Which industries were primarily transformed by the first wave of e-commerce?

The first wave of e-commerce, which emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s, primarily transformed industries that benefited greatly from online accessibility and ease of transaction. Air travel, books, and music were significantly impacted during this period.

Air travel saw a major transformation due to the ability of customers to book flights online, allowing for direct transactions and immediate access to flight schedules and pricing. This reduced the need for intermediaries such as travel agents.

Books were another industry that was revolutionized, prominently influenced by the rise of online bookstores like Amazon. It allowed consumers to easily find, compare, and purchase books from a vast selection without the limitations of physical store inventory.

The music industry at that time also started feeling the impacts of e-commerce through digital downloads and online purchasing, whereby consumers could buy individual songs or albums online, thus changing how music was distributed and consumed.

In contrast, while bill payments and real estate were also areas of e-commerce growth, they did not see the same level of transformation during the first wave as the aforementioned industries. Bill payments were not as widely adopted online initially, and real estate transactions typically require more complex regulations and processes that are less suited for a simple online transaction. Thus, the choice highlighting air travel