E-Commerce: Cyber- and Physical Environments

One of the assumptions is that ecommerce is global in nature. This contribution discusses this proposition. The question is addressed if the opportunities of e-commerce shouldn't be looked at from a more local, regional or national level. Two case-studies are presented. Although the scope of the two cases is different, the main focus is comparable: embedding of ecommerce within a specific geographical area. The case studies show that a national, and not a global orientation is dominant. The use of Internet for ecommerce, according to both cases, was still rather passive in early 1997. Internet is a showcase for information rather than a mean for on-line purchases. Safe electronic payments standards will not be sufficient to generate e-commerce. Increased awareness of potential benefits and possible solutions should be increased.