E-Commerce
E-commerce is the online selling of products or services over the internet. It’s a type of business model where businesses sell their goods and services directly to consumers over the Internet. In e-commerce, the consumer buys products or services directly from the company rather than going through a traditional retail store. There are 9 Main types of E-commerce mentioned below.
9 Types Of E-commerce
1. B2B
B2B stands for Business to Business. A B2B marketplace is a platform that connects buyers and sellers together. Sellers list their product or service offerings on the platform, while buyers search for specific items. Buyers then contact the seller once they find what they’re looking for.
2. B2C
A B2C (Business to Consumer) marketplace is similar to a B2B market except that the buyer contacts the seller instead of the other way around. The business-to-consumer (B2C) model involves the retail aspect of e-commerce, i.e. selling goods and/or services to end consumers through digital means. Consumers can review their proposed purchases before placing an order with the facility, which has taken the business world by storm. Once such orders are placed, the company/agent receiving them will deliver the items to the consumer within a convenient timeframe. There are a number of well-known businesses operating in this channel, including Amazon, Flipkart, etc.
As compared to traditional methods, this method has proven to be beneficial to consumers, since they have access to useful content which can guide their purchase decisions.
3. C2C
C2C stands for Consumer to Consumer. A C2C marketplace is a platform that enables consumers to buy and sell products and services directly to each other. Consumers post listings of their products or services for sale, and potential customers browse these listings. Once interested parties reach out to the consumer, the transaction takes place.
4. C2B
C2B stands for Consumer to Business. The C2B model is exactly the opposite of the B2C model. While the latter is provided to consumers by businesses, the C2B model allows consumers to sell their products and services to companies. A popular use of this method is in crowdsourcing projects in which logos are designed, royalty-free photos/media/design elements are sold, etc.
5. B2A
B2A stands for Business to Administration. This model allows companies and public administrations to exchange information online via central websites through online transactions. In addition, it offers businesses the opportunity to bid on government opportunities, such as auctions, tenders, and application submissions. Because of the investments made toward e-government, the scope of this model has been expanded.
6. C2A
C2A stands for Consumer to Administration. Consumers can use the C2A platform for requesting information or providing feedback directly to government authorities/administrations concerning public sectors. It can be applied to the following areas:
- The dissemination of information.
- Distance learning.
- Remittance of statutory payments.
- Filing of tax returns
- Seeking appointments, information about illnesses, payment of health services, etc.
7. P2P
P2P stands for Peer to Peer. A P2P marketplace is a platform that facilitates transactions between individuals who want to exchange goods and services. Individuals create profiles listing their skills, interests, and desired compensation levels. Potential partners can then review those profiles before contacting the individual. Once the two parties agree on terms, they complete the transaction via the marketplace.
8. OTC
OTC stands for Over the Counter. An OTC marketplace is a platform that matches buyers and sellers based on their geographic location. Buyers can browse listings of local vendors and purchase goods and services directly from them.
9. FBA
FBA stands for Free Base Allocation. An FBA marketplace is a platform that provides a central location for companies to list their products for free. Buyers can browse the inventory listed on the site and purchase the item at a discounted price.
