SIGNIFICANCE OF E-COMMERCE IN INDIA- A STUDY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ONLINE BUYING ACTIVITIES

E-Commerce stands for Electronic Commerce. E-Commerce is improving standard among the commercial community in worlds, about the opportunities offered by E-Commerce. E-Commerce as part of the information technology revolution became widely used in the world trade in general and Indian economy in particular. With advancements in technology, there is many changes has been occupied. In India, across more than 6,50,000 villages and approximately 40% living below poverty line. Literacy rate is 75.08% but rural literacy rate is 71 %. Whereas computer literacy rate is just 6.5% so that E-Commerce is facing many pros and cons. Nowadays in India government is promoting the DIGITAL INDIA campaign so that people can transact and aware of E-Commerce.In the backdrop of all these scenarios the present paper makes an attempt to highlights the favour of E-Commerce in India, and to understand the disfavours of e-commerce in India. There are many reasons for which, E-commerce is playing a vital role in India at the same time there are some fraudulent activities in other views. So this papers tries to explain about the positive and negative aspects of E-commerce in India.

A Study On Factors Influencing Consumer Buying Behaviour Towards Online Shopping In Karaikudi Town

The idea of online purchases is becoming more popular as a result of the development in the fields of information and technology. People now look for alternate options for purchasing because they do not have enough time to directly go to a store to place an order. Nowadays, individuals prefer to make online purchases, use credit or debit cards to pay their utility bills, and have goods delivered to their doorstep at a cheaper and more attractive price. The current study was carried out to assess influencing factors in Karaikudi town and to rank influencing factors with online shopping. Primary data have been collected from 120 respondents in the study area with the help of an interview schedule. Percentage analysis and the ranking method were used to analyse the collected data. The findings of the study reveal that majority of the respondents (55.83%) are male, most of the respondents (35.84%) belong to the age group upto 25, and 34.17% of the respondents purchased clothing through online shopping

Regulación de la venta de productos médicos por Internet: experiencias y estrategias para Latinoamérica / Regulation of the online sale of medical products: experiences and strategies for Latin America / Regulamentação da venda de produtos médicos pela internet: experiências e estratégias para a América Latina

RESUMEN El objetivo de este informe especial es presentar los avances en Latinoamérica sobre la regulación de la venta de productos médicos a través de internet y ofrecer orientación a las Autoridades Reguladoras Nacionales (ARN) en la planificación y ejecución de estrategias para la regulación y fiscalización del comercio electrónico de productos médicos. Se presentan los avances regulatorios y de programas, e iniciativas efectuadas por cuatro países de América Latina para el control de la venta de productos médicos a través de Internet, incluyendo revisiones complementarias de la literatura y de programas para el control del comercio electrónico de agencias de referencia. A partir de esta revisión, se proponen las siguientes líneas estratégicas: fortalecimiento del marco regulatorio y normativo; fortalecimiento de la capacidad fiscalizadora; colaboración con autoridades y otros actores clave nacionales e internacionales; y comunicación y sensibilización con la comunidad y los profesionales de salud. Cada una de estas estrategias deben ir acompañadas con acciones específicas, que pueden servir como orientaciones para las ARN de las Américas, y de países con contextos similares para el fortalecimiento de sus marcos regulatorios y la protección de los pacientes y consumidores.

ABSTRACT The objective of this special report is to present the advances in Latin America on regulation of the online sale of medical products and to offer guidance to national regulatory authorities (NRAs) on planning and implementing strategies to regulate and oversee the e-commerce of medical products. The regulatory advances and the programs and initiatives implemented in four Latin American countries to control the online sale of medical products are presented, including complementary reviews of the literature and reviews of e-commerce control programs of agencies of reference. Based on this review, the following strategies are proposed: strengthening the regulatory and policy framework; strengthening the capacity for oversight; collaboration with national and international authorities and other key players; and communication and awareness-raising with the community and health care professionals. Each of these strategies should be accompanied by specific actions that can serve as guidelines for NRAs in the Americas and in countries with similar contexts, to strengthen their regulatory frameworks and patient and consumer protections.

RESUMO O objetivo deste relatório especial é apresentar os avanços na regulamentação da comercialização de produtos médicos pela internet na América Latina e oferecer orientações às Autoridades Reguladoras Nacionais (ARN) sobre planejamento e execução de estratégias de regulamentação e fiscalização do comércio eletrônico de produtos médicos. São apresentados avanços regulatórios e programáticos, bem como iniciativas realizadas por quatro países latino-americanos para controlar a venda de produtos médicos pela internet, incluindo revisões complementares da literatura e programas de controle do comércio eletrônico por agências reguladoras de referência. Com base nesta revisão, propõem-se as seguintes linhas estratégicas: fortalecimento do marco regulatório e normativo; fortalecimento da capacidade de fiscalização; colaboração com autoridades e outros atores-chave nacionais e internacionais; e comunicação e sensibilização da comunidade em geral e dos profissionais de saúde. Cada uma dessas estratégias deve ser acompanhada de ações específicas, que podem servir de diretrizes para as ARN das Américas - e de países com contextos semelhantes - para fortalecer seus marcos regulatórios e a proteção de pacientes e consumidores.

Analysis of select Indian E-commerce Websites using Paired Similarity Index

Online shopping industry is one of the fastest growing industries which has expanded rapidly due to the ever increasing access to internet and rising disposable income levels. It is observed that new age consumers are indulging in impulsive purchase of products in the online shopping website. The information content, features, web design etc. in the websites plays a significant role in drawing shoppers. In this paper the information and features provided in some popular e- commerce websites are analysed using binary representation and developing a similarity index. A Paired Similarity Index (PSI) is created to measure the similarity of information and features between websites through pairs of observations. The study is comprised of selected e-commerce websites, operating in India across a different product categories. This comparison will enable to rank websites based on the information and features provided.

A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE ONLINE BUYING BEHAVIOUR OF CONSUMERS

As a developing country, we are embracing new technologies while keeping our customers in mind. However, the covid- 19 pandemic had a significant impact on the entire country. The people's ability to satisfy their needs and desires would be harmed by the unexpected shutdown. The streets are deserted, and the stores are closed. As a result, individuals are adopting new technology, virtual platforms, and social media engagement. They make their purchases using an e- commerce platform. Each customer's perception and online buying behavior are likewise monitored by the companies. With the use of the relative importance index, we are analyzing how social media, advertisements, celebrities, and other factors are influencing consumers' online buying behavior during the covid-19 outbreaks.

Compliance of infant formula promotion on websites of Brazilian manufacturers and drugstores

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To verify the compliance with Law No. 11,265/2006 in the promotion strategies for infant formula in Brazilian websites of manufacturers and drugstore networks. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017. We analyzed the compliance to attributes of the Law No.11,265/2006 (Law for Marketing of Foods for Infants and Toddlers, Feeding Bottles, Teats and Pacifiers) in five websites of infant formula manufacturers and nine websites of drugstore networks. The main attributes assessed were: the presence of drawings or representations of children, the presence of warning statements displayed in conspicuous and prominent spaces informing if products are intended for infants aged under or over 6 months, the adequate display of infant formulas/similar products, and the presence of pop-ups with other infant formulas or links to websites for children's products. All compliances and non compliances verified were described in absolute and relative frequencies. RESULTS We verified that 80% of the websites of infant formula manufacturers displayed advertisements for other children's food products. The main non compliance in infant formula manufacturer's websites was the absence of warning statements about products intended for infants over 6 months of age. Only 33% of the drugstores' websites complied with Law No. 11,265/2006. The main non compliances in these websites were the absence of warning statements on products intended for infants over 6 months of age (100%), the presence of pop-up advertisements for other infant foods (77%) and the presence of advertisements for other children's food products (92%). CONCLUSION We identified non compliances with the Law No. 11,256/2006 in almost all websites of infant formula manufacturers and in all the websites of drugstore networks. Most promotion strategies were found at drugstore websites, which are the main channels for online sales.

A rede de dormir no comércio eletrônico: mediações do mercado na experiência do ócio e da cultura material / The hammock in e-commerce: market mediations on the leisure and material culture experience

Este artigo apresenta uma aproximação ao ócio a partir da cultura material, explorando a mediação feita pelo mercado como mecanismo de circulação e tradução da cultura. Em particular, o texto trata das relações contemporâneas entre o ócio e a rede de dormir a partir da análise das estratégias de empresas de comercio eletrônico internacional, de seus ambientes virtuais e das redes ofertadas. Por meio do conteúdo multimídia e dos comentários de outros usuários, cria-se uma experiência virtual da rede de dormir física, a qual é apresentada como um bem cultural sofisticado. As promessas de descanso e prazer veiculadas nos sites dependem, para se tornar concretas, de relações localizadas entre o usuário e o móvel. Os processos de circulação da rede retratam a plasticidade material e simbólica deste móvel, assim como a capacidade humana, e por extensão da indústria e do mercado global, para ressignificar os signos sociais.

This article presents an approach to leisure from material culture, exploring the mediation done by the market as a mechanism of circulation and translation of culture. In particular, this study deals with the contemporary relations between leisure and the hammock from the analysis of companies' international ecommerce strategies, their online environments and the hammocks offered. Multimedia content and comments from other users provide a virtual experience of the physical hammock, which is presented as a sophisticated cultural good. The promises of rest and pleasure presented on the sites depend, to become concrete, on the localized relationship between the user and the hammock. The circulation process of the hammock portrays the material and symbolic plasticity of this furniture, as well as humanly capable, and by extension of industry and the global market, to redefine social signs.

¿Hacia el social commerce? El valor de las redes sociales en la MiPyME de Córdoba, Argentina / Towards social commerce: the value of social networks for Micro and SME from Córdoba, Argentina / Em direção ao comércio social? O valor das redes sociais no MiMPe de Córdoba, Argentina

Resumen La difusión del comercio electrónico constituye una gran oportunidad para las empresas como instrumento de competitividad. El uso de las redes sociales brinda una plataforma nueva para el desarrollo de las transacciones comerciales online. El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en analizar la relación entre el nivel de adopción del comercio electrónico y la valoración de las redes sociales en las empresas. Con este fin, se utiliza una muestra de 100 Microempresas, Pequeñas y Medianas firmas de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. Sobre la base de un análisis de conglomerados de k medias, se obtienen tres grupos de empresas: empresas avanzadas en e-commerce empresas únicamente en redes sociales y empresas orientadas al e-commerce. Estos grupos presentan diferencias significativas por sector de actividad, pero no por tamaño de las empresas. Códigos JEL: D2, L86, O33.

Abstract E-commerce diffusion brings a great opportunity for the competitiveness of firms. The use of social networks offers a new platform for the development of online business transactions. The objective of this paper is analyzing the relationship between the e-commerce adoption level and the social networks value among firms. To achieve this goal, a sample of 100 Micro, Small and Medium firms from the city of Cordoba in Argentina is employed. Based on a k media conglomerates analysis, we obtained there groups of firms: firms advanced in e-commerce, firms just in social networks, and firms oriented to e-commerce. These groups differ in terms of their main economic activity but not in the size of their firms. Classification: D2, L86, O33.

Resumo A difusão do comércio eletrônico constitui uma grande oportunidade para as empresas como instrumento de competitividade. O uso de redes sociais fornece uma nova plataforma para o desenvolvimento de transações comerciais online. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a relação entre o nível de adoção do comércio eletrônico e a valorização das redes sociais nas empresas. Para isso, é utilizada uma amostra de 100 microempresas, pequenas e médias empresas da cidade de Córdoba, Argentina. Com base em uma análise de k-conglomerados médios, três grupos de empresas são obtidos: empresas avançadas em e-commerce; empresas somente em redes sociais e empresas voltadas ao e-commerce. Esses grupos apresentam diferenças significativas por setor de atividade, mas não pelo tamanho das empresas. Classificações JEL: D2, L86, O33.

Food purchase in e-commerce and its relation to food habit of adult women in Incheon and Gyeonggi / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the food purchases from e-commerce and its relation to eating behaviors or habits in adult women in Incheon and Gyeonggi. METHODS: A total of 410 subjects participated in the questionnaire survey. Food purchases in e-commerce and food habits were compared according to age, marital status, and food purchase status in e-commerce of the subjects. RESULTS: Approximately 88% of the subjects had experience of buying foods by e-commerce; more than 40% of the subjects spent less than 100,000 Won buying foods by e-commerce in the past 6 months. The major purchases were coffee and tea, instant food and frozen food, and water and beverages. The reasons for buying foods in e-commerce were cheaper price, convenience of delivery, and variety of food choices. The main factors considered for purchasing foods in e-commerce were price and quality followed by rapid and accurate delivery, and food label and information. Approximately 70% of the subjects were very satisfied or satisfied with their food purchase in e-commerce, and 96% answered that they were willing to buy food in e-commerce again. The perception on the advantages of food purchases in e-commerce was 3.6 points out of 5 and significantly lower in the over 50s and married group. The subjects with experience and high cost of food purchase in e-commerce showed significantly low scores of dietary behaviors and eating habits, which is undesirable. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of people purchased foods by e-commerce, and they showed undesirable eating habits, especially when the cost of purchasing foods by e-commerce is high. These results showed that purchasing foods in e-commerce may be related to consumers' food habits. Therefore, continuous attention and nutrition guidance for e-commerce consumers are needed.

Legal aspects of pharmaceutical E-commerce development against the "Internet+" scenario / 中华医院管理杂志

With the steady progress of the rule of law for Internet in China, " Internet+medicine" is drawing greater attention and legislative demand. The enactment of E-commerce Law in early 2019 has provided rich legal connotations of " Internet+" commerce scenario, clarifying its legal subject scope and legal service scope.The authors analyzed the legal system of medical E-commerce, and the legal obligations of medical E-commerce. From the following four aspects of legitimate business conduct, consumer rights protection, platform responsibility and intellectual property protection, the authors held that the current legal regulation of medical E-commerce is plagued by major setbacks as follows.These setbacks include incomplete legislation, low legal ranking, ambiguous subject definition and legal guidance, as well as lack of behavior regulation and unclear legal obligations.In this regard, the state is recommended to advocate the enactment of the Pharmaceutical E-commerce Law, speed up the revision of a series of laws and regulations, and improve the supporting service policies as a whole, so as to strengthen the rule of law regulation of future pharmaceutical E-commerce.

Purchasing management of medical consumables based on drug exchange mode / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To fulfill standardized and precision management of medical consumables purchasing. Methods Medical consumables purchasing was executed based on the e-commerce platform in the drug exchange facility, the access process was standardized for medical consumables, and the monitoring and supervision were implemented for price inquiry, purchasing ways, introduction flow of new products, qualification inspecting of suppliers and etc. Results The improved medical consumables purchasing flow based on drug exchange mode contributed to decreasing purchasing cost, avoiding bidding risks as well as precision management. Conclusion The purchasing based on drug exchange is of great value for hospital medical consumables purchasing management.

Contraste de un Modelo de los Indicadores Psicológicos Reflejantes de la Intención de Comercio Electrónico

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue contrastar un modelo de intención de uso del comercio electrónico. Se realizó un estudio no experimental, transversal y exploratorio con una selección no probabilística de 134 estudiantes de una Institución de Educación Superior. Se utilizó la Escala de Intención de Comercio Electrónico de García, Carreón y López (2014), una vez establecida la confiabilidad y la validez, a partir de un modelo estructural [χ2 = 12,65 (14gl) p = 0,000; GFI = 0,970; CFI = 0,977; RMSEA = 0,008] la eliminación de una aplicación mientras se utiliza una con la misma función es indicador reflejante de la estructura que explica la toma de decisiones. Se advierten líneas de investigación concernientes a la compatibilidad de la tecnología con la intención de comercio electrónico

The decision-making process that goes from training and training to adjust the technology to personal lifestyle decision is a deliberate, planned and systematic decision. In the case of e-commerce is intended to anticipate possible barriers and reasons for the use of electronic devices and mobile applications. A non-experimental, transversal and exploratory study with a probabilistic selection of 134 students of an Institution of Higher Education was held. From a structural model [χ2 = 12.65 (14gl) p = 0.000; GFI = 0.970; CFI = 0.977; RMSEA = 0.008] removing an application as one with the same function is reflective indicator structure accounts decisions used.

Research on the Performance Evaluation of B2C Pharmaceutical E-commerce Enterprises / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To explore the problems and improvement measures in the process of operation and management of B2C pharmaceutical E-commerce enterprise,and to promote their development. METHODS:The performance evaluation index sys-tem was built preliminarily,including 5 first-level indexes and 28 second-level indexes. Questionnaires survey was conducted among 16 experts by Delphi method,and the weight of every index was calculated by experts according to importance,familiarity and reference. The company performance was analyzed and judged objectively by fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The re-sults of Y enterprise performance evaluation were empirically analyzed. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS:The performance evaluation index system has been built,including 5 first-level indexes,24 second-level indexes. Average expert authority degree of two rounds survey is 0.76(>0.70),showing survey result is credible. The performance of the company in the finance and popularization have more influence to the performance of B2C pharmaceutical E-commerce enterprise. The performance of Y company is outstanding in profit growth,site stability and security,suppliers development and maintain and other aspects;however,it is not good enough of performance in employee satisfaction,customer professional services,logistics and distribution quality and other aspects. It is sug-gested to establish logistics by B2C pharmaceutical E-commerce enterprise themselves,carry out whole-course monitoring to im-prove the quality of logistics and distribution;increase product and pharmaceutical knowledge training input and introduce talent with the background of medical education so as to strengthen professional service;survey the satisfactory degree of staff to working environment,working group,working content and other aspects,and adjust enterprise system or communicate with staff in order to improve satisfactory degree.

Discussion on the experimental animal mall platform based on mobile internet / 中国比较医学杂志

Through analyzing the characteristics of the experimental animal industry , supply and demand status and application prospect of mobile internet industry , as themobile Internet +experimental animalscombination to study the function and effect and operation mode of the experimental animals mall platform .The platform will be provide open e-commerce services for experimental animal industry , forming an innovative pattern of resource sharing , mutual benefit and win-win, promote the balanced allocation of the experimental animal industry chain resources , build “effectiveness , efficiency , effect” good operation management environment .

Escritores-fantasma e comércio de trabalhos científicos na internet: a ciência em risco / Ghostwriters and commerce of scientific papers on the internet: science at risk

Fraudes na produção científica não são situações raras, mesmo na área da saúde. Entre elas incluem-se alguns tipos de má conduta em autoria, como o plágio e a prática de ghostwriting (escrever um artigo com o nome de outro autor) patrocinada pela indústria farmacêutica. Um outro tipo particularmente nocivo para a ciência é o comércio de trabalhos científicos, que tem crescido na internet e tem sido freqüentemente noticiado na imprensa. OBJETIVOS: Analisar o comércio de trabalhos científicos na internet e o modo como são oferecidos esses serviços. MÉTODOS:Foram selecionadas 18 páginas eletrônicas nacionais que oferecem serviços de elaboração de artigos científicos, monografias, dissertações e teses. Para cada uma foi enviada mensagem solicitando informações sobre a elaboração de uma monografia de conclusão de um curso de especialização fictício. A pesquisa já havia sido realizada, de forma que suas características técnicas, éticas e bibliográficas já eram conhecidas pela autora. RESULTADOS: Dez empresas aceitaram a encomenda e, exceto por uma delas, não se opuseram às condições impostas: pesquisa de campo, aprovação por comitê de ética em pesquisa e utilização das normas de Vancouver. Seis não responderam e duas não aceitaram a encomenda alegando não ter colaboradores disponíveis. CONCLUSÃO: O comércio de trabalhos científicos é uma realidade que pode interferir negativamente na formação ética, científica e profissional de graduandos e pós-graduandos, bem como na produção científica, falseando dados e informações da literatura. Recomenda-se uma nova abordagem principalmente na avaliação de trabalhos de conclusão de cursos e monografias.

Frauds in scientific production are not a rare phenomenon, even in the medical field. Among these frauds are some types of authorship misconduct, such as plagiarism and ghostwriting sponsored by pharmaceutical industries. Another type of misconduct, which is particularly detrimental to science, is the ecommerce of scientific works, which has been growing and frequently shown in the press. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the e-commerce of scientific papers and the means by which these services are offered. METHODS: Eighteen Brazilian web sites that offer elaboration of scientific papers were selected. A request for the elaboration of a final essay for a forged post-graduatie course was sent to each of them. The research requested had already been completed, consequently technical, ethical and bibliographical characteristics were already known to the author. RESULTS: Ten enterprises accepted the order and, except for one, they have not objected to the conditions imposed: Field research, approval by an ethics committee on research and use of the Vancouver norms. Six have not replied and two have not accepted the order alleging that they had no co-workers available for the task. CONCLUSIONS: E-commerce of scientific papers is a fact which can negatively interfere in the ethical, scientific and professional development of graduate and post-graduate students, as well as in scientific production by adulterating data and information found in literature. A new approach is recommended, especially when evaluating final essays.

Application of E-Commerce in Hospital Drug Management / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the application of E-commerce system in Hospital drug management. METHODS: It analyzed the defects existed in current Hospital Information System (HIS), introduced hospital E-commerce system and evaluated comparatively the drug management information before and after the application of the e-commerce system. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: E-commerce system has effectively made up the functional insufficiency of HIS and changed the traditional drug purchase mode; therefore, its application has a bright future.

The realities of internet shopping malls for agricultural products

Purchasing professionals utilize a e-commerce to sell or buy better products with good price. The marketers of agricultural products recognized that e-commerce has made significant inroads, and the Internet is fast becoming an essential tool for purchasing. The purpose of this research was to assess the realities of internet shopping malls of agricultural products including the actual condition of the sites, payment methods, order methods, membership and shipping methods. The results show that operating internet shopping mall of agricultural products are operated poorly in terms of buyer-seller relationship, payment and distribution. The results also provide some practical implication for marketers regarding the establishment of database, improvement of distribution and internet shopping mall operation, and importance of education on e-business for agricultural markets.

Effects of B2B E-Commerce in the Material Management of Hospitals / 대한의료정보학회지

The objectives of this study were to examine effects of B2B e-commerce on the material management by comparing the performance of B2B and non-B2B hospitals, and surveying the extent of the objective of B2B implementation was achieved and success and failure factors of the implementation. Managerial data from six hospitals, three B2B and three non-B2B, and survey data from 107 employees involved in the material management at the study hospitals were analyzed. The number of employees at the department of purchasing, time spent for placing order, cycle time from order to delivery were better at the B2B hospitals, and employees' satisfaction with the material management system was significantly higher in the B2B hospitals than in the non-B2B hospitals as well. However, intended effects of B2B e-commerce in wider areas of the material management such as inventory management and sharing of business information were not substantiated in this study. The study results indicated that B2B ecommerce in the study hospitals improved work efficiency and effectiveness in the area of procurement, and implied needs for an ERP-type system and process reengineering with the implementation of B2B e-commerce to obtain wider ranges of effects in the material management. Also the study results implied a need for communication with employees during the course of implementation for the system success.

E-commerce Development of American Pharmaceutical Enterprises and Its Enlightenment on China / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To explore the way for the development of E-commerce in Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises. METHODS:The successful experiences of American in developing E-commerce were studied,and problems for the develop-ment of E-commerce in China pharmaceutical enterprises were analyzed.RESULTS&CONCLUSIONS:The development of E-commerce in Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises should count on information construction in enterprises,depend on the third party E-commerce transaction platform,focus on the service and actively develop the countryside market etc.

Utilizing E-commerce to Develop Centralized Drug Purchasing Through Tender / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To develop drug E-commerce,so as to reform the hospital drug purchasing management pattern METHODS:To probe into the necessity and existing problems in centralized drug purchasing by way of bidding through E-commerce RESULTS & CONCLUSION:The adoption of centralized drug purchasing by way of bidding through E-commerce could ensure drug quality,shorten drug purchasing cycle period,reduce purchasing cost as well as drug price,decrease irrational drug use and promote the formation of new drug marketing