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IT 204: E-Commerce - Course Materials
Complete course materials for IT 204 E-Commerce including syllabus notes, old questions, and presentation slides
📚 Syllabus Notes
Comprehensive chapter-wise notes following the official IT 204 syllabus.
Unit 1: Introduction
1.1
Why E-commerce? Introduction to E-commerce
Understanding the fundamental reasons behind e-commerce adoption and basic introduction to electronic commerce.
⏱️ 45 minutes1.2
8 Unique Features of E-commerce Technology | IT 204 Course Notes
An overview of the eight unique features of e-commerce technology that differentiate it from traditional commerce, including ubiquity, global reach, richness, and personalization.
1.3
Types of E-commerce
Overview of B2C, B2B, C2C, P2P, and M-commerce with Nepal context.
⏱️ 45 minutesUnit 2: E-commerce Business Models and Concepts
2.1
Unit 2: E-commerce Business Models | IT 204 Course Notes
An introduction to the 8 key elements of an e-commerce business model, and an overview of the major B2C and B2B business models, with applications in the Nepali context.
2.2
B2C Business Models in E-commerce | IT 204 Course Notes
A comprehensive exploration of Business-to-Consumer (B2C) e-commerce business models, including e-tailers, community providers, content providers, portals, transaction brokers, market creators, and service providers with Nepali examples.
⏱️ 60 minutes2.3
B2B Business Models in E-commerce | IT 204 Course Notes
An in-depth exploration of Business-to-Business (B2B) e-commerce business models, including e-distributors, e-procurement, exchanges, and industry consortia, with analysis of supply chain integration and Nepali B2B context.
⏱️ 60 minutes2.4
How E-commerce Changes Business: Strategy, Structure, and Process | IT 204
A comprehensive exploration of how e-commerce fundamentally transforms business strategy, organizational structure, and business processes, with analysis of industry disruption, disintermediation, and strategic frameworks in the digital age.
⏱️ 60 minutesUnit 3: E-commerce Infrastructure
3.1
The Internet: Technology Background
Packet switching, TCP/IP, and client/server fundamentals with Nepal context.
⏱️ 40 minutes3.2
The Infrastructure of the Internet | IT 204 Course Notes
An overview of the key infrastructure components of the internet, including the network of fiber-optic backbones, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and the TCP/IP protocol suite.
3.3
Understanding the World Wide Web | IT 204 Course Notes
An introduction to the World Wide Web, explaining how it is different from the internet and covering its key components: web servers, web browsers, URLs, and the HTTP protocol.
3.4
Key Features of the Internet and Web | IT 204 Course Notes
An overview of the key features and services of the internet and the web, including email, instant messaging, search engines, and streaming media.
3.5
Unit 4: E-commerce Security and Payment Systems
4.1
Unit 4 Intro: E-commerce Security and Payment Systems | IT 204
An introduction to the critical issues of e-commerce security, covering the security environment, common threats, and the technology and policy solutions used to protect online transactions, including payment systems.
4.2
Major E-commerce Security Threats | IT 204 Course Notes
An overview of the major security threats in the e-commerce environment, including malicious code (malware), phishing, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
4.3
Technology Solutions for E-commerce Security | IT 204 Course Notes
An overview of the key technology solutions used to secure e-commerce websites and transactions, including encryption (SSL/TLS), firewalls, and antivirus software.
4.4
Management Policies for E-commerce Security | IT 204 Course Notes
An overview of the crucial management policies and procedures needed for a comprehensive e-commerce security plan, including risk assessment and the development of a security policy.
4.5
E-commerce Payment Systems
Overview of credit/debit cards, wallets, mobile payments, and Nepal-specific context.
⏱️ 40 minutesUnit 5: E-commerce Marketing and Advertising
5.1
Unit 5 Intro: E-commerce Marketing and Advertising | IT 204
An introduction to e-commerce marketing and advertising, covering consumer behavior online, the digital marketing landscape, and the key technologies used to reach and engage customers.
5.2
Digital Marketing Strategies for E-commerce | IT 204 Course Notes
An overview of the key digital marketing strategies used in e-commerce, including Search Engine Marketing (SEO and SEM), display advertising, email marketing, and social media marketing.
5.3
An Introduction to Marketing Technologies (MarTech) | IT 204 Notes
An overview of the key marketing technologies (MarTech) that power e-commerce marketing, including web analytics, CRM systems, and marketing automation platforms.
5.4
Understanding E-commerce Marketing Costs and Benefits | IT 204
An analysis of the costs and benefits of e-commerce marketing, including key metrics like Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).
Unit 6: Social, Mobile, and Local Marketing
6.1
Unit 6 Intro: Social, Mobile, and Local Marketing | IT 204 Notes
An introduction to the key trends in modern e-commerce marketing: social marketing on platforms like Facebook, mobile marketing for smartphones, and local marketing that leverages a user's geographic location.
6.2
6.3
6.4
Unit 7: Social Networks, Auctions, and Portals
7.1
Social Networks and Online Communities
An overview of social networks and online communities.
⏱️ 45 minutes7.2
7.3
Unit 8: B2B E-commerce
8.1
8.2
The Procurement Process and Supply Chains
An overview of the procurement process and supply chains.
⏱️ 45 minutes8.3
Trends in Supply Chain Management and Collaborative Commerce
An overview of the trends in supply chain management and collaborative commerce.
⏱️ 45 minutes8.4
B2B E-commerce Marketplaces: The Selling Side of B2B
An overview of B2B e-commerce marketplaces.
⏱️ 45 minutes8.5
❓ Old Questions
Previous examination questions and practice sets to help you prepare.
2023
Unit 1-2 Practice Questions
Practice questions covering introduction and business models
📊 20 marks ⏱️ 1 hour📊 Slides
Presentation slides used in lectures and tutorials.
Unit 1: Introduction
Unit 2: E-commerce Business Models and Concepts
Unit 3: E-commerce Infrastructure
Unit 4: E-commerce Security and Payment Systems
Unit 5: E-commerce Marketing and Advertising
Unit 6: Social, Mobile, and Local Marketing
Unit 7: Social Networks, Auctions, and Portals
Unit 8: B2B E-commerce
📂 Case Studies
Real-world analyses of e-commerce strategy, structure, and processes in the Nepali and global context.
Unit 1
Case Study: Nepali Handicrafts on Etsy – From Local Stalls to Global Carts
How a Patan-based artisan collective used marketplaces to reach global buyers, illustrating why e-commerce matters, its unique features, and major types.
Unit 1
Case Study: Neighborhood Grocery → Online Orders During COVID
A Kathmandu kirana store adopted chat + lightweight web ordering to serve neighborhoods, showing e‑commerce benefits and constraints at the edge.
Unit 2
Case Study: Daraz Nepal – Transforming Retail Through E-commerce
How Daraz reshaped retail competition, organizational structure, and core processes in Nepal’s e-commerce landscape.
Unit 2
Case Study: Hamrobazar – C2C Classifieds as a Durable Business Model
How Hamrobazar sustained growth as a C2C classifieds platform in Nepal, and how it differs from managed marketplaces.
Unit 3
Case Study: Mobile-First Payments – eSewa & Khalti Infrastructure Choices
How Nepali digital wallets architect mobile-first experiences and backend services to deliver reliability at scale.
Unit 3
Case Study: Scaling Food Delivery During Festivals – Infra Under Surge
How a Nepali food delivery platform scaled web, API, and dispatch services during Dashain/Tihar demand spikes.
Unit 4
Case Study: Digital Wallet Fraud Controls – Balancing UX and Security
How a Nepali wallet reduced social‑engineering fraud via layered controls without tanking conversion.
Unit 4
Case Study: PCI & Gateway Integration for Nepali Merchants
A mid‑size electronics retailer implemented a gateway redirect with tokenization to accept cards safely.
Unit 5
Case Study: Google Ads for a Kathmandu Electronics Retailer
How a retailer restructured search campaigns, improved Quality Score, and lifted ROAS under constrained budgets.
Unit 5
Case Study: SEO Content Strategy for a Tourism Operator
Building topical authority and capturing seasonal demand for trekking packages via content hubs and internal links.
Unit 6
Case Study: Instagram-First Fashion Brand in Kathmandu
A D2C apparel brand scaled via reels, creators, and DM → checkout flows, then formalized a storefront.
Unit 6
Case Study: Local SEO for a Kathmandu Restaurant Chain
How a restaurant chain improved discovery and reservations via Google Business Profile, citations, and reviews.
Unit 7
Case Study: Facebook Marketplace – Informal Commerce at Scale in Nepal
How Facebook Marketplace enables local, social discovery and trade, and how sellers formalize operations over time.
Unit 7
Case Study: Online Auctions for Refurbished Electronics
A seller collective piloted weekly online auctions to move graded, refurbished devices with transparent condition ratings.
Unit 8
Case Study: Private Industrial Network for FMCG Distribution
A national FMCG built a PIN connecting HQ, distributors, and retailers for e‑procurement, inventory, and promotions.
Unit 8
Case Study: B2B Marketplace for Construction Materials
A startup aggregated cement, rebar, and aggregates across suppliers, adding RFQ workflows and logistics quotes.