When people think of ecommerce, they relate it to purchasing goods or services online. However, e-commerce is a wider subject. Also, there are many types of ecommerce. In this article are six main types. These are consumer-to-consumer ecommerce, business-to-consumer ecommerce, business-to-business, business-to-administration, consumer-to-business, and consumer-to-administration ecommerce.
Types of Ecommerce
All these types are different. They come with a specific target to meet online shopping or transaction needs. When some of them are consumer-oriented, others focus more on the business-to-business relationship. Here are the details of the different types with the benefits of ecommerce.
Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)
This type of ecommerce is related to all the electronic transactions made between the consumers. These transactions are made on online platforms. However, these are mostly conducted by using social media networks and some websites. When done through a website, it’s important to ensure they have a solid IT support in case something happens. This type is consumer-focused.
Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
The business-to-consumer type of ecommerce is one of the most common types. It defines the goal of online shopping. This type justifies its name and covers the relationship between consumers and businesses. Many people enjoy commerce and its features since it enables online shopping and creates a trustworthy environment between buyers and sellers. It will allow consumers to search and find the best price around. Also, it enables businesses to win the trust of their targets and develop a personalized relationship as well.
Business-to-Business (B2B)
This is different from the previous ones. When the first one is consumer-centric, this one is business-oriented. It refers to all those electronic transactions of sales and goods between companies and businesses. It mainly focuses on the relationship between manufacturers and wholesalers. Manufacturers produce the products and wholesalers promote them to get more buyers. In this type, the wholesaler sometimes gets preference in the competition. Another example is a business creating apparel for another business to sell.
Business-to-Administration (B2A)
This is a different type of ecommerce. This category relates to all those transactions made between the public administration and companies. Business-to-administration ecommerce is known for involving many services including legal documents, employment, and even social security. It deals with a lot of things and covers most of the areas.
Consumer-to-Business (C2B)
This is not the traditional form of ecommerce. This is a bit different and unique. C2B relates to all those transactions when the customers make their products and services available for the companies. Companies buy those products. You can take the example of a graphic designer customizing designs to printing a company’s logo, which the company will pay for.
Consumer-to-Administration (C2A)
This is one of the most popular types. Here the ecommerce deals with all the electronic transactions made between the public administration and consumers. A few examples of this type of ecommerce are filing tax returns and scheduling an appointment online with a health service provider.
Final Words
From the above, you might have a better understanding of the types of ecommerce. Now ecommerce is more than a business and consumer electronic transaction. It covers a lot of other things. However, the basics of all these types are an electronic transaction. The type will vary depending on the purpose of the transactions. Every electronic transaction has a goal and that decides the type of ecommerce.
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