E-Commerce: Types and Examples

By Chidiere Oluoma

Macrovector (2020)

                                                                                

There are several types of e-commerce. In today's blog post we shall discuss these different types, as well as highlight a few examples.


  • Business-to-Business (B2B)

                                                                            
Rawpixel.com (2018)
                                                                                

This type of electronic commerce refers to "the electronic exchange of products, services or information between businesses rather than between businesses and consumers. Examples include online directories and product and supply exchange websites that let businesses search for products, services and information and initiate transactions through e-procurement interfaces. A Forrester report published in 2018 predicted that by 2023, B2B e-commerce will reach $1.8 trillion dollars and account for 17% of U.S. B2B sales." (Lutkevich et al., 2022) An example of B2B e-commerce website is Alibaba.

      Alibaba (2023) 


  • Business-to-Consumer (B2C) 

Rawpixel.com (2021)
                                                                            

This form of e-commerce is the "retail part of e-commerce on the internet. It is when businesses sell products, services or information directly to consumers. The term was popular during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, when online retailers and sellers of goods were a novelty." (Lutkevich et al., 2022)

Today, there currently exist numerous virtual stores online selling all kinds of consumer goods. "Amazon is the most recognized example of these sites. It dominates the B2C market." (Lutkevich et al., 2022)

Amazon (2023)
                                                                                                             


  • Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) 

Pikisuperstar (2019)


The C2C e-commerce "is a type of e-commerce in which consumers trade products, services and information with each other online. These transactions are generally conducted through a third party that provides an online platform on which the transactions are carried out.

Online auctions and classified advertisements are two examples of C2C platforms. EBay and Craigslist are two well-known examples of these platforms. Because eBay is a business, this form of e-commerce could also be called C2B2C -- consumer-to-business-to-consumer. Platforms like Facebook marketplace and Depop -- a fashion reselling platform -- also enable C2C transactions." (Lutkevich et al., 2022)

eBay (2023)
                                                                                                 

  • Government to Citizens / Consumers (G2C) 

Macrovector (2017)
                                                                                

According to Igi-global, "the electronic commerce activities performed between the government and its citizens or consumers, including paying taxes, registering vehicles, and providing information and services." (Igi-global 2023) An example of this type of e-commerce website is gov.uk.

                
Gov.uk (2023)

                                                                                                     


  • M-Commerce (Mobile Commerce) 

(Pch.vector 2021)
                                                                                    

"Mobile Commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services through wireless handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets. M-commerce is a form of e-commerce that enables users to access online shopping platforms without the use of a desktop computer. Over time, content delivery through wireless devices has become faster, more secure and scalable. As a result, mobile commerce has grown rapidly.” (Yasar, 2022)

“M-commerce encompasses three major approaches to mobility and business. Examples of m-commerce include in-app purchasing; mobile banking virtual marketplace apps, such as the Amazon mobile app; and digital wallets, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet.” (Yasar, 2022)

Samsung Wallet (2023)














Reference List

         Alibaba (2023) Find quality manufacturers, suppliers, exporters, importers, buyers, wholesalers, products and trade leads from our award-winning international trade site. Import & Export on Alibaba.com, Alibaba. Available at: https://www.alibaba.com/ (Accessed: January 27, 2023).

         Amazon (2023) Amazon.co.uk: Low prices in electronics, books, Sports Equipment & more, Amazon.co.uk: Low Prices in Electronics, Books, Sports Equipment & more. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ (Accessed: January 27, 2023).

         eBay (2023) Electronics, cars, fashion, Collectibles & More, eBay. Available at: https://www.ebay.com/ (Accessed: January 27, 2023).

         Gov.uk (2023) Welcome to gov.uk, Welcome to GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/ (Accessed: January 24, 2023).

          Igi-global (2023) What is government to consumer (G2C) e-commerce, IGI Global. Available at: https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/government-to-consumer-g2c-e-commerce/36253 (Accessed: January 17, 2023).

          Lutkevich, B., Chai, W. and Holak, B. (2022) What is e-commerce? definition and meaning, CIO. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/e-commerce (Accessed: January 17, 2023).

         Macrovector (2017) Free vector: Tax icons isometric, Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/tax-icons-isometric_1531171.htm#query=government&position=1&from_view=search&track=sph (Accessed: January 17, 2023).         

          Macrovector (2020) Online-shopping e-commerce flache symbole MIT smartphone tablet laptop Korb Kreditkartenzahlung eingestellt: Kostenlose Vektor, Freepik. Available at: https://de.freepik.com/vektoren-kostenlos/online-shopping-e-commerce-flache-symbole-mit-smartphone-tablet-laptop-korb-kreditkartenzahlung-eingestellt_7497409.htm#page=2&query=e-commerce&position=37&from_view=search&track=sph (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

         Pch.vector (2021) Free vector: Hand holding smartphone and paying online, Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-holding-smartphone-paying-online_13146317.htm#query=mobile%20commerce&position=49&from_view=search&track=sph (Accessed: January 17, 2023).

         Pikisuperstar (2019) Free vector: Online shopping concept for landing page, Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/online-shopping-concept-landing-page_4661431.htm#page=5&query=customer%20to%20customer&position=29&from_view=search&track=ais (Accessed: January 17, 2023).

          Rawpixel.com (2018) Geschäftsleute, die Statistik-Finanzkonzept Analysieren: Kostenlose Foto, Freepik. Available at: https://de.freepik.com/fotos-kostenlos/geschaeftsleute-die-statistik-finanzkonzept-analysieren_2862239.htm#query=b2b&position=9&from_view=search&track=sph (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

          Rawpixel.com (2021) Business-to-customer-consumer-commerce-kontaktkonzept: Kostenlose Foto, Freepik. Available at: https://de.freepik.com/fotos-kostenlos/business-to-customer-consumer-commerce-kontaktkonzept_16442834.htm#query=b2c&position=15&from_view=search&track=sph (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

         Samsung Wallet (2023) Samsung Wallet: Apps & Services, Samsung uk. Available at: https://www.samsung.com/uk/apps/samsung-wallet/ (Accessed: January 27, 2023).

         Yasar, K. (2022) M-commerce (mobile commerce), Mobile Computing. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/m-commerce (Accessed: January 17, 2023).

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