PROJECT REPORT

(Submitted for the Degree of B.Com. Honours in

Accounting & Finance under the University of
Calcutta)
TITLE OF THE PROJECT:
“E-COMMERCE”

SUBMITTED BY

Name of the Candidate : SHADAB SHAHIL.

Registration Number: 611-1111-0588-22
CU exam Roll Number: 221611-21-0093
E-MAIL ID : [email protected]
Name of the College: BIDHAN CHANDRA COLLEGE, RISHRA
College Roll Number: 1116

SUPERVISED BY
Name of the Supervisor: DR. RADHA KANTA SARKAR
Name of the College: BIDHAN CHANDRA COLLEGE, RISHRA

MONTH & YEAR OF SUBMISSION:

JUNE 2025
 SUPERVISOR'S CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that MR. SHADAB SHAHIL a student of B.Com. Honours in

Accounting & Finance of BIDHAN CHANDRA COLLEGE, RISHRA , under the

University of Calcutta has worked under my supervision and guidance for his Project Work and

prepared a Project Report with the title “E-COMMERCE” which he is submitting, is his

genuine and original work to the best of my knowledge.

Place: BANSBERIA Signature:

Date: Name: DR .RADHA KANTA SARKAR

Designation: PROFESSOR

Name of the College: BIDHAN CHANDRA COLLEGE ,RISHRA

 STUDENT'S DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the Project Work with the title “E-COMMERCE” submitted by me
for the partial fulfilment of the degree of B.Com. Honours in Accounting &Finance
under the University of Calcutta is my original workand has not been submitted earlier
to any other University /Institution for the fulfilment of therequirement for any course
of study.
I also declare that no chapter of this manuscript in whole or in part has been
incorporated in this report from any earlier work done by others or by me. However,
extracts of any literature which has been used for this report has been duly
acknowledged providing details of such literature in the references.

Place: BANSBERIA Signature:

Date: Name: SHADAB SHAHIL.

Registration Number: 611-1111-0588-22

CU ROLL NUMBER : 2216-21-0093

College Roll Number: 1116

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all thanks to God, for giving me and my friends the strength and will to complete
this task just in time. Even though we faced a lot of difficulties while trying to complete
this task, the group still managed to complete it and we are glad about it.

A special thanks to RADHA KANTA SARKAR, for being such a good guidance to us while
we were doing this task. He had given us an appropriate example and knowledge in
order to make us understand more about this topic. He spends his time to explain the
execution of this idea in all the way.

I also appreciate CA Shabaz khan, for her support to me to do this project in all the way
and made it possible. We also want to thank other groups who were willing to share
their information about this topic. They gave us a lot of new ideas about the task.

Also a great thanks to my family and friends who tried their best to give their support
either by giving me a lot of encouragement to keep up with this task or by supporting
us financially and pay all the cost required to complete this task.

4
 CONTENTS
S. NO. TITLE PAGE NO.
1. COVER PAGE 1
2. SUPERVISOR’S CERTIFICATE 2
3. STUDENT’S DECLARATION 3
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4
5. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO
E-COMMERCE
1.1: Background 7-8
1.2: Introduction 9
1.3: Objectives/Needs 10-11
1.4: Limitiation 11-12
1.5: Features 12
1.6: Litreture Review 13
1.7: Research Methodology 14-15

6. CHAPTER 2 : National and

International scenario
2.1: NATIONAL SCENARIO 17-20
2.2 : INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO 21-22

7. CHAPTER 3: DATA ANALYSIS 23 - 27

4. CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS 28 - 32
& RECOMMENDATION
5. CHAPTER 5: BIBLIOGRAPHY 33 - 34

5
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO
E-COMMERCE

6
 1.1: BACKGROUND
HISTORY OF E-COMMERCE
E-commerce was introduced about 40 years ago in its earliest form. Since then, electronic
commerce has helped countless businesses grow with the help of new technologies,
improvements in internet connectivity, added security with payment gateways, and
widespread consumer and business adoption.
With the wide adoption of the Internet and the introduction of the World Wide Web in
1991 and of the first browser for accessing it in 1993, most e-commerce shifted to
the Internet. More recently, with the global spread of smartphones and the accessibility of
fast broadband connections to the Internet, much e-commerce moved to mobile devices,
which also included tablets, laptops, and wearable products such as watches.
Ecommerce has come a long way since the CompuServe launch in 1969. Changes in
technology have certainly driven ecommerce growth, along with global circumstances.
Ecommerce has evolved in many ways since its start, and it’s changing the way we live,
shop and do business. Let’s dive into the history and the future of ecommerce.

E-COMMERCE TIMELINE
1969: CompuServe is founded.

In the 1980s, CompuServe introduced some of the earliest forms of email and internet
connectivity to the public and dominated the ecommerce landscape through the mid-
1990s.

1979: Michael Aldrich invents electronic shopping.

This made it possible for closed information systems to be opened and shared by
outside parties for secure data transmission — and the technology became the

7
foundation for modern ecommerce.

1994: Netscape Navigator launches as a web browser.

Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark co-created Netscape Navigator as a web browsing
tool. During the 1990s, Netscape Navigator became the primary web browser on the
Windows platform, before the rise of modern giants like Google.

1995: Amazon launch.

Jeff Bezos introduced Amazon primarily as an ecommerce platform for books.

1999: Alibaba launches.

Alibaba Online launched as an online marketplace with more than $25 million in
funding. By 2001, the company was profitable. It went on to turn into a major B2B,
C2C, and B2C platform that’s widely used today.

2011: Google Wallet introduced as a digital payment method.

By linking the digital wallet to a debit card or bank account, users can pay for products
or services via these devices. Today, Google Wallet has joined with Android Pay for
what is now known as Google Pay.

2017: Shoppable Instagram is introduced.

Instagram Shopping launched with ecommerce partner BigCommerce. Since then, the
service has expanded to additional ecommerce platforms and allows Instagram users
to immediately click an item, and go to that item’s product page for purchase.

2020: COVID-19 Drives Ecommerce Growth.

COVID-19 outbreaks around the globe pushed consumers online to unprecedented

levels. By May of 2020, ecommerce transactions reached $82.5 billion — a 77%
increase from 2019. It would have taken four to six years to reach that number
looking at traditional year-over-year increases.
8
Consumers have moved online to make purchases normally made in physical stores,
such as food and household items, apparel, and entertainment. Many consumers say
they’ll continue to use online storefronts until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.

1.2: INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS ECOMMERCE?
E-commerce (electronic commerce or EC) is the buying and selling of goods and
services, or the transmitting of funds or data, over an electronic network, primarily
the internet.

E-Commerce or Electronics Commerce is a methodology of modern business, which

addresses the need of business organizations, vendors and customers to reduce cost
and improve the quality of goods and services while increasing the speed of delivery.
Ecommerce refers to the paperless exchange of business information using the
following ways −

 Electronic Data Exchange (EDI)

 Electronic Mail (e-mail)

 Electronic Bulletin Boards

 Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)

 Other Network-based technologies

There are some examples of e-commerce are:

 Online shopping: Online shopping is the most popular example of e-

commerce, it involves buying and selling of goods on internet.

 Online payments: when a buyer get product they can make his payment
through net.

 Internet banking: In today’s time banks can offers you internet banking

9
 which is the easiest way of making online payments.

 Online Ticket: We can book our ticket through net whether it is bus ticket,
train ticket, or movie ticket internet can reduces efforts for it.

1.3: OBJECTIVES/MERITS/ADVANTAGES OF
E COMMERCE
(a) Enhances convenience: Customers can make orders for goods at their own convenience
and from the comfort of their homes without having to travel to the business premise.
Orders are also delivered to them at their most ideal locations. It’s the best shopping option
for people who are always busy.

(b) Allows for product and price comparison: Again, when making purchases, customers
want to get the best deals. This business model allows for product and price comparison by
consumers so that the best products are bought at the fairest prices. They can also enjoy
extra benefits like discounts, coupons, items on sale and also get the best deals.

(c) Easy fund-raising for start-ups ventures: So many people have the desire to venture into
business but lack sufficient funds to set up shop. Leasing a physical store can be quite
expensive. E-commerce makes it easier for start-ups to do business and grow.

(d) Efficient: E-commerce has the advantage of being efficient. Resources are used efficiently
since most of the business services are automated. Business owners sometimes spend a lot
of resources meeting business needs and this eats into profits. E-commerce thrives on
efficiency.

(e) Customer reach: It’s easier to reach many customers on the internet. Using social media
links and good search engine optimization strategies, an online business can increase brand
awareness and grow its customer base. It also has the advantage of being able to connect
buyers and sellers from all corners of the globe.

(f) Prompt payments: Payments are fast since online stores use electronic or mobile
transactions payment methods. The mobile wallet system for merchant accounts drive up
10
 sales and increase revenue generation.

(g) Ability to sell different products: The flexibility of conducting business over the internet
makes it possible for entrepreneurs to display and sell several products and also cater to a
wider demographic.

1.4: LIMITATIONS / DISADVANTAGES OF E-

COMMERCE
(a) Poor quality products: You don’t physically see and inspect whatever you are paying for
before it’s delivered. Customers, therefore, run the risk of falling victim to false marketing
and buying poor quality products from the virtual shop.

(b) Impulsive purchases: Online stores display a large number of products and due to the
convenience of shopping, customers can find themselves making bad financial decisions
through impulsive purchases.

(c) Internet scammers: The internet is a good thing but some people have decided to use it
for all the wrong reasons. Scammers have made this type of business model unattractive
for some consumers.

(d) Lack of after sales support: As a result of lack of physical premises, customers find it hard
to access after sales support. It can take up to several days before any help is accorded to a
customer in need.

(e) Fast changing business environment: Technology evolves so fast. Some entrepreneurs
find it hard to keep up and lose a lot of business in the process. This may make business
growth unattainable.

(f) Loss of personal touch: Business is all about relationships. This business model erodes
the personal touch between a customer and the business owner. Cultivating loyalty can
thus be a problem since there are many such businesses that provide different options.

(g) Delivery of goods can get delayed: It takes time before the goods ordered for are
delivered. Sometimes the delivery delays and this inconveniences the customer. This is

11
 different from physical business premises where customers walk out with the products
bought.

Further, many critics of electronic commerce, however, have argued that this mode of
buying and selling has been endangering the livelihoods of traditional market sellers and
shop owners who prefer to sell face to face.

1.5: CHARACTERISTICS/FEATURES OF E –
COMMERCE:-
E-Commerce provides the following features −
(a) Non-Cash Payment − E-Commerce enables the use of credit cards, debit cards, smart
cards, electronic fund transfer via bank's website, and other modes of electronics
payment.

(b) 24x7 Service availability − E-commerce automates the business of enterprises and
the way they provide services to their customers. It is available anytime, anywhere.

(c) Advertising / Marketing − E-commerce increases the reach of advertising of products

and services of businesses. It helps in better marketing management of
products/services.

(d) Improved Sales − Using e-commerce, orders for the products can be generated
anytime, anywhere without any human intervention. It gives a big boost to existing
sales volumes.

(e) Support − E-commerce provides various ways to provide pre-sales and post-sales
assistance to provide better services to customers.

(f) Inventory Management − E-commerce automates inventory management. Reports

get generated instantly when required. Product inventory management becomes very
efficient and easy to maintain.

(g) Communication improvement − E-commerce provides ways for faster, efficient,

12
 reliable communication with customers and partners.

1.6: LITRETURE REVIEW:

As we all know, internet and e-commerce are entirely committed towards every
developed country. But we think it can be accomplished and can make a remarkable
benefit to developing countries also if an ideal business purpose can be made.

The following were the major efforts at research in the subject, which have been
referred for the research purpose.

(A) Ohidujja man et.al clearly discussed that E-commerce is a revolution &
turning point in online business practices and can make a huge contribution
to the economy.

(B) Hasan et.al also indicated that currently, e-commerce organizations have
increasingly become a fundamental component of business strategy and a
strong catalyst for economic development.

(C) Mehrdad Salehi et.al found out distinguish between online marketing &
traditional marketing. Though most of the people of Bangladesh especially the
rural people are not enough capable of operating internet to run the online
business. For that reason, they need to be dependent on traditional marketing.

(D) OTHERS: A huge amount of research works has been done on e-Commerce
which is basically on online shopping. A large group of researchers has found
out and also pointed out the necessity and possibilities of Online Shopping. On
the other hand, limitation of ecommerce is found and at the same time, they
provided essential suggestion and came to a prediction to make Online
Shopping more useful for the consumers. But the contribution of traditional
marketing is also inescapable but compare to online shopping it is less
effective we think.

13
 1.7: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research methodology is a systematic way of studying the research problem. The
research methodology means the way in which we can complete our prospected task.
Before undertaking any task it becomes very essential for an yone to determine the
problem of study. I have adopted the following procedure in completing my report
study.
1. Research Problem.
2. Research Design.
3. Determining the data sources.
4. Tools used for analysis of data
5. Analysing the Data.
6. Interpretation of the data.
7. Preparing research report.

(1) Research Problem

I am interested in E-Commerce sectors and I want to make future in it. So, l have decided to make
my research study on the E-COMMERCE.

E-COMMERCE is very important these days. As my training is at a corporate, I have got the project
upon “E-COMMERCE”. This is my problem to be studied.

The study is being conducted for Online Shopping in Kankurgachi Area of Kolkata City only, to find
out the customer preferences in choosing Flipkart. It is required to find out the preferences based
on certain aspects (Income, levels selection of products, satisfaction level of customers).

(2) Research Design

The type of design being used for making this project is Meta-Analysis Design. Meta-
analysis is an analytical methodology designed to systematically evaluate and
summarize the results from a number of individual studies, thereby, increasing the
overall sample size and the ability of the researcher to study effects of interest.

14
(3) Determining the data sources
Both primary and secondary data are required in this study. Primary data is the first
hand information collected directly from respondents. The tool used here is
questionnaire. Primary Data is collected through surveys conducted among existing
executives and employees working in todays E-commerce Environment, including
some top level executives from some of the big E-Commerce company.

(4) Tools used for analysis of data

The survey process involved two phases: First phase included identification and
selectionof the target audience to be studied and to determine the parameters on
which respondents will justify their preferences. A questionnaire was designed to
collect the needed information from the respondents. The Second Phase involves
collection of the primary data by making the respondents fill up questionnaires.

(5) Analyzing the Data

The Primary or secondary data both would never be useful until they are edited and
studied or analysed. When the person receives the data many unuseful data would
also be there. So, I analysed the data and edited it and turned it in the useful manner.
So, that it can become useful in my report srudy.

(6) lnterpretation of the data

With the use of analysed data I managed to prepare my project report. But an alalysing
of the data would not help my study to reach towards its objectives. The
interpretation of the data is required so that the others can understand the Crux of
the study in more simple way without any problem. So I have added the chapter of
analysis that would explain others to understand my study in simpler way.
Preparing research report.
This is the last step in preparing the project report. The objective of the report writing
was to report the findings of the study to the concerned authorities. I have attached
all the requirements with my report.
15
 CHAPTER 2
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
SCENARIO

16
 2.1: NATIONAL SCENARIO
1: FLIPKART
Every Indian living in metro cities has heard the name of Flipkart. They have viewed it,
browsed it and ordered from it. Flipkart initially began as an online bookstore. In today’s
age it is the go to place for the Indian youth to find books on topics ranging from fiction to
sports to even high end scientific research.
Flipkart will not leave you disappointed. It now covers a range of products from every area
of life. In a very short span of time Flipkart has become the answer for everything.
It was the brainchild of Binny and Sachin Bansal; both of whom began with an investment
of 4 lakhs and currently own a company that stands to make an increased profit of $1
billion by the end of 2014. The story of Flipkart is a stuff of legends.
The candle of Flipkart lit when Binny and Sachin were working in Amazon and thought of
investing in their own start-up. There growth and success has been an inspiration for
many other start-ups that quickly lined up to enter the world of e-commerce.

2. Snapdeal
Snapdeal began its journey in the year 2007 as an online coupon directory. With time it
shifted its course and tried its hand at e-commerce. And the rest they say is history. Kunal
Bahl and Rohit Bansal were both tired of the boring day to day existence that they lead as
company employees. They shifted their focus towards creating something of their own.
Today, they believe that leaving their jobs was the best decision of their lives. They have a
customer base of over 20 million Indians and do business with over 50,000 sellers who
constantly post their products on their marketplace.
The story of Snapdeal is not a one day success story. In their four year experience, they
have gambled with 6 different business models until they finally hit the jackpot that is
currently set to generate annual revenue of $1 billion.
Snapdeal was a better business model unlike other Groupon clones in India because
Snapdeal entered the internet with the backing of 50,000 merchants with whom they were
already working before they created their website. Therefore, when Snapdeal came to
India, it came with a level of variety that none of its competitors could wish to reach.

17
Snapdeal is right neck to neck with Flipkart in terms of e-commerce competition, it is hard
to decide which store will reach the finish line first.

3. Jabong
Jabong is currently India’s most sought for branded clothing and accessories store. Unlike
Flipkart and Snapdeal, the business model of Jabong was slightly different. It aims at
capturing the brand conscious internet savvy population of India and has successfully
done so.
Jabong is currently the premium destination for Indians to look for branded wear. It began
pretty late in the year 2012, when its competitors had already set up a strong foothold in
the arena. They were different from other e-commerce stores because of their streamlined
delivery process.
Although, Jabong is half the age of its competitors, it is estimated to yield a profit of over
$700 million.
While, Flipkart was the first in the e-commerce market to create a clutter free interface
that became an instant favorite, Jabong grabbed a hold of their attention with its unending
catalog.
No matter what your age, Jabong has everything for everyone. Their aggressive marketing
strategies made them hit a huge online client base, all of whom responded with equal
enthusiasm. Jabong’s super fast delivery process has helped in making a space for this
website on the e-commerce red carpet.

4. Myntra
When it came to size, Myntra was a pretty small fish in a sea full of e-commerce sharks like
Jabong and Flipkart. But, Myntra was a persistent fish nonetheless. Mukesh Bansal is the
mastermind behind Myntra. He is an exceptionally smart and honest entrepreneur. From
a personalized gifting store to one of the leading online fashion stores, Myntra is always
beating heads with Jabong.
Its acquisition by Flipkart is a high remark for this ambitious website. Its innovative step
up in selling sports merchandise and many other small moves separated Myntra from
other low scale e-commerce stores that are still little fishes while Myntra has only grown
bigger with time.
Mukesh Bansal’s long term vision and his eye for the right investors helped him scale
18
Myntra and make it a nationally recognized brand in a span of three years. So much so,
that Flipkart came out of its way to woo Myntra and acquire it for its own; a great story for
Mukesh Bansal to tell his kids.

5. Firstcry
Many may be shocked to see how Firstcry made this list. It is a website that has a niche
marketing base of infants and new born mothers this is a website that has an answer to
everything.
From cradles to infant clothes, they have just about everything. It is a one stop spot to get
the complete parenting kit. Firstcry gained its popularity from Facebook. With over 10,000
likes it is surely a well loved websites that has regular sales and offers everything from
high end to even affordable products.
Founded in the year 2010 by Maheshwari and Amitava Saha, Firstcry has over 70,000
products and is a marketplace for over 400+ national and international brands. When it
comes to niche shopping stores, Firstcry has really made a name for itself.
This website is currently competing with the likes of other e-commerce websites like
Babyoye. But it is only a matter of time before it beats its competition and makes itself the
go to place for pregnancy and maternal care products.

6. Ola
Every Indian living in metropolitan cities has heard the name ‘Ola’. Or, probably have
booked a cab from it. Initially started as an online cab aggregator, Ola is one of the fastest
growing businesses in India that has expanded itself to numerous ranges i.e. Ola rentals,
Ola auto, Ola café, and now even ‘Trip with Ola’. In a short span of time, Ola has become
the answer to every ride.
Ola was the brainchild of a 29-year-old, IIT Bombay Graduate, Bhavish Aggarwal, who
once happened to rent a car and deal with a bad experience, where the car driver stopped
in the middle road to re-negotiate the deal. And, when Bhavish refused to agree, the driver
proceeded to abandon him en route to his destination. Well! The entrepreneur-head,
instead of whining about the situation, decided to solve it well, and at large! Currently, the
company’s valuation is $3.5 Billion.
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7. Make My Trip
Make My trip or MMT is a child of the quintessential brain of Deep Kalra, an IIM graduate,
who quit his corporate job to enhance a good travel experience. Being a part of an average
Indian family, Deep was surely aware of the hassle that travel includes, in India. As once,
while travelling with his wife, he had to stand a poor accommodation. At the same time, he
was also observing the power of the internet expanding day-by-day & things changing
around it. Deep understood the needs of India travellers and provided them with exactly
‘what they want’ by wearing the customer’s hat.
In 2000, with a backing of USD 2-Million from eVentures, MMT (earlier known as India
Ahoy) the ecommerce startups was found. Since then, getting listed on the International
Stock Exchange and with more than $900 million caps at NASDAQ, MMT has been a game
changer in the travel segment.

8. Paytm
Two words that come while shopping to almost every Indian mind are “Paytm karo.”
Launched in 2010 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, a graduate from Delhi College of
Engineering Paytm has brought a paradigm shift in the retail industry by completely
transforming the payment methodology electronically. It was a dream dreamt when Vijay
was struggling to make ends meet with 10 rupees in the pocket. Always struggling with
his hand in English, he quit his first job at an MNC, began a new business but was
unfortunately conned off.
The ‘eureka’ moment came in 2011 when he first pitched the ecommerce startups idea of
entering the payment ecosystem in front of his board of One97 (the parent company of
Paytm). Initially started as an online mobile recharge and bill payment platform, it now
enables to make every kind of transaction on a click of a button. In just a span of 8 years,
Paytm has notched up 250 million registered users and 7 million transactions dail

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 2.2: INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

1. Amazon, Inc. – The King of eCommerce

Not suprisingly, we start the list of the largest eCommerce companies in the world with
Amazon and its empire.
Founded in 1994 in Seattle by now immortal Jeff Bezos, Amazon has in the years since
become a household name when it comes to online shopping. This internet company
today has the largest revenue in the world, but its beginnings were humble. It was
initially not more than an online bookstore. Take a look at this interview with Jeff Bezos
from 1999 and see how unpredictable things were back then.

2. Jingdong – Chinese eCommerce

Many of us living in a western world didn’t even heard of this eCommerce giant! The
second on our list of the largest eCommerce companies in the world is Jingdong, also
known as JD.com.
This e-Commerce company operating from Beijing is the first of three major Chinese
companies we list here. Rivaled by the more popular Alibaba, Jingdong has well
over quarter of a billion registered users as of 2018. It was founded in 1998 and started
trading online six years later. Today, the company brandishes its high tech delivery
system, comprised of robots, AI, and a fleet of drones.

3. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. – Chinese eCommerce Dragon

If you are buying stuff on the Internet, there’s a significant chance that you bought
something from AliExpress or Alibaba. This Chinese mega company comes third on the list
of the largest e-Commerce companies in the world!
Few people haven’t heard of Jack Ma’s success story. The Chinese business magnate’s life
is a riches-to-rags story. Having been rejected from more than 30 job posts in the early
1990s, he started making websites for companies with his wife and a friend. The business
grew exponentially and in the year 1999, Alibaba Group was founded, the world’s largest
retailer of present-day, operating in more than 200 countries.

21
4. eBay Inc. – The eCommerce Company That Once Sold a Whole Town
The eBay’s beloved red-blue-green-yellow logo is for many a symbol of the 1990s and for
a good reason. It was one of the first successful dot-com bubble companies that
epitomized online shopping. The company was founded in San Hose, California in 1995
and its most distinctive feature is the online auction feature, alongside a conventional
buy-it-now shopping option.
With the revenue of almost $11B in 2018, eBay comes fourth on the list of the largest e-
Commerce companies in the world.

5. Group on – E- Commerce that Connects Users with Local Businesses

This American eCommerce marketplace launched in Chicago in 2008 reshaped the
concept of group discount online shopping. It connects its subscribers to local businesses
in one of 500 cities worldwide. The principle is simple: users get a discount and business
owners increase the revenue; it’s a win-win situation.

6. Zalando – Largest European eCommerce Company

Surprisingly enough, this the first European company on the list of the largest e-
Commerce companies in the world.
Zalando’s headquarters are in Berlin and they predominantly have online stores that sell
fashion items, such as apparel and shoes. Their logo resembles an orange guitar pick.

7. Rakuten, Inc. – Japanese eCommerce Godzilla

After a brief spell of American companies, we return to the Far East. Rakuten is
a Japanese eCommerce company launched in 1997. They operate Japan’s largest online
bank, in addition to online shopping and credit card payments. In all, Rakuten Group runs
some 70 businesses, ranging from widely used instant messaging app Viber (as 2017
officially known as Rakuten Viber) to having their logo on FC Barcelona’s jerseys.

22
 CHAPTER-3

DATA ANALYSIS

23
 DATA ANALYSIS
1. Total World-wide E-commerce sales
Figure 1:

Source: https://kinsta.com/blog/ecommerce-statistics

Figure 1: Data Analysis

Even with limited capital, it’s easy to set up a business nowadays thanks to ecommerce
growth. With consumers increasingly relying on online shopping — it is estimated that 95
% of purchases will be made online by 2040 — ecommerce is opening the doors of
opportunity to countless entrepreneurs.

And, those ecommerce sales opportunities are rapidly growing. In 2017, ecommerce was
responsible for $2.382 trillion in sales, which is expected to nearly triple to $4.5 trillion by
2024. In the U.S. alone, online shopping already accounts for 10% of retail sales and is
24
expected to grow at a year-on-year rate of 15%.

2. Mobile E-commerce Growth (2017-2024)

Figure 2:

Source: Statista
Figure 2: Data Analysis
Worldwide, e-commerce growth is primarily being driven by consumers using their
mobile devices, phones and tablets, to acquire goods and services. According to
eMarketer estimates, retail e-commerce sales reached $500 trillion in 2017, a 23.2
percent increase over the previous year. The mobile share of this stood at 58.9 percent,
or $ 2070 trillion. In 2024, mobile e-commerce could rake in some $3.5 trillion and then
make up almost three quarters (72.9 percent) of e-commerce sales.

25
 3. E-commerce Market Share:
Figure 3:

Source: https://kinsta.com/blog/ecommerce-statistics
Figure 3: Data Analysis
Though the United States is often thought of as the largest market for ecommerce, it isn’t.
However, it does make the list of the top 10 largest ecommerce markets in the world:
 China: $672 billion
 USA: $340 billion
 United Kingdom: $99 billion
 Japan: $79 billion
 Germany: $73 billion
 France: $43 billion
 South Korea: $37 billion
 Canada: $30 billion
 Russia: $20 billion
 Brazil: $19 billion

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4. Payment Methods:
Figure 4:

Figure 3: Data Analysis

Payment method aside, more Americans already prefer online shopping than shopping in
a physical store, with 51% percent clicking their way to making purchases. A total of 96%
of Americans have made at least one online purchase in their life, with 80% doing so in
the last month alone. However, Americans actually spend 64% of their budget in physical
stores and only 36% online.

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 CHAPTER-4

FINDING &
RECOMMENDATION

28
 FINDINGS
 Students are more frequent users of online shopping than
salaried and self-employed persons
 Most of the customers prefer online shopping because they
have wide variety of options and it also saves time for
them.
 Most respondents use online shopping portal for
information about the product before shopping it from a
physical store.
 The customers prefer both e-commerce app, i.e. Amazon &
Myntra, but it can also be seen from the above given figure
that they prefer Amazon more than Myntra.
 Most of my respondents prefer to shop clothing category more
online. Furthermore, they also prefer to buy electronics and
apparels and accessories online.
 Most respondents concluded that :
1. Increasing internet penetration.
2. Rise of smartphone usage.
3. Growth of digital payment systems; has contributed
to the growth of e-commerce in India.

 Most respondents assume that :

1. Growth of mobile e-commerce
2. Expansion of e-commerce in rural areas
3. Integration of augmented reality for will be the
expected future trends in the Indian e-commerce
market.
 Most respondents concluded that
1. Accelerated adoption due to lockdowns and social
distancing measures
2. Decreased consumer spending leading to slower growth
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 3. Shift in consumer preferences towards online shopping;
has impact ecommerce growth in India by COVID-19
pandemic
 Most respondents conclude that:
1. Customization and personalization
2.Localization of products and services
3.Expansion of delivery networks to rural areas;

 A huge majority of my respondents believe that e-

commerce will possibly overtake the traditional
method of shopping in the near future.

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 RECOMMENDATION

Recommendations for successful E-Commerce are as follows:

(a) Displaying a list of suggested products based on the visitor’s browsing

history

(b) Use product recommendation engines to personalize your email

campaigns.

(c) Providing access to the shopper’s browsing history

(d) Alert viewers of products that have been updated

(e) Personalize recommendations by showing items related to previous

purchases

(f) Feature best-selling items for each brand

(g) Generate product bundles (items frequently purchased together) and offer
a special discount for purchasing the group.

(h) Don’t limit references to best-selling items to one product or brand. show
best-sellers across entire product categories.

(i) Make sure all recommendations are relevant and timely. they should also
be informed by returns and reviews.

(j) Adjust your recommendations to keep popular products highlighted and to

provide additional viewing opportunities for lower-selling items (20
percent of your items will provide 80 percent of your sales).

(k) Show highest rated items in product recommendations. Try injecting some
social proof into your product recommendations by displaying items that
have the highest customer reviews.

(l) Know your visitors. the more personalization you can add, the better your
results.

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(m) Provide product recommendations when items added to the cart require
accessories (fishing reels need fishing line, flashlights need batteries, shoes
often require socks).

(n) Use product recommendations for moving the buyer up to a more fully-
featured version of the one currently being browsed (upselling).

(o) Use product recommendations to remind the shopper about upcoming

holidays or other special events.

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 CHAPTER 5

BIBLIOGRAPHY

33
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Global Electronic Commerce: Theory and Cases, by Chris Westland and Ted Clark,
MIT Press, 1999.
2. E-Business - Roadmap for Success, by Shadab Kalakota and Marcia Robinson,
Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc,. 1999
3. Electronic Commerce - A Manager's Guide, by Shadab Kalakota and Andrew B.
Whinston, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., 1997
4. Statista

WEBLIOGRAPHY
1. www.flipkart.com
2. www.yahoo.com (links and search data)
3. www.google.co.in (links and search data)
4. www.investopedia.com
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergers_and_acquisitions"
6. https://kinsta.com/blog/ecommerce-statistics

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CHAPTER 6:

QUESTIONNAIRE

35
 QUESTIONNAIRE
Dear Sir / Madam,

Thank you for visiting us. By filling out this 5-10 minute survey, you will help us obtain the
very best results.
General
1. Gender:
(a) Male
(b) Female

2. Age group:
(a) < 20
(b) 20 +

3. Considering your complete experience with our company, how likely would you be to
recommend us to a friend or colleague?

4. How satisfied did you feel based on your overall experience?

5. On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to recommend us to your friend or colleague?

6. Please let us know how we can improve your experience.

Website related:
7. How did you learn about our website?
(a) TV
(b) Newspaper
(c) Social Media
(d) Search Engine
(e) Recommendation from a friend
(f) Other

8. For whom are your shopping for?

(a) Friend
(b) Parent
(c) Boss
(d) Colleague
(e) Other

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9. Please rate the below parameters as compared to our competitors.
(a) Website performance
(b) Product catalog
(c) Product information
(d) Pricing
(e) Shipping options
(f) Payment experience
(g) Online help
(h) Overall

10. What led you to visit our website?

(a) Researching product information
(b) Interested in buying products
(c) Looking for contact information
(d) Know more about the company
(e) Other

Product reviews and ratings

11. On a scale of 0-10, how much do you trust the product reviews?

12. How helpful do you find ratings while making a purchase decision?

13. On a scale of 0-10, how much does an overall product rating affect your purchase decision?

Post-Purchase eCommerce survey questions

14. How satisfied are you with the quality of products?

15. How do you rate the quality of our products as compared to our competitors?

16. How satisfied are you with the availability of products?

17. If your preferred product is not available, do you get acknowledged when it is back in stock?

18. What other products would you like to see in our online store?

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Online shopping survey questions
19. How safe did you feel while sharing your card details?
20. How was the checkout experience overall?
21. Did you experience a hassle-free payment experience?
22. On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to buy from us again?

Shipping
23. Did you receive your product within the expected timeline?
24. Would you like to enroll in paid services to get products earlier?
25. Did you receive your product at the shipping address?
26. Did you receive your bill at the billing address?
27. How easily could you update your address details?
28. Please rate your experience with the delivery personnel.

Customer support
29. On a scale of 1-10, how was your experience with the customer support executive?
30. Did the customer executive solve your query?
31. How helpful was the customer support staff?

Branding and Marketing

32. Would you like to share your contact details to learn more about our discounts and sale?
33. Would you like to know more about our membership benefits?
34. Would you like to enroll in a paid membership to avail priority services?

Feedback on vendors
35. How satisfied are you with the vendor options we offer?
36. How satisfied are you with the quality of products from this vendor?
37. How helpful are the vendor details we offer?
38. What more information would you want about the vendor?

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