E-Commerce in China: The emergence, evolution and development of e-commerce during COVID-19

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce has rapidly changed the world, including China, which seems to be leading these changes. This research paper covers the origins, development, transformation, and pace of the e-commerce sector in the People’s Republic of China, with a special focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. The study notes the major factors responsible for the brisk rate of e-commerce growth, which include changes in population catchment area characteristics, improvements in information technology, and new forms of behavior shaped by the pandemic. It reveals the reasons that have contributed to the rapid growth of e-commerce in the area, explains how businesses responded to changes in clients’ tendencies during the quarantine, and presents major players and new ideas that surfaced during that time. This study is based on desk research, utilizing various reports, surveys, and academic works published between the years 2020-2024. It examines essential figures, industry key players, government effects, and consumers during the pandemic period. These findings show that the COVID-19 epidemic accelerated the pace of changes that were already taking place in the e-commerce industry, with the expansion of online shopping in numerous sectors, including groceries, electronics, and services. Additionally, the enhancement of the digital payment system, coupled with the rise of live streaming commerce, has emerged as two of the major dynamics in this new environment. The present debate emphasizes the relevance of these developments for companies and policymakers and discusses the threats and opportunities that the expanding e-commerce sphere in China presents. To sum it up, the paper argues that COVID-19 has, in a way, reoriented e-commerce in China, further embedding it into the global schema of the economic dynamics of the country.