What is physical commerce?

Physical commerce encompasses all aspects of buying and selling of tangible (physical) goods, whereas electronic commerce focuses on intangible assets such as software and services. Both terms often refer to online transactions. With the rise of the Internet, e-commerce has gained prominence, but these terms are not identical, and physical stores and brick-and-mortar remain relevant parts of commerce.

Comparison

| Characteristic | Physical Commerce | Electronic Commerce |

|------------------------------ |------------------------------- |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |

| Nature | Tangible assets | Intangible assets |

| Transaction medium | Offline, physical stores | Internet |

| Transaction type | Buying/selling physical goods | Buying/selling digital goods or services, like software and entertainment |

| Examples | Department store, grocery shop | Online shopping, app stores |

| Limitations | Geographic reach is limited | Global reach |

| Security | Requires physical infrastructure | Vulnerable to cyber threats |

| Convenience | Immediate product availability | Delivery/download delays; requires internet access |

| Impact | Environmental consequences | Lower carbon footprint |

| Integration | Can incorporate online aspects | Seamlessly integrated with online elements |

| Evolution | Traditional model | Relatively recent development |