To what extent do electronic cimmerce influence the lifestyle of lancaster people - Research Paper Example

People who utilise e-commerce are influenced by many factors that drive desire to use the Internet or other mobile technologies. These include free delivery of product, the ability of the seller to ensure accuracy of order fulfilment and exchange and return opportunities. Research has also shown that there is even more incentive when sellers reduce potential risks, such as privacy and payment security (Makhija and Stewart 2002). These factors tend to influence increased use of e-commerce as a lifestyle tool.

However, there is a gap in literature about, specifically, Lancaster residents and whether e-commerce influences their lifestyles and is deemed a relevant and valuable method of shopping or conducting other business. This study maintains the ability to gain an understanding of a specific geographic region and the extent to which e-commerce is considered a constructive and beneficial tool. According to Price (2014), e-commerce is becoming a widespread trend in consumer shopping, with buyers spending 23 percent of every British Pound spent on shopping in the e-commerce environment.

What attributes to this growing trend for an industry now worth £17 billion? Asfend-e-yar and Tjoa (2013) assert that social familiarity with computer science improves acquaintance with online shopping, making the industry flourish. Furthermore, online shopping maintains fewer costs to the purchaser, including labour expenditures and economics. This is due to the fact that e-commerce sellers have much less overhead costs than in a traditional bricks-and-mortar retail outlet (Lamson-Hall 2013).

This has implications on whether a company can provide attractive pricing, facilitated by a more streamlined distribution system allowing for more price-conscious movement of inventories that translates into a better opportunity for buyers. Hence, e-commerce can facilitate more convenient and simplistic shopping experiences than in traditional bricks-and-mortar retail outlets. There