E-Business vs. E-Commerce - what's the difference

Why do we have 2 words if they are largely the same process?

[Webwork]

If e-commerce is "selling online" then what is e-business?

I need to draw out the distinction for a project I'm about to start.

Who "does" e-business and what do you do that isn't e-commerce?

Ignoring the terminology doesn't really work. Then I just have to say "online commerce", but, it seems to me that the Web has changed and will continue to change business practices, business processes and business models.

Anyone care to help explain the distinguishing characteristics of e-com vs. e-biz?

[jbinbpt]

Interesting question..... My initial reaction is an e-business is an on-line business only and e-commerce is an extension of a traditional business model.
jb

[Hawkgirl]

The Center for eBusiness at MIT [ebusiness.mit.edu] talks about e- business as "Internet-enabled business." Then they go on to use it interchangably with e-commerce.

I'd say that e-commerce is selling over the web; e-business is doing business that otherwise couldn't be done without the web. I have some examples in mind but nothing general enough to be able to post here at WebmasterWorld.com. :)

[peterdaly]

This is my definition...so take it for what it's worth.

E-Commerce - The act of selling a good or service online.

E-Business - A business processes using technology to automate or improve the way a business processes works. E-Commerce can be, and manytimes is, part of E-Business.

Sending inventory or sales information electronically is ebusiness. Low inventory kicking off a complete order for more products is an e-commerce aspect in an e-business process.

Put another way, I see e-commerce as when a monetary exchange (money for product) transaction takes place. No direct money exchange? Then it's e-business.

[fashezee]

E-Business - A business processes using technology to automate or improve the way a business processes works. E-Commerce can be, and manytimes is, part of E-Business.

Bingo!

It is much more important to have a good E-Business Strategy
then to have E-Commerce.