E-Commerce - Disadvantages

E-Commerce disadvantages can be broadly classified in two major categories:

• Technical disadvantages
• Non-Technical disadvantages

Technical Disadvantages

• There can be lack of system security, reliability or standards owing to poor implementation of e-Commerce.
• Software development industry is still evolving and keeps changing rapidly.
• In many countries, network bandwidth might cause an issue as there is insufficient telecommunication bandwidth available.
• Special types of web server or other software might be required by the vendor setting the e-commerce environment apart from network servers.
• Sometimes, it becomes difficult to integrate E-Commerce software or website with the existing application or databases.
• There could be software/hardware compatibility issue as some E-Commerce software may be incompatible with some operating system or any other component.

Non-Technical Disadvantages

• Initial cost: The cost of creating / building E-Commerce application in-house may be very high. There could be delay in launching the E-Commerce application due to mistakes, lack of experience.
• User resistance: User may not trust the site being unknown faceless seller. Such mistrust makes it difficult to make user switch from physical stores to online/virtual stores.
• Security/ Privacy: Difficult to ensure security or privacy on online transactions.
• Lack of touch or feel of products during online shopping.
• E-Commerce applications are still evolving and changing rapidly.
• Internet access is still not cheaper and is inconvenient to use for many potential customers like one living in remote villages.