TRACING THE EVOLUTION OF ECOMMERCE: HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS, IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Electronic commerce, or ecommerce, has been a topic of interest particularly in the last years. While ecommerce activities are notably facilitated today, it has gone through notably different forms since its first seeds were planted. The COVID-19 pandemic was a crisis for most businesses but also an opportunity for some, especially for those who were able to pivot or transform their businesses with respect to the new needs of consumers. With the positive impact of the pandemic on ecommerce sector observed especially as of the second quarter of 2020, its trend has surpassed the expectations. This overperformance came with numerous sceptical questions about the future of ecommerce. This study investigates the historical evolution, pandemic-induced transformations, and future trends of ecommerce. It conveys a compilation of milestones through systematic literature review with a focus on the practicality. This paper provides with a timeline of the ecommerce history to bridge its evolution in the last 80 years by visualizing the phases it has been through along with its anticipated trend in the upcoming years. The studied data reveals how COVID-19 accelerated ecommerce growth and highlights its implications for global retail. The growth of ecommerce may slow down but it will endure its growth as online shopping has already become an indispensable habit.