E-COMMERCE VS TRADITIONAL RETAIL

Abstract

E-commerce has revolutionized the global retail landscape by reshaping how consumers shop, how businesses sell, and how supply chains operate. While traditional retail has long been the cornerstone of consumer markets, the digital revolution has introduced new dimensions of convenience, personalization, and global accessibility. This chapter compares and contrasts e-commerce and traditional retail across parameters such as business models, consumer experience, marketing strategies, operational efficiency, and technological integration. It explores how digital commerce has evolved through innovations in logistics, mobile technology, and data analytics, and how traditional retail continues to adapt through hybrid and omnichannel strategies. The analysis further highlights the challenges of both models—trust and delivery concerns for online retail versus cost and reach limitations for physical stores. The chapter concludes that the future of retail lies in a balanced integration of physical and digital channels that combine the tangibility of traditional retail with the efficiency and reach of e-commerce.