Unit 7.7

E-Commerce, M-Commerce, E-Payment, and E-Governance

IT 231: IT and Application

Chapter Objectives 🎯

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

✅ Define e-commerce and its mobile counterpart, m-commerce.
✅ Describe the crucial role of electronic payment systems.
✅ Define e-governance and understand its primary goals.

The Digital Transformation

The internet has fundamentally changed how we interact with businesses and governments. This chapter explores three key pillars of this transformation:

Commerce 🛒

Buying and selling goods and services online.

Payments 💳

Facilitating secure online financial transactions.

Governance 🏛️

Delivering public services and information digitally.

E-Commerce (Electronic Commerce)

Definition: The buying and selling of goods and services, or the transmitting of funds or data, over an electronic network, primarily the internet.

It's more than just online shopping.
Includes B2B (Business-to-Business), B2C (Business-to-Consumer), and C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer) models.
Examples: Amazon, Alibaba, Netflix, Daraz.

M-Commerce (Mobile Commerce) 📱

Definition: A subset of e-commerce that is conducted entirely through wireless mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

⚡ M-Commerce growth is driven by widespread smartphone adoption and the convenience of mobile apps.

Examples: In-app purchases, mobile banking apps, food delivery services like Foodmandu.

E-Commerce vs. M-Commerce

E-Commerce

Accessed via desktops/laptops.
Broader, more detailed view.
Often used for complex purchases and research.

M-Commerce

Accessed via smartphones/tablets.
Location-aware, personalized.
Optimized for quick, on-the-go transactions.

Electronic Payment (E-Payment) Systems

E-payment systems are the financial backbone of e-commerce, enabling secure online transactions.

Definition: Systems that facilitate the acceptance of electronic payment for online transactions, acting as a bridge between the customer, merchant, and banks.

Types of E-Payment Methods

Credit/Debit Cards

Processed via payment gateways like Stripe or 2Checkout.

Digital Wallets

Store payment information for easy checkout. Examples: PayPal, Apple Pay, and in Nepal: eSewa, Khalti.

Bank Transfers

Direct debit from a bank account, often via services like ConnectIPS in Nepal.

Security is critical: Encryption, tokenization, and two-factor authentication are essential for protecting financial data.

E-Governance: Digital Government

Definition: The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide and improve government services, transactions, and interactions with citizens and businesses.

Primary Goals 🎯

Efficiency: Streamline processes and reduce paperwork.
Transparency: Make government information and operations more accessible to the public.
Responsiveness: Improve the speed and quality of government services.

Practical Application: E-Governance in Nepal

Real-World Examples from Nepal 🇳🇵

Online Tax Filing: The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) portal allows businesses and individuals to file taxes online.
Nagrik App ("Citizen App"): An ambitious project to integrate various government services like PAN registration, police clearance reports, and educational records into a single mobile app.
Online Passport/License Applications: Systems for applying for passports and driver's licenses online, reducing physical queues.
Lok Sewa Aayog (PSC): Online portal for applying to government job vacancies.

Chapter Summary & Key Takeaways 🔍

1. Commerce Evolved: E-commerce is buying and selling online; m-commerce is its fast-growing, mobile-first subset.

2. Payments are Key: E-payment systems (gateways, digital wallets) are essential infrastructure for conducting any form of e-commerce.

3. Government Goes Digital: E-governance leverages IT to create more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric public services.

Thank You!

Any questions?

Next Up: Chapter 8 - Information Systems in Business

Return to Course Home