1.电子商务：
电子商务是指通过电子网络手段互联网进行的买卖商品、交易等商业活动。在这种与产品的物理交互中是不可能的，这意味着客户只能看到产品的图像和视频并做出决定。客户可以轻松地与不同的供应商比较价格。如果客户要进行电子商务营销，那么他/她必须支付运费(但并非总是如此)以及产品成本。它具有广泛的消费者关注度和影响力，其范围是全球性的。
2. 零售：
零售是指通过商场、超级市场、百货公司等人对人的商业活动，向消费者进行少量的商业活动。在这种与产品的物理交互中，客户可以握住/触摸产品，感受产品并做出决定。客户无法轻易与不同供应商比较价格。如果客户要进行零售营销，那么他/她不需要支付运费，只有客户为他/她购买的产品支付费用。它没有那么大的消费者关注点和影响力，其范围仅限于特定地区。
电子商务与零售的区别：
| S.No. | E-COMMERCE | RETAIL |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | In e-commerce the commercial activities like buying and selling product, transactions etc are carried out through an electronic network means internet. | In Retail the commercial activities are carried out person to person commercial activities like malls, supermarts, departmental store to the consumer in a small quantity. |
| 02. | In e-commerce one customer can not physically interact with the product means customer can only see the image and videos of product and makes decision. | In retail one customer can physically interact with the product means customer can hold/touch the product, can feel the product and makes the decision. |
| 03. | In e-commerce a customer can not avail the product quickly as it takes some time to come to customer. | In retail a customer can avail a product quickly. |
| 04. | In commerce comparing price with different vendors is easy for a customer. | In retail comparing price with different vendors is not easy for a customer. |
| 05. | In e-commerce, shopping can be done at any time as there is no store time, just open e-commerce app and shop anytime. | In retail, shopping can only be done in the store hours, a customer can not shop after store hour. |
| 06. | A customer can speak to customer service staff during customer service hour. | A customer can speak to the retailer/employee during the store hour. |
| 07. | Customer does not need to travel to the retail store physically, all activities performed online just sitting at one place. | Customer needs to travel to the retail store physically for shopping. |
| 08. | If a customer is going for e-commerce marketing then he/she has to pay for the shipping cost (but not always) along with product cost. | If a customer is going for retail marketing then he/she does not need to pay for the shipping cost only customer pays for the product he/she has purchased. |
| 09. | In e-commerce a customer needs a digital device like smart phone, tablet or laptop/computer with internet connectivity to perform any commercial activities. | In retail a customer does not need a digital device like mart phone, tablet or laptop/computer and internet connectivity to perform any commercial activities. |
| 10. | E-commerce has a large consumer focus and reach and its scope is global. | Retail has not so large consumer focus and reach and its scope iis limited to a particular region. |
| 11. | E-commerce does not takes time to show the product to customer, just search the product and get the product. | Retail takes time to find products, sometimes it needs to ask the employee about the product. |
| 12. | E-commerce faces global marketing competition. | Retail faces local marketing competition. |
| 13. | E-commerce is not time consuming as searching for product is easy, making transaction is easy only arrival time depends. | Retail is time consuming as searching for product sometimes takes time along with maling payments but product availing is so fast. |