The Internet is a fantastic and useful tool. With a click of our mouse, we can read today’s news, play an online game and, if we wish, shop to our heart’s content. But when did it all start? What is the history of online shopping and what does it mean to buy online?
online shopping It is the process that a client carries out to buy a service or product through the Internet. In other words, a consumer can buy products from an online store at his leisure from the comfort of his home. This concept was first demonstrated before the World Wide Web was used with real-time transactions being processed from a home television! The technology used was called videotext and was first demonstrated in 1979 by M. Aldrick, who designed and installed systems in the UK. In 1990, T. Berners-Lee created the first WWW server and browser, and in 1995, Amazon expanded its online shopping experiences.
The history of online shopping is incredible. Gone are the days of waiting in traffic and making our way through crowded stores. All we need is a computer, bank account, debit or credit card and voila, freedom! From books to cosmetics, clothing and accessories, to name a few, online shopping is the answer to the 21st century. Simply search for the website that offers the items of your desire, the price and delivery times and in a matter of days your purchase is at your doorstep. The advantages and convenience are obviously predictable as we are offered a wider selection, competitive prices, and greater access to information regarding our purchase. Online stores are generally available 24 hours a day and allow consumers to shop at their leisure without having to travel and outside of normal business hours.
Another point to keep in mind is that when the Internet was first conceived it was not with the ideal that it would change the way we shop. Rather, the web was created as a communication tool, which over time allowed for the convenience of shopping virtually. The history of online shopping itself symbolizes the change in our society and now it has become a service used by businesses and regular shoppers all over the world.
Shopping online is easy, fun and secure and for many it has taken the place of Saturday afternoon window shopping at the post office. Still considered a fairly recent phenomenon, online shopping has undoubtedly made the lives of countless consumers easier and more convenient. Whether it’s for a home loan, buying a car or ordering your weekly groceries, the web has forever changed our perspective on shopping.
The history of online shopping shows everyone that a good idea, a great presentation and the desire to offer the best to your customers can make a dream come true. Now that it’s considered tried and true, it will be interesting over the next 20 years to see where the history of online shopping will take us.
