Electronic Commerce

Digital Economy An economy that based on digital technology including digital communication networks (Internet, Intranet, Extranet), computer, Software & other related information technologies. Also called internet economy, new economy or the web economy. ) (, , . , ,

:speed . :Globalization . : Digital System . :Market . : Digitalization 1.

2.3. 4.

5.

6. :Business models & process . 7. :Innovation . 8. :Opportunity ( ). 9. :Fraud , : . 01. : Wars , ( " ).

1. :Supporting infrastructure 2. : E-Business 3. E-Commerce transaction

Supporting infrastructure

1. : : . .H.W .S.W . . . .

:Electronic Business Processing

2.

, : :Customer Service , , . Collaborating With Business :Partners . : . Conducting electronic transaction within an organization ( , ).

()Profit Organization ()Non Profit Organization (.)Governmental Organization

E-Business is including not just buying, selling goods or services but including customer service, collaborating with business partner, & conducting electronic transaction within an organization

: E-Commerce transaction .3

. E-Commerce: is the process of buying, selling, transferring and exchanging product, services. information via computer networks, including Internet.

, : 1. (, ) . 2. (). ( ). 3. . . Chatting

1. :Communication . 2. :Trading . 3. :Business Possess . 4. : Services .

5. :Learning . 6. :Collaborative . 7. :Community .

Types of commerce ( : ) . The product (service) sold .Process .Delivering Agent

E.C can take several forms depending on degree of digitization (the transformation from physical to digital) of: 1. The product (services) sold. 2. The process. 3. The delivery agent.

Types of commerce , 3 . A product maybe physical or digital, the process maybe physical or digital, and the delivery agent may be physical or digital. So in traditional commerce all three dimensions are physical, in pure EC, all three dimensions are digital, in partial EC it will be mix of digital and physical dimensions.

Types of commerce : 1. .Traditional Commerce 2. .Pure EC 3. .Partial EC

Type of EC Organization

.1. Brick & Mortar Organization 2. Virtual Organization. 3. Click & Brick (Click & mortar) organization

Type of EC Organization Brick & Mortar Organization : (Old Economy) , Offline . 1. Brick & Mortar Organization: Old Economy organization that perform most of there Business offline (selling physical product by physical Agent).

Type of EC OrganizationVirtual Organization .Online 2. Virtual Organization : Organization that conduct their Business activities online.

Type of EC OrganizationClick & Brick (Click & mortar) : organization .offline 3. Click & Bick (Click & mortar) organization: Organization that conduct some ECommerce activities, but also their primary Business, in the physical world

, Internet Versus Non-Internet EC : . .Internet EC: Is done over the internet : ( ). Non-Internet EC: EC also can be conducted on privet ,)network, such as value added networks, (VANs .computerized machine, LAN

:E- Market Place online . E Market Place: An Online Market place where the buyer and seller meet to exchange product, services, Information or money

Intraorganizational Information System : : . :Intraorganizational Information System Communication system that enables ecommerce activates to go on with in .individual organization

:Interorganization Information System : . Interorganization Information System: Communication system that allows routine transaction processing & Information flow between two or more organization

:EC Framework

Framework EC1. EC Application 2. Support Services 3. Infrastructure

Application EC Direct Marketing Search of job Online Banking E-Government E-Purchasing Business to Business exchange 1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Application EC7. )Collaborative Commerce (CC 8. (MC) Mobile Commerce 9. Auction 01. Travel 11. Online Publishing Consumer Service

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:EC Framework : .Right Information . Infrastructure Support Services

Support Services 1. People: . 2. Public Policy : : , . 3. Marketing & Advertisement : .

Support Services 4. : , , , , . 5. Business Partnerships : , , , , .

Infrastructure :1. Common Business Services Infrastructure : , , , . 2. Messaging & Information Distribution Infrastructure : , , , .

Infrastructure :3 Multimedia Content & Network Publishing Infrastructure : .

4. :Networks infrastructure , , , , . 5. Interfacing Infrastructure : , .

Management . The companies need to plan, organize, motivate, devise strategy, and reengineer processes as needed to optimize their business using EC models and strategies> Management also deals with strategic and operational decisions.

Classification of EC Application 3 : 1. :E-Market . 2. Interorganizational & Intraorganizational :Information System . 3. Providing Customer Services

Classification of EC Application :1- :

(B2B) Business to Business: All the participate in B2B EC are either business .or organization

Classification of EC Application 2- : .

B2C (Business to Consumer): EC includes retail transactions of producers or service from Business to Individual Shoppers (E-Tailing).

Classification of EC Application 3- : ( ).

B2B2C )Business to Business to Consumer:( EC model in which a business provides some product or services to a client business that maintains .its own customers

Classification of EC Application 4- : Internet .

(C2B )Customer to Business: EC models in which Individual use the Internet to sell product or service to .organizations

Classification of EC Application 5- : .

C2C )Consumer to Consumer:( EC model in which consumer sell directly to .other consumer

Classification of EC Application 6 - : Peer To Peer Application .C2C, B2B, B2C . ( , , ).

Peer To Peer Application: EC that enables networked peer computers to share data and processing with each ,other directly. can be used in, C2C, B2B .B2C

Classification of EC Application : Mobile Commerce- 7 .

Mobile Commerce: EC transaction and activities conducted on full or part in a wireless environment

Classification of EC Application : Intra Business EC -8 .

Intra Business EC: EC category that includes all internal organizational activities that involve the exchange of goods or services or information among various units and individual in an organization

Classification of EC Application 9- : .

(B2E)Business to Employees: EC model in which an organization delivers services, information, or product to its individual employee

Classification of EC Application 01- : .Online

Collaborative commerce (CC ) : EC model in which Individuals or groups .communicate or collaborate online

Classification of EC Application 11- : .

Non Business EC: An Increased number of non business institutions are using EC to reduce their expanses or to improve their .general operations and customer services

Classification of EC Application 21- : .

E-learning: The online delivery of information for purposes of learning & training

Classification of EC Application 31- : .

: . E2E (Exchange to Exchange:( EC model in which electronic exchanges formally connects to another for the purpose of exchanging .information Exchange Electronic: Electronic market with .many buyer & seller

Classification of EC Application 41- : .

E government (EG): EC model in which a government entity buys or provides goods or services or information to .business or individual citizen

The Inter Disciplinary Nature of EC :- , Computer Science ,Marketing ,Consumer Behavior ,Finance ,Economic Management Information ,System ,Accounting

The Inter Disciplinary Nature of EC ,Management ,Commercial Low ,Public Administration ,Robotics .Engineering

The Business Environment Drives EC : Business Environment Business Pressures Organization Response

Business Environment Business Environment . , .

Business Environment . Business Pressures or Drives : :Not only take traditional action such as .1. Lowering cost .2. Closing unprofitable facilities

Business Environment Innovation : .Customization . . :But also introduce innovation actions as 1. Customization .2. Creating new products .3. Providing super customers services

Business PressuresBusiness Pressures

3 :1. Market& Economic Social Pressures 2. Technological Pressures 3.

Business Pressures Market& Economic Pressures Strong Competition Global Economy Regional trade agreement Low Labor Cost Extremely in some Countries Frequent & Significant changes in markets Increased Power Of Consumer

Business Pressures Social Pressures Changing Nature Of Work Force Government Deregulation Leading to more Competition Government Subsidies Shrinking Increased Importance Of Ethical & legal Issues Increased Social Responsibility of organizations Rapid Political Changes

Business Pressures Technological Pressures

Increasing Innovations & New ) ( Technologies Rapid Technological Obsolescence ) ( Increases In Information Overload Rapid Decline In Technology Cost Versus Performance Ratio

Organization Response Strategies : Strategic System 1- : : . . .

FEDEX .

Organization Response Strategies Agile System 2- : (Businesses )( Agility ) IT ().

Organization Response Strategies3- Continuous Improvement Efforts

. . .

Organization Response Strategies 4- )Business Process Reengineering (BPR () Organization Structure . .

) (IT . EDI )(Paper Less Transaction 58% . . .

Organization Response StrategiesBusiness Alliances

5-

() General Motor Ford . Sharing Resources Permanent Supplier Company Relation .

Temporary Joint Venture . . Virtual Corporation ) (Kirestu . Permanent Business .Alliance

Organization Response StrategiesElectronic Markets 6- . 7- Reducing Cycle Time And Time To Market ( ) Productivity .Competitiveness ( ) , , Competitive Advantage

Organization Response StrategiesEmpowerment Of Employees 8- ( ) Authority Delegation ) . (Self-Directed Team Work . IT ) (Decentralizations .Centralized Control . Network Expert Systems .

Organization Response StrategiesMass Customization 9- () ( )Mass Production (.)Customization ( - - ). . ( ()) . Mass Customization Production of Large Quantities of Customized Items .

Organization Response Strategies01- Automation To Intrabusiness From Sales Force Inventory Control

. ( ).

Organization Response StrategiesKnowledge Management 11- . Knowledge Management (KM): the process of creating capturing knowledge, storing & protecting it, updating and .maintaining it and using it -(Organizational Know ) How .www.knowledgespace.com

Organization Response Strategies21- Customer Relationship Management

, , , ..Online

EC-Business ModelsBusiness Model () . Business Model: A method of doing business by which a company can generate .revenue to sustain it self

The Structure Of Business Models . 1. A description of the customers to be served and the companys relationships with these customers. . () 2. A description of all products and services the business will offer. . 3. A description of the business process required to make and deliver the products and services.

, . , 4. A list of the resources required and the Identification of which ones are available, which will be developed in house, and which will need to be acquired.. ()

5. A Description of the organizations supplies chain, including supplies and other business partners. ( ) . , A Description of the revenues expected (revenue model), anticipated costs, sources of financing, and estimated profitability

Revenue Models . Revenue Models: Description of how the company or an EC project will earn .revenue :The major Revenue models are : : . 1. Sales: Company generate revenue from selling merchandise or services .over their web sites : . : (( )). 2. Transaction Fees: A company receives a commission based on the volume .of transactions made ( ): , : (( AOL )). 3. Subscription Fees: Customers pays a fixed amount, usually monthly to get .some type of services

: .Yahoo.com : 4. Advertising Fees: Companies charge others for allowing them to place a banner on their sites. : . 5. Affiliate Fees: Companies receive commissions for referring customers to others web sites. : . 6. Other Revenue Sources: Some Companies allow people to play games for a fee or watch a sport competition in real time for a fee.

Value Proposition : . Value Proposition: The benefits a company can derive .from using EC : 1. , . 2. . ( ). 3. , .

Type Of EC Business Models : Online, . B2C .e-tailing 1. Online Direct Marketing: Is that of .selling products or services online

: , Online 2. Electonic Tendering System: Large organization buyers, privet or public usually make large value purchases through a tendering (bidding) system. Such tendering can be done online, saving time and money.

: . 3. Name Your Own Price: Model in which a buyer sets the price he or she is willing to pay and invite sellers to supply the good or service at that price. : () , )) Hotwire.com (( :() . 03 06 4. Find The Best Price: A customer specifies his or her need and then an intermediate company, such as hotwire.com, matches the customers need against a database, locates the lowest price, and submits to the consumer. The potential buyer then has 30 60 min to accept or rejects the offer.

: . ( , , ) 5. Affiliate Marketing: An Arrangement where by marketing partner (a business, an organization, or individual) refers consumers to the selling companies web site. (): . 6. Viral Marketing: Word-of-mouth marketing in which customers promote product or services to friends or other people. : . 7. Group Purchasing: Quantity purchasing that enables group of purchasers to obtain a discount price on the products purchased

: . 8. Online Auctions: Online shopping make consecutive bids for various goods and services, and the highest bides get the item auctioned. : . 05% 9. Deep Discounting: companies such as (half.com) offer products and services at deep discounts, as much as 50% off the retail price. : , Offline .Online 10. Membership: A popular offline model, in which only members get a discount, also is being offered online.

Benefits & Limitation Of ECThe Benefit Of EC ,EC provide benefits to organizations .individuals customers, and society

() Benefit To Organization : . , . , , . 1-Global Reach: EC expands the market place to national and international markets. With minimal capital outlay, a company can easily and quickly locate the best suppliers, more customers and the most suitable business partners worldwide. Expanding the base of customers and suppliers enables organizations to buy cheaper and sell more.

. . 2- Cost Reduction: EC decrease the cost of creating, processing, distributing, storing and retrieving paper- based information

: () . 4- Supply Chain Improvements: Supply chain inefficiencies, such as excessive inventories and delivery delays, can be minimized with EC. 365/7/24 : 563/7/42 . 5- Extended Hours: The Business is always open on the web, with no over time or other extra costs.

: , , , . 5- Customizations: Pull type production (build-to-order) allows for in expensive customization of products and services and provide a competitive advantage for companies that implement this strategy. : . 6- New Business Models: EC allows for many innovative business models that provide strategic advantages and/or increase profits.

. (): 7- Lower Communication Costs: EC lowers telecommunication cost- the internet is much cheaper than VANs. : 8- Improved Customer Relations EC enables companies to interact more closely with customers, even if through intermediaries.

() Benefits To Consumers1- ( ): . :Ubiquity EC allows consumers to shop or perform .year round 24 hours a other transactions .day, from almost any location

-:2- () . More Products and Service: EC provides consumers with more choices, they can select from many vendors and from many products. -:3- Customized Products And Services: Dell customizes computers and sells them at competitive prices.

:4- . Cheaper Products And Services: EC frequently provides consumers with less expensive products and services by allowing them to shop in many places.

5- : () (, , ). :Instant Delivery In the case of digitized products, EC allows for .fast delivery 6- : . :Information Availability Consumers can locate relevant and detailed product information in seconds, rather than days .or weeks

:7- , ( .) Participation in Auctions: EC make it possible for consumers to participate in virtual auctions. These allow sellers to sell thing quickly and buyers can locate collectors items and bargains.

8- : () . :Electronic communities EC allows consumers to interact with other customers in electronic .communities 9- No Sales Tax

() Benefits To Society1- : . :Telecommuting More individuals can work at home and ,do less traveling for work or shopping .resulting in less traffic on the roads

:2- ( .) Higher Standard Of Living: some merchandise can be sold at lower price allowing less affluent people to buy more and increase their standard of living.

3- - . ( ). :Homeland Security EC technologies facilitate homeland ,security by improving communication coordination, and information interpretation

:4- . . Hope For The Poor: Because of EC, People in third world countries and rural areas are new able to enjoy products and services that were unavailable in the past.

5- , .. Availability Of Public Services: Public services such as health care, education and distribution of government social services can be done at a reduced cost and improved quality. EC provide rural doctors and nurses access to information and technologies with which they can better treat their patients.

Limitations Of ECTechnological Limitations :

1- ( ).

Lack of universal; standards for quality security, and .reliability2- ( ) (.(Mobile-Commerce

The

telecommunication

,bandwidth is insufficient .especially for M-Commerce3- .

.Software development tools are still evolving

4- () .

Its difficult to integrate internet and EC software with some existing applications and data bases.5- ..

Special web servers are needed in addition to the network servers, which add to the cost of EC..6-

Internet accessibility is still expensive and or inconvenient..7-

Order fulfillment of large-scale B2C requires special automated warehouses.

Non Technological

Limitations

1-

Security and privacy concerns deter customers from buying..2-

Lack of trust in EC and in unknown sellers hinders buying..3-

Many legal public policy issues including taxation have not yet been resolved.

.4-

National

and international government regulations some lime get in the way.

5- ( .)

Its difficult to measure some of the benefits of EC, such as advertising..6-

Some customers like to feel and touch products. Also customers are resistant to the change from shopping at a brick and mortar store to a virtual store..7-

Online fraud is increasing..8-

People do not yet sufficiently trust paperless, face less transactions.

E-MARKET PLACES: 3 : . . ( ).

E-MARKET PLACES Markets (electronic or otherwise) have three main functions: Matching buyers and sellers. Facilitating the exchange of information, goods, services, and payments associated with market transactions. Providing an institutional infrastructure, such as a legal and regulatory framework, which enables the efficient functioning of the market.

E-MARKET PLACES : : ( ). . . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

E-MARKET PLACES Greater information richens of the transactional and relational environment. Lower information search costs for buyers. Diminished information asymmetry between sellers and buyers. Greater temporal separation between time of purchase and time of possession of physical products purchased in the emarketplace. Greater temporal proximity between time of purchase and time of possession of digital products purchased in the e-marketplace. The ability of buyers and sellers to be in different locations .1

.2 .3 .4 .5.6

E-MARKET PLACES : . space, electronic marketplace: Sellers and buyers exchange goods and services for money (or for other goods and services if bartering in used), but they do so electronically. E-marketplace, market

Market space Components:)customers( 1. . The tens of millions of people worldwide who surf the Web are potential buyers of the goods and services offered or advertised on the internet.

Market space Components:)sellers( 2. . Millions of storefronts are on the web, advertising and offering a huge variety of items.

Market space Components3. ( :)products and services digital products . : . :Digital products Goods that can be transformed to digital .format and delivered over the internet

Market space Components: Infrastructure 4. + . The marketspace infrastructure includes electronic networks, hardware, software.

Market space Components:Front end .5 The porch of an e-seller's business processes through which customers interact, including the seller's portal, electronic catalogs, a shopping cast, a search engine, and a payment gateway.

Market space Components:Back end .6 ( .) The chivies that support online order-taking, including fulfillment, inventory management, purchasing from suppliers, payment processing, packaging and delivery.

Market space ComponentsIntermediary: : 7. .

A third party that operates between sellers and buyers.

Market space Components.8. Other business partners: In addition to intermediates, several types of partners, such as shoppers use the internet to collaborate, mostly along the supply chain. :9. ) (Support services: Many different support services are available, ranging from certification and escrow services (to ensure securing to content providers).

1. .1.The major B2C e-marketplaces

a. Store fronts b. Internet malls

- - 2. :. .

2. B2B e-marketplaces

a. Private .- Sell-side e-marketplace - . - buy-side e-marketplace - . b. Public: exchange

. ( )

. : storefront . .. Manufacture retailer Dell.com Walmort.com individuals selling from home a. storefront An electronic or web storefront refers to a single company's web site where products and services are sold. It is an electronic store.

:

Electronic catalogs 1. 2. : 2. Search engine: helps customer find products in the catalog 3. Electronic cart for holding items until check-on 4. L-auction facilities 5. Payment gateway . 6. Shipment court 7.Customer services

: E-malls. : E-malls .

Types of stores and Malls:1. ( ) . 1. General stores / malls: These are large marketspace that sell types of products. (Amazon.com, choicemall.com).

Types of stores and Malls:) 2. ( . 2. Specialized stores / malls: These sell only one or a few types of products, such as book, flowers lays.(1800 flowers.com, sells flowers, catloys.com, sells cat toys ).

Types of stores and Malls3. : : . :3. Regional versus global stores ,Some stores serve customers that live near by and some local stores will sell to customers in other countries if the customer will pay the .shipping, insurance and other costs

Types of stores and Malls::4. . . 4. Pure online organization versus click and motor stores: - Stores maybe pure online organizations. (virtual ) - Another stores are physical (click and mortar stores that also sell online).

B2B e-marketplaces: An online market, usually B2B, in which buyers and sellers exchange goods or services. Private e-marketplaces :. Public e-marketplace :.

Private e-marketplaces . Online markets owned by a signal company, maybe either sell-side or buy-side emarketplaces.

Private e-marketplaces sell-side . Sell-side e-marketplace: A private e-marketplace in which a company sells either standard or customized product to qualified companies. buy side . Buy-side e-marketplace: A private e-marketplace in which a company makes purchases from invited suppliers.

Public e-marketplace . B2B .) (exchange B2B marketplaces usually owned and for managed by an independent third party, that include many sellers and many buyers, also known as exchange.

Information portals :- ( / ) . :Information portals A single point of access through a web browser to business information inside and / or outside an organization A portal is an information gateway

The following are the fix major types of portals.1- : 1. Commercial (public) portals: msn.com, aol.com, yahoo.com :2. . 2. Corporate portals: Corporate portals provide organized access to rich content within relatively narrow corporate and partner's communities

:3. techweb.com .zdnet.com, 3. Publishing portals: These portals are intended for communities with specific interests. These portals involve relatively little customization of content, but they provide extensive online search features and some interactive capabilities. (techweb.com, zdnet.com).

4. : ( . :4. Personal portals These target specific filtered information for individuals. Are typically .very personalized 5. : . :5. Mobile portals A portal accessible via a mobile device 6. : ( ). :6. Voice portals .A portal accessed by telephone or cell phone

Intermediation in E-commerce Infomediaries :

. Infomediaries: Electronic intermediaries that control information flow in cyberspace, often aggregating information and selling it to others

() : Whether human or electronic, can address the following five important limitations of direct interaction:

: . ( ( ) ) . 1. Search costs: It maybe expensive for providers and consumers to find each other. In e-market-places, thousands of products and exchanged among thousand of vendors and millions of consumers. Some intermediaries maintain database of customer preferences, and they can predict demand and reduce search costs by selectively routing information from providers to consumers and by matching customers with products and / or services

:2- . . 2. Lack of privacy: Either the buyer or seller may wish to remain anonymous or at least protect some information relevant to trade. Intermediaries can relay message and make pricing and allocation decisions without revealing the identity of one or both parties.

:3- . 3. Incomplete information: The buyer may need more information than seller is able or willing or provide, such as information about product quality, competing products, or customer satisfaction. An intermediary can gather product information from sources other than the product.

:4- . 4. Contract risk: A consumer may refuse to pay after receiving a product or a producer may provide inferior products or give inadequate posrpuchase service. Intermediaries have a number of leals to reduce such risks, as the information about the behavior of providers and consumers.

:5- . 5. Pricing inefficiencies: By jockeying to secure a desirable price for a product, providers and consumers may miss opportunities for mutually desirable trades. Intermediaries can use pricing mechanisms that induce just the appropriate trades.

E-Distributors in B2B : () .web site E-Distributors: An e-commerce intermediary that connects manufacturers (suppliers) with business buyers by aggregating the catalogs of many suppliers in one place-the intermediary's web site.

Disintermediation : and Reintermediation . () : Intermediaries are agent that mediate between sellers and buyers. The provide two types of services:

. They provide relevant information about demand, supply, prices, and requirements, help match sellers and buyers.

( ) . They offer value-added services such as transfer of products, escrow, payment arrangements, consulting, or assistance in finding a business partner.

: () . Disintermediation: Elimination of intermediaries between sellers and buyers.

: . Reintermediation: Establishment of new intermediary roles for traditional intermediaries that have been disintermediated

Electronic catalogs and other market mechanisms : . E- catalogs : The presentation of product information in an electronic form, the backbone of most e-selling.

E-catalogs can be classified according to three dimensions 1- : : : . (): .

E-catalogs can be classified according to three dimensions 1- The dynamic of the information presentation: Static catalogs: information is presented in text and static picture. Dynamic catalogs: information is presented in motion pictures or animation, possibly with supplemental sound.

E-catalogs can be classified according to three dimensions 2- : : Standard . Customized .

E-catalogs can be classified according to three dimensions 2- The degree of customization: Standard catalogs: merchants offer the same catalogs to any customer. Customized catalogs: contents, pricing and display are tailored to the characteristics of specific customers.

E-catalogs can be classified according to three dimensions3- : :

E-catalogs can be classified according to three dimensions 3- Integration with business process:Catalogs can be classified according to the degree of integration with the following business process: order taking and fulfillment Electronic payment system Intranet workflow software and systems Inventory and accounting systems Suppliers or customers extranets Paper catalogs

For example: when a customer places an order at Amazon .com, the order is transferred automatically to a computerized inventory- availability check.

Online catalogs versus Paper catalogsAdvantage paper catalogs . Easy to create without high technology. . Reader is able to look at the catalog without computer system. . More portable than electronic.

Disadvantage paper catalogs . Difficult to update changed product information promptly. . Only a limited number of products can be catalog displayed. . Limited information through photographs and textural description is available.

Advantage online catalogs . Easy to update product information . Able to integrate with the purchasing capabilities. . Good search and comparison capabilities. . Able to provide timely, up to date product information. . Prevision for globally braid range of product information.

. Possibility if adding on voice and animated pictures.

Disadvantages online catalogs . Difficult to develop catalog, large fixed cost. . There is a need for customer skill to deal with computers and browsers.

Customized Catalogs. Is a catalog assembled specifically for a company, usually of the catalog owner. . There are two approaches to creating customized catalogs. . Let the customer identify the parts of interest to them from the total catalog. , . Let the system automatically identify customer characteristic based on the customers transaction records.

Search engine & Intelligent Agents : , (Google. com, Altivista. com). Search engine: A computer program that can access a database of internet resources, search for specific information or keywords, and report the result.

( ) , () . . Software (Intelligent ) agent: Software that can .perform routine tasks that raquire intelligence

E-shopping carts . An order processing technology that allows customers to accumulate items they wish to buy while they continue to shop.

Auction ) Forward auction ( ( Backward auction ( . Auction : A competitive process in which a seller solicits consecutive bids from buyers (forward auctions) or a buyer solicits bids from sellers (backward auctions) . Prices are determined dynamically by the bids.

: ( ). E-auction: Auctions conducted online