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The History of the Ecommerce Industry

The beginnings - E-commerce without the Internet

• EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): Companies begin to exchange orders and invoices electronically.
• The first forms of online trading emerge via private networks and telephone lines.
• 1979: Michael Aldrich invents the “Videotex” system - a type of online shopping via the television.

1990s: The Internet Age Begins

• 1991: The World Wide Web becomes publicly accessible - the basis for modern e-commerce.
• 1994:
  First secure online payment via SSL encryption.
  First online purchase by credit card (a CD).
  
  1995: Two giants are born:
  Amazon launches as an online bookstore.
  eBay launches with online auctions.
• End of the 1990s: First online stores, banks offer online banking, fashion and electronics retailers follow.

2000s: Professionalization & Trust

• Despite the dotcom crisis (2000-2001), online retail continues to grow.
• Introduction of Trusted Shops, PayPal and rating systems strengthens trust.
• Mail order is increasingly replaced by online retail.
• Price comparison portals such as idealo.de are created.
• Major brands launch their own online stores (Nike, Apple, H&M etc.).

2010s: Mobile & Platform Economy

• Smartphones and apps change everything - “mobile commerce” becomes dominant.
• Social media becomes a sales platform: Instagram shopping, Facebook Marketplace.
• Amazon Prime revolutionizes shipping speed.
• Alibaba, Zalando, Etsy, Shopify are growing rapidly.
• Personalized advertising & big data make e-commerce ever more targeted.

2020s: Pandemic, Boom and Sustainability

• COVID-19 (from 2020): Huge growth spurt for online retail - older generations also get on board.
• Online grocery, click & collect, virtual fitting rooms become popular.
• Focus on sustainability, circular economy, second-hand platforms (e.g. Vinted).
• Artificial intelligence for product recommendations, chatbots, warehouse logistics.
• Live shopping & influencer commerce (e.g. TikTok Shopping) combine entertainment & purchasing.

Future: Where is E-commerce heading?

• Augmented reality (AR): Virtual fitting rooms & room planners.
• Voice commerce: shopping via voice assistants.
• Drone delivery & autonomous vehicles.
• Even stronger linking of online and offline worlds (omnichannel).
• Blockchain and cryptocurrencies as new payment models.

Source (2025): ChatGPT - History of the Ecommerce Industry