Course Brief

Electronic Commerce, or E-Commerce, refers to any type of commercial/business transaction where information, data, products and services are exchanged across the internet. These transactions can cover a wide diversity of business types to include: consumer-based retail sites (e.g. Amazon), sites that provide facilities such as auctions (e.g. eBay) and business exchanges between different organisations. ECommerce allows consumers to electronically exchange goods and services 24/7 with no barriers in terms of time or geography.

Within this unit, students will gain an understanding of how and why businesses and organisations develop E-Commerce strategies: to remain competitive in the global market. Students will also appreciate the elements and resources required to set up an E-Commerce site and be engaged in the design and implementation of their own strategies that would, in reality, form part of a secure E-Commerce site.


  • This course is offered in 50 contact hours.

Upon successful completion of this unit, learners will be able to:

  • Examine the strategies employed and the impact of E-Commerce on business organisations.
  • Analyse the hardware, software, web-based and database technologies involved in setting up a secure E-Commerce site.
  • Design an E-Commerce strategy based on a given end user requirement or specification.
  • Implement an E-Commerce strategy based on a given end user requirement or specification.