GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 20, 2026
E-commerce
E-commerce sets itself apart from brick-and-mortar retail in that the entire transaction – browsing, ordering, and payment – takes place on digital platforms, which demands a purpose-built logistics infrastructure.
Quick Answer
Last updated: Published:
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Commerce
Category
Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?
Reading time
1 min
Words
138
Mentioned in
20 articles
Definition & Explanation
E-commerce sets itself apart from brick-and-mortar retail in that the entire transaction – browsing, ordering, and payment – takes place on digital platforms, which demands a purpose-built logistics infrastructure. Fulfillment operations span inbound receiving, warehousing, order picking, packing, last-mile delivery, and returns processing, commonly running at high automation levels in dedicated fulfillment centers. For freight forwarders and third-party logistics providers, e-commerce contracts typically involve smaller consignment sizes, higher picking frequencies, and widely dispersed delivery addresses compared to bulk B2B shipments. Reverse logistics – the systematic handling of returned goods – constitutes a distinct cost center requiring dedicated workflows for sorting, quality checks, and restocking. Regulation is also catching up with e-commerce: in the EU, the Digital Services Act (DSA) obliges online marketplaces to identify traders under the Know Your Business Customer principle and remove unsafe or counterfeit products.
Next steps
Matching tools and partners
Related Terms
Mentioned in
Airports
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
/en/information/airports/addis-ababa-bole-international-airport-add
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
/en/information/airports/adolfo-suarez-madridbarajas-airport-mad
Adolino Bedin Regional Airport
/en/information/airports/adolino-bedin-regional-airport-smt
Aird Island Seaplane Base
/en/information/airports/aird-island-seaplane-base-airport-31568
Aksu Hongqipo Airport
/en/information/airports/aksu-hongqipo-airport-aku
Al Maktoum International Airport
/en/information/airports/al-maktoum-international-airport-dwc
Alaimo's Heliport
/en/information/airports/alaimos-heliport-airport-4378
Altenbeuthen UL
/en/information/airports/altenbeuthen-ul-airport-879
AmBev Jaguaríuna Heliport
/en/information/airports/ambev-jaguariuna-heliport-airport-15064
Anqing Tianzhushan Airport / Anqing North Air Base
/en/information/airports/anqing-tianzhushan-airport-anqing-north-air-base-airport-aqg
Athens Ben Epps Airport
/en/information/airports/athens-ben-epps-airport-ahn
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
/en/information/airports/athens-eleftherios-venizelos-international-airport-ath
⚖️ ICC Incoterms 2020
Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?
Analyze all 11 Incoterms 2020: cost matrix, risk timeline, insurance gap detector and customs responsibility – free, no login required.
Connect
Find a matching partner on this lane
Verified forwarders, ranked by coverage and profile — premium capped at 10%.
Related News
Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox
Free · No password · Never a paywall. Weekly top news and facts from logistics.