Electronic commerce is a business model that uses digital media (web pages, applications, social networks, among others) for the purchase and sale of products and services.
With the growth of electronic commerce in the world and in Latin America; One of the first lessons you will have when entering the world of internet sales is that there are different types of e-commerce.
Each of these types of electronic business opens up various possibilities for commercial exchanges between large companies, large and small, individuals and even governments.
In this article we will list the types of e-commerce with examples that exist in the world of online sales, from the most common, to some that you may never have heard of. We will also explore some examples of each, to understand them a little better.
All ready? Let us begin!
What is electronic commerce?
Electronic commerce or e-commerce (term in English that comes from electronic commerce). It refers to the business transactions conducted entirely online. From the choice of the product or service —through digital catalogs or e-commerce, marketplace, social networks, etc.— to the completion of the order, the entire process is carried out digitally.
In this type of trade, the only stage in the physical world is logistics to buyers.
In addition to purchasing processes, electronic commerce is mainly based on the dissemination and promotion of products or services —since both can be sold online— through digital marketing. Therefore, this part of attracting customers is also usually done through the internet.
How many types of commerce are there on the internet?
The four main groups of electronic commerce are:
- B2B (Business to Business)
- B2C (Business to Consumer)
- C2B (Consumer to Business)
- C2C (Consumer to Consumer)
However, technological advances have helped Internet sales reach more and more industries. This expansion has resulted in the emergence of new e-commerce categories.
Next, let’s explore together each of the types of e-commerce with examples of them and opportunities for each. 🛒
14 types of electronic commerce and examples
- B2B electronic commerce – Business to Business
- C2B eCommerce – Consumer to Business
- B2C electronic commerce – Business to Consumer
- E-commerce C2C – Consumer to Consumer
- Electronic commerce G2C – Government to Consumer
- B2G or B2A electronic commerce – Business to Government or Business to Administration
- E-commerce B2E – Business to Employee
- Electronic commerce D2C – Direct to Consumer
- Own e-commerce or own online store
- social commerce
- mobile commerce
- Marketplace
- Electronic commerce of physical products
- Electronic commerce of services
- Electronic commerce of digital products
Now let’s review each of the e-business types in detail and the examples we have for you. Are you ready?
1. B2B eCommerce
For its acronym in English, business-to-business (business to business) refers to a business transaction between two companies that have presence and operations on the internet. End consumers are not involved in this type of business.
In order to participate in this type of electronic commerce, it is advisable to have previous experience in commercial relationships with other brands. It is also suggested to have one robust enough to be able to satisfy the needs of the clients, that is, the other companies.
Another important point is to make sure your tax situation is in order, so you will not have problems operating, issuing invoices and declaring taxes.
B2B Ecommerce Examples
Some of the most common examples in B2B e-commerce are:
- A company that makes wholesale purchases from another company.
- Platforms to create and manage online stores, such as .
- An online store that acts as an intermediary between a supplier and end customers. This business model is known as .
The Tiendanube Iduven, for example, is a B2B company that is dedicated to the sale of products and supplies for businesses throughout Mexico.
2. C2B eCommerce
electronic commerce Consumer to Business (consumer to business) refers to those transactions in which consumers or professionals who work independently offer their services or products to companies.
This type of electronic commerce has become increasingly common, thanks to the use of digital media such as blogs, social networks, videos and podcasts.
C2B Ecommerce Examples
Here are some examples of this type of e-commerce.
- A photographer, professional or amateurwhich sells its photos to an image bank like .
- A person who participates in market research paid for by brands.
- An influencer who receives a commission for each person who visits a link posted on one of their social networks.
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3. B2C eCommerce
electronic commerce business-to-consumer (business to consumer) promotes commercial relationships between businesses of any size and consumers. The and the marketplaces fall into this category.
This type of trade is aimed at satisfying the needs of the end customer, so customer service should be a priority for companies that are part of this classification.
B2C Ecommerce Examples
In B2C businesses we find intermediaries that facilitate the commercial exchange between company and client, some examples of this type of e-commerce are:
- .
- The virtual store of a company that sells retail, such as Walmart.
- Companies like Spotify or Netflix, which offer a service to their customers.
An example of a Tiendanube in B2C e-commerce is , an independent publisher that seeks new horizons in publishing illustrated works for children, youth and adults.
4. C2C eCommerce
The (Consumer-to-Consumer) occurs when the transaction takes place between consumers and there is no type of company involved. It is a more informal transaction and, regularly, at lower prices than in other types of commerce.
Examples of C2C eCommerce
In this category it is possible to find different examples of C2C companies that offer their platforms for the sale of new or used products such as:
- A person who advertises his car on the Facebook Marketplace or on used product sales platforms, such as in Mexico.
- Sites like Etsy or eBay, where anyone can register and sell their products.
- Airbnb is also a C2C trade exampleas it facilitates transactions between individuals.
- The of Facebook or the groups where people resell their products are another example that is gaining more and more strength. They are usually the first step of entrepreneurs.
Learn more…
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5. G2C eCommerce
Government-to-Consumer (government to consumer) or also A2C (Administration to Consumer). It is the type of electronic commerce in which digital monetary transactions are carried out between governments or administrations and consumersthrough official portals.
As for the advantages of this type of commerce —in addition to the security and speed of carrying out procedures— it is that the consumer has access to the payment platforms at any time and from any place.
G2C Examples
At first glance, it may seem difficult to find examples of G2C e-commerce, but the reality is that almost everyone has used them at some point.
Meet some below:
- Digital procedures with cost, for example, the payment of the driver’s license.
- The payment of vehicle fines or water rights.
- A business that pays its taxes through the SAT portal is another G2C example.
The site of the , where you can make payments and procedures online, is a clear example of G2C electronic commerce.
6. B2G or B2A electronic commerce
The category business-to-government (business to government), also known as Business to Administration (B2A) is one in which a government entity purchases digital goods or services from businesses through electronic commerce.
Examples of B2G or B2A
This type of e-commerce is much more common than you imagine, here are some examples for you to check:
- A design firm developing the identity for a government campaign.
- When the government hires a company to develop a website.
- The sale of urban furniture for the improvement of a public area.
7. B2E eCommerce
electronic commerce Business-to-Employee (business to employee) refers to purchases that companies make for their employees.
This is a fairly common strategy in the world of work, especially in competitive markets where there is a lot of staff turnover.
B2E Examples
- When a company pays for the license of a software so your employees can use it.
- The payment of the medical expenses insurance that a company makes for its employees.
- The purchase of equipment that a company makes so that its employees can work remotely.
8. D2C eCommerce
Of English “Direct-to-consumer” (direct to the consumer. This type of business is not always talked about because it is similar to B2C, the difference between D2C and B2C is that the manufacturer sells directly to the final consumer. Of course, you can use another type of business such as business-to-consumer through stores that distribute their products or even business to business. The main advantage is that the prices are lower, since the sales commission is eliminated.
D2C Examples
- Technology brands like Apple or Samsung that have their own online stores.
- Nike and Adidas are another example of brands that implement this type of commerce online and offline.
- Restaurants that have home sales and take care of delivery are also an example.
9. Own e-commerce
From here on, we will mention those types of commerce that do not belong to the division according to the type of client (the previous eight types). E-commerce is a type of electronic business from the platform type category.
It consists of its own digital space where customers can buy the products or services we offer. Also known as an online store, it is a sales channel that makes time and costs efficient.
It is usually an alternative sales channel for many brands, but for others it is their main and only form of business. Like any website, an ecommerce must have a responsive design. This means that it is capable of adapting to different sizes of devices (later you will discover the…
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