantages over other selling methods，including：
• Savings in set-up and operational costs.You don’t need to rent high street premises or pay shop assistants.
• Reducing order processing costs.Customer orders can automatically come straight into your orders database from the website.
• Reaching a global audience，increasing sales opportunities.
• Competing with larger businesses by being able to open 24 hours a day，seven days a week.
• Quicker payments from online transactions.
• Improving your business using data gathered from tracking customer purchases.
• Using your online shop as a catalog for existing customers.
Online selling will work best if you have：
• well-defined products or services that can be sold without human involvement in the sales process；
• fixed prices for all types of potential customers；
• products or services that can be delivered within a predictable lead time.
5.Selling Online：the Disadvantages
Selling online also has a number of disadvantages over other selling methods，including：
• Authenticity and security.Due to the lack of trust，a large number of people do not use the Internet for any kind of financial transaction.Many people have reservations regarding the requirement to disclose personal and private information for security concerns.Some people simply refuse to trust the authenticity of completely impersonal business transactions，as in the case of e-commerce.
• Time-consuming.The time period required for delivering physical products can also be quite significant in case of e-commerce.Hence it is not suitable for perishable commodities like food items.A lot of phone calls and e-mails may be required till you get your desired products.
• Inconvenient.People prefer to shop in the conventional way than to use e-commerce for purchasing food products and objects that need to be felt and touched before actually making the purchase.So e-commerce is not suitable for such business sectors.However，returning the product and getting a refund can be even more troublesome and time-consuming than purchasing，in case you are not satisfied with a particular product.
6.Selling Online：Types of Shops
（1）Basic Online Shops
Basic online shops allow you to sell a small range of products，providing photos，descriptions and prices as well as accept orders online.
Most customers shopping online will want to pay by debit or credit card.You can create electronic mail-order forms using web authoring software packages.These order forms let customers e-mail their orders to be processed offline.You’ll need a more sophisticated online shop if you want to accept card payments online.
A basic site is of low cost and easy to create for a limited product range.But it might have restricted design and functionality and might be less secure than more sophisticated options.
（2）Intermediate Online Shops
An intermediate online shop is typically an e-commerce package and should include catalog management，enhanced order processing and a broader range of design templates.
It should also include encryption for secure ordering.Using Secure Socket Layer[2] technology to collect card details（noted by the “golden padlock” symbol in your browser’s status bar）is key to encouraging online sales.
Some e-commerce packages may offer back end systems integration，i.e.they connect to your product database and accounts systems.
An intermediate-level site might not be suitable if you want to offer more complex products and services.
（3）Sophisticated Online Shops
Sophisticated online shops should provide a range of options，including cutting-edge design and functionality，personalized pages and product news.
Software can be integrated to trigger order confirmations and automatically dispatch goods and replenish stocks.
You may need a design and development company to help define your technical requirements and integrate the website with your existing systems.
You could also consider free，open source[3] shopping cart software packages.This should allow you to set up a sophisticated e-commerce website that has a wide range of options，features and support，even if you have only basic computer skills.
7.Selling Online：Common Mistakes
Customers will be put off by：
• out-of-date or incorrect information；
• difficult site navigation and purchasing processes；
• poor customer fulfillment and late delivery；
• lack of customer support；
• lack of business information；
• poor visual design.
To make customers feel secure about buying from your site，you should：
• make your site easy to navigate and user friendly；
• make sure photographic images on your site are accurate and show products in their best light；
• hire a customer service representative who can give advice on the phone to customers on more complex or expensive products；
• make ordering procedures straightforward and quick；
• confirm orders immediately by e-mail；
• be honest—i.e.tell the customer if you can’t deliver on time；
• provide a way for customers to track down the progress and availability of their order.
New Words
increasingly adv. 日益，愈加
strengthen v. 加强，巩固
trading n. 贸易
investigate v. 调查，研究
dial-up n. 拨号（上网）
cable n. 电缆
usability n. 可用性
accessible adj. 易接近的，可到达的，可理解的
showcase v. 展现，在玻璃橱窗陈列
effectiveness n. 效力
accurate adj. 正确的，精确的
regularly adv. 定期地，有规律地，有规则地
retain v. 保持，保留
hacker n. 计算机黑客
extranet n. 外联网
intranet n. 内联网
invaluable adj. 无价的，无法估计的
remotely adv. 远程地，遥远地
catalog n. 目录，目录册
v. 编目录
database n. 数据库，资料库
predictable adj. 可预言的
authenticity n. 确实性，真实性
disclose v. 揭露，透露
refuse v. 拒绝，谢绝
perishable adj. 容易腐烂的
commodity n. 日用品
inconvenient adj. 不便的，有困难的
mail-order adj. 邮购的
e-mail n. 电子邮件，电子信函
restricted adj. 受限制的，有限的
template n.（=templet）模板
padlock n. 挂锁
confirmation n. 证实，确认，批准
dispatch v. 分派，派遣
n. 派遣，急件
replenish v. 补充
out-of-date adj. 过时的，落伍的
visual adj. 视觉的，形象的
confirm v. 确定，批准
honest adj. 诚实的，正直的
Phrases
be aware of 知道，明白，意识到
legal obligation 法律义务（如合同契约等）
pay attention to 注意
think about 考虑，回想
tablet computer 平板电脑
business partner 业务伙伴
play an important role in… 在……中起重要作用
a number of 许多的
operational cost 运营成本，运作成本
high street 大街，主要街道
shop assistant 店员
fixed price 固定价格
financial transaction 金融业务，财务事项，财务往来
suitable for… 适合……的
be satisfy with… 对……感到满意，满足于……
order form 订货单
Secure Socket Layer 安全套接层协议
back end 后端，后台
replenish stock 补充库存，补货
open source 开放资源，开源
customer service representative 客服代表
track down 追寻，追踪，追到
Abbreviations
ADSL（Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line） 非对称数字用户线路
Exercises
[Ex.5] Answer the following questions according to the text.
1.What can selling products and services online do for your business？
2.Once your shop is online，what should you do？
3.What must you do as your e-commerce presence grows？
4.What do extranets enable your business to do？
5.What should you have if you want your online shopping works best？
6.What disadvantages does online shopping have？
7.How will most customers shopping online want to pay？
8.What may some e-commerce packages offer？
9.What should sophisticated online shops provide？
10.What should you do to make customers feel secure about buying from your site？
Reading Material
E-commerce Advantages and Disadvantages
E-commerce is business transactions through electronic means，including the Internet，telephones，televisions and computers.As the number of Internet users grows，many believe e-commerce will soon be the main way to complete business transactions.There are purchasers and business alike that are affected by e-commerce.Let’s take a look and see the main e-commerce advantages and disadvantages.
1.E-commerce Advantages
（1）E-commerce Advantages for Customers
1）Convenience.Every product is at the tip of your fingers on the Internet，literally[4].Type in the product you are looking for into your favorite search engine and every option will appear in a well organized list in a matter of[5] seconds.
2）Time saving.With e-commerce there is no driving in circles while looking and digging in hopes of finding what you need.Stores online offer their full line as well as use warehouses instead of store fronts[6].Products are easy to locate and can be delivered to your door in just days.
3）Options，options，options！Without driving from store to store the consumer can easily compare and contrast products.See who offers the best pricing and have more options to choose from.While a physical store[7] has limited space，the same store on the Internet will have full stock.
4）Easy to compare.Side by side[8] comparisons are readily available and easy to do.When products are placed online，they come with all the specifics，and they want you to compare them with others，know they have the best options and come back for more！
5）Easy to find reviews.Because the competition[9] is high，companies online want you to look at other consumer reviews.Good and bad reviews are on every site，not only can you see if the product is liked，you can also see the reasons behind the thumbs up[10] or down.
6）Coupons[11] and deals.With every online business wanting you，more and more coupons and deals can’t be avoided，which are totally great for customers.With major sites that act as department store，you may find items up to 80% off！Take advantage of the competition and find the best price available.
（2）E-commerce Advantages for Businesses
1）Increasing customer base.The customer base is every business’s main concern，online or off.When online，a business doesn’t have to worry about getting the best property[12] in town，people from from around the world have access to their products and can come back at anytime.
2）Rise in sales.By not managing a store front，any business will have more sales online with a higher profit margin.They can redistribute[13] money to make the consumer shopping experience faster and more efficient.While being available to international markets，more products will sell.
3）24/7，365 days.If it’s snowing and the roads are closed，or it’s too hot and humid to even step outside in the summer，or a holiday that every store in town closes，your online business is open for consumers 24/7 every day of the year.The doors never close and profits will keep rising.
4）Expand business reach.A great tool on the Internet is…translation！A business online does not have to make a site for every language.With the right marketing，every consumer around the globe can find the business site，products and information without leaving home.
5）Recurring payments made easy.With a little research，every business can set up recurring payments.Find the provider that best suits your needs and billing will be done in a consistent manner；payments will be received in the same way.
6）Instant transactions.With e-commerce there is no more waiting for the check to clear，or a 30-day wait for certain other types of payment.Transactions are cleared immediately or at most two to three days for the money to clear through the banking system.
2.E-commerce Disadvantages
（1）E-commerce Disadvantages for Customers
1）Privacy and security.Before making instant transactions online，be sure to check the sites certificates of security.While it may be easy and convenient to shop，no one wants their personal information to be stolen.While many sites are reputable[14]，always do your research for those with less than sufficient security.
2）Quality.While e-commerce makes everything easily accessible，a consumer cannot actually touch products until they are delivered to the door.It is important to view the return policy before buying.Always make sure returning goods is an option.
3）Hidden costs.When making purchases，the consumer is aware of the product cost，shipping，handling and possible taxes.Be advised：there may be hidden fees that won’t show up on your purchasing bill but will show up on your form of payment.Extra handling fees may occur，especially with international purchases.
4）Delay in receiving goods.Although delivery of products is often quicker than expected，be prepared for[15] delays.A snow storm in one place may throw off the shipping system across the board.There is also a chance that your product may be lost or delivered to the wrong address.
5）Need access to Internet.Internet access is not free，and if you are using free Wi-Fi，there is the chance of information theft over an insecure site.If you are weary of your public library，or cannot afford the Internet or computer at home，it may be best to shop locally.
6）Lack of personal interaction.While the rules and regulations[16] of each e-commerce business is laid out for you to read，there is a lot to read and it may be confusing[17] when it comes to the legalities.With large or important orders，there is no one you can talk to face to face[18] when you have have questions and concerns.
（2）E-commerce Disadvantages for Businesses
1）Security issues.While businesses make great efforts to keep themselves and the consumer safe，there are people out there that will break every firewall possible to get the information they want.We have all seen recently how the biggest and most renowned business can be hacked online.
2）Credit card issues.Many credit card businesses will take the side of the consumer when there is dispute[19] about billing.They want to keep their clients，too.This can lead to a loss for e-commerce business when goods have already been delivered and the payment is refunded back to the consumer.
3）Extra expense and expertise for e-commerce infrastructure.To be sure an online business is running correctly，money will have to be invested.As an owner，you need to know transactions are being handled properly and products are represented in the most truthful[20] way.To make sure you get what you need，you will have to hire a professional to tie up any loose ends.
4）Needs for expanded reverse logistics.The infrastructure of an online business must be on point.This will be another cost to the business because money will need to be invested to ensure proper handling of all aspects of buying and selling，especially with disgruntled[21] consumers who want more than a refund.
5）Sufficient[22] Internet service.Although it seems that everyone is now on the Internet all the time，there are still areas in which network bandwidth[23] can cause issues.Before setting up an e-commerce business，be sure your area can handle the telecommunication bandwidth you will need to run effectively.
6）Constant upkeep[24].When a business has started as e-commerce，they must be ready to make changes to stay compatible.While technology grows，the systems that support your business must be kept up to date or replaced if needed.There may be additional overhead[25] in order to keep databases and applications running.
参考译文 什么是电子商务？
电子商务是指各类产品和服务的在线商业活动。它也适用于“当事人以电子方式进行交互而不是通过实际交换或直接物体交换的任何形式的商业交易”。
电子商务通常与通过互联网进行的购买和销售相关，或者与通过计算机中介网络进行转让商品或服务的所有权或使用权的任何交易相关。虽然这个定义很流行，但是不够全面，不足以捕捉这种新的和革命性的商业现象的最新发展。更完整的定义是：电子商务是在商业交易中使用电子通信和数字信息处理技术来创建、转换和重新定义组织之间，以及组织和个人之间的创造价值的关系。
电子商务的主要类型有：企业对企业（B2B）；企业对消费者（B2C）；企业对政府（B2G）；消费者对消费者（C2C）以及移动商务（M-commerce）。
1.什么是B2B电子商务？
B2B电子商务被简单地定义为公司之间的电子商务。这类电子商务涉及企业之间的关系。大约80%的电子商务属于这种类型。并且大多数专家预测，B2B电子商务将继续增长，其速度会超过B2C市场。B2B市场有两个主要组成部分：电子基础设施和电子市场。
电子基础设施是B2B的结构，主要包括以下内容：
•物流——运输、仓储和分配（如宝洁公司）；
•应用服务提供商——从中央设施部署、托管和管理软件包（如Oracle和Linkshare）；
•在电子商务过程中外包功能，例如网络托管、安全和客户服务解决方案（如eShare，NetSales，iXL Enterprises和Universal Access等外包供应商）；
•用于互联网的实时拍卖操作和维护的拍卖解决方案软件（如Moai Technologies和OpenSite Technologies）；
•内容管理软件，用于促进网站内容管理和交付（如Interwoven和ProcureNet）；
•基于Web的商业提供者（如Commerce One，基于浏览器，支持XML的采购自动化软件）。
电子市场被简单地定义为买方和卖方交互并进行交易的网站。
B2B大多数应用于供应商管理（特别是采购订单处理）、库存管理（即管理订单——交货单循环）、配送管理（特别是运输单据的传输）、渠道管理（如运营时渠道中信息的传播）和支付管理（如电子支付系统）。
2.什么是B2C电子商务？
B2C是企业对消费者的电子商务，或公司和消费者之间的商务，它涉及收集客户信息、购买实体商品（即有形产品如书籍或消费品）或信息商品（或电子材料或数字化内容，如软件或电子书）以及通过电子网络接收的信息产品。
它是电子商务的第二大和最早形式。其起源可以追溯到在线零售（或电子零售）。因此，更常见的B2C商业模式是在线零售公司，如Amazon、Drugstore、Beyond、Barnes and Noble和ToysRus。其他涉及信息商品的B2C例子有E-Trade和Travelocity等。
此类电子商务更常见的应用是购买产品和信息以及个人财务管理领域，其涉及通过使用在线银行工具来管理个人投资和财务。
通过增加消费者对信息的访问，并允许消费者为产品或服务找到最具竞争力的价格，B2C电子商务降低了交易成本（特别是搜索成本）。B2C电子商务还减少了市场准入壁垒，因为建立和维护网站的成本比为企业建立“实体”结构便宜得多。对于信息产品而言，B2C电子商务更具吸引力，因为企业不必考虑物理分销网络从而节省了额外成本。此外，对于互联网人口增长壮大的国家，提供信息产品变得越来越可行。
3.什么是B2G电子商务？
企业对政府的电子商务或B2G通常被定义为公司和公共部门之间的商业。它是指使用互联网进行公共采购、许可程序和其他政府相关业务。这种电子商务有两个特点：一是公共部门在建立电子商务方面具有引领或主导作用；二是假设公共部门最需要使其采购系统更有效。
基于网络的采购政策提高了采购过程的透明度并降低了违规行为的风险。然而，到目前为止，B2G电子商务市场的规模对于整个电子商务而言是微不足道的，因为政府电子采购系统仍然不发达。
4.什么是C2C电子商务？
消费者对消费者的电子商务或C2C就是个人或消费者之间的商务。这种类型的电子商务的特征在于电子市场和在线拍卖的增长，特别是在垂直行业中，公司或企业可以从多个供应商竞标中选择他们想要的商品。它可能是在发展新市场方面具有最大潜力。
这种类型的电子商务至少有三种形式：
•在诸如eBay之类的门户上进行拍卖，从而允许对网上销售的物品在线实时出价；
•对等网络系统，如Napster模型（用于类似于IRC的聊天论坛的用户之间共享文件的协议）以及其他文件交换和稍后的货币兑换模型；
•门户网站的分类广告，如Excite Classifieds和eWanted，Pakwheels（一个互动的、买家和卖家可以谈判的在线市场，以及具有“买家主导和分类广告”功能）。
关于全球C2C电子商务相对规模的信息很少。然而，受欢迎的C2C网站，如eBay和Napster的C2C数字表明，这个市场是相当大的。这些网站每天产生数百万美元的销售。
（1）C2C站点的优点
消费者对消费者电子商务有很多好处。对消费者来说，主要好处是可以降低成本。在其他电子商务网站上购买广告空间很贵。卖家可以在C2C网站免费或以最低费用张贴其商品。C2C网站为希望购买和销售相关产品的买家和卖家提供了一个完美的平台。找到相关产品的能力导致了访问者的客户转化率的增加。企业主可以廉价维护C2C网站、增加利润而不需要花费额外的成本建立销售地点。C2C电子商务网站的一个很好的例子是Esty，它允许消费者购买和销售手工或复古的物品和用品，包括艺术、摄影、服装、首饰、食品、浴室和美容产品、棉被、小装饰品和玩具。
（2）C2C网站的缺点
此类网站也有几个缺点。在这些类型的网站上进行交易需要买卖双方的合作。已经多次注意到，这两者在交易完成后并不相互合作。他们不分享可以通过信用卡或借记卡或网上银行进行的交易信息。因为买方和卖方互相不是很熟悉，这就可能导致在线欺诈。如果没有在条款和条件中提及免责声明，这可能导致诉讼被强加在任何一方或网站上。这也可能损害C2C网站的声誉。处理消费者对消费者电子商务网站的公司似乎已经变得非常谨慎，以防止在线欺诈。
5.什么是移动电子商务？
移动电子商务是通过无线技术——如手持设备（如蜂窝电话）和个人数字助理（PDA）来购买和销售商品和服务。
由于通过无线设备递送内容变得更快、更安全和可升级，一些人认为移动电子商务将超过有线电子商务，成为数字商务交易的首选方法。对于亚太地区来说可能是真的，因为亚太地区的手机用户比互联网用户多。
受移动电子商务影响的行业包括：
1）金融服务：包括手机银行（当客户使用手持设备访问他们的账户并支付账单时），以及经纪服务（可以显示股票报价并从同一手持设备进行交易）。
2）电信：更改服务项目、支付账单和审查账户都可以从同一手持设备进行。
3）服务/零售：因为消费者能当场直接下订单和支付订单。
4）信息服务：包括向单个移动设备提供娱乐、财经新闻、体育数据和更新交通信息。
6.电子商务与电子业务相同吗？
虽然“电子商务”和“电子业务”这两个词可以互换使用，但它们是不同的概念。在电子商务中，信息和通信技术（ICT）用于企业间或组织间交易（企业/组织之间的交易）和企业对消费者交易（企业/组织和个人之间的交易）。
另一方面，在电子业务中ICT用于增强自己的业务。它包括商业组织（营利性、政府或非营利实体）通过计算机网络进行的任何活动。电子业务的更全面的定义是：
“通过应用新经济的技术、哲学和计算模式，转变组织流程，提供额外的客户价值。”
电子业务增强了三个主要过程：
1）生产过程包括采购、订购和补充库存，付款，与供应商的电子链接以及生产控制过程及其他。
2）以客户为中心的流程，包括促销和营销工作、通过互联网销售、处理客户的采购订单和付款以及客户支持等。
3）内部管理流程，包括员工服务、培训、内部信息共享、视频会议和招聘。电子应用增强生产和销售部门之间的信息流以提高销售人员的生产力。工作组通信和内部业务信息的电子发布也更有效。