INTRODUCTION We always feel like we are behind the times, whenever we try to keep up with technology. With the beginning of the new millennium the computer has become the international language. The computer today is not only the language of people but also that of business. The Internet is the tool used by businesses in terms of electronic commerce. In the discussion I will try to state how e-commerce affects business in the new world with the vast growth of Internet technology. First I will define what e-commerce is. Next, I will highlight some comparisons between traditional and e-commerce. The advantages and disadvantages of e-commerce will be the next step. At the end of the discussion, I will briefly mention e-commence technologies. Then comes the summary where we can find what was covered in the discussion. Eventually I will try to write the conclusion of this assignment. DISCUSSION E-commerce seems to be everywhere in our lives today. It is difficult to open a newspaper or magazine without coming across a topic or article on e-commerce, but how can we define e-commerce? What is e-commerce? E-commerce is any commercial transaction carried out electronically using computers, through Internet technologies, such as the World Wide Web. In other words, it is the buying and/or selling of goods or services on the web. Additionally, electronic commerce involved managing purchase transactions and fund transfers over computer networks. (Understanding E-Commerce, David, 1997, P.2) Meanwhile, electronic commerce is becoming stronger than ever. The Internet has given a boost to e-commerce. E-commerce is the wave of the future that allows businesses of all sizes to sell their products online. It is growing along with the Internet too quickly. E-commerce breaks down all temporal and geographical boundaries, guaranteeing a direct relationship with the end customer. This dramatically expands business opportunities to meet customer demands for products, services and information. E-commerce not only includes traditional commerce transactions, but also the generation of demand for its goods and services. The definition of e-commerce is quite dynamic. As you deepen your knowledge of it, you will have a better definition and over time even a new, different definition. Traditional vs. E-Commerce Transactions In traditional business, manufacturers use resellers, distributors, and retailers to represent them. For many years, manufacturer representatives have believed that physical presence in the point of sale plays a very important role.