E-commerce and logistics

Author: Cui Jiehe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: Electronic Commerce (EC) is a novel business operation model that combines electronic information technology with business activities, based on the Internet. Compared to traditional commerce, Electronic Commerce has distinct characteristics and significant advantages. It signifies a trade revolution, changing the way economies and societies operate. The economic features of Electronic Commerce include: first, enabling the expansion of business activities to be global; second, making low-cost, high-efficiency business activities more widespread; and third, providing buyers with multiple choices for purchasing goods. On November 18, 1998, Chinese President Jiang Zemin stated at the 6th Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) that, "Electronic Commerce represents the future direction of trade methods." Electronic Commerce will bring humanity an unprecedented industrial revolution, ultimately leading us into the information society. Electronic Commerce integrates information flow, capital flow, and logistics. Although logistics is included in Electronic Commerce, people's understanding of it is often limited to the electronicization of information flow and capital flow, while overlooking the electronicization of logistics. When information flow and capital flow can be completed with a simple click of the mouse with the support of electronic tools and network communication technology, logistics—the spatial displacement of material resources, such as specific transportation, storage, and distribution activities—cannot be accomplished through network transmission. However, the characteristics of informatization, automation, networking, intelligence, flexibility, and personalization of logistics under Electronic Commerce can adapt to the development of Electronic Commerce. Electronic Commerce and Logistics starts from the basic theories and principles of Electronic Commerce and logistics, discussing the electronicization of logistics in terms of operational systems, workflows, and the design of logistics information support systems under Electronic Commerce. It further explores and analyzes the relationships between Electronic Commerce and distribution systems, Electronic Commerce and third-party logistics, and Electronic Commerce and the logistics industry, considering China's technological and economic conditions. The aim is to continuously improve China's logistics modernization level and promote the development of Electronic Commerce in the country.