What is E-commerce: Everything You Need To Know

July 19, 2022
Contents

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, more and more businesses are moving online. And eCommerce is the most lucrative of all the business models you can transfer to the digital world.

What is eCommerce? In short, it is buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. But there's a lot more to it than that.

In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about this booming industry, including what makes an eCommerce store successful, its prospects, and more!

What is eCommerce?

E-commerce, or electronic commerce, is the buying and selling of goods and services online. You can do this through various means, such as online storefronts, auctions, marketplaces, and more.

E-commerce businesses can be either B2C (business to consumer) or B2B (business to business).

Learn more: Ecommerce Business Blueprint

How Does eCommerce Work?

E-commerce businesses use various technologies to enable customers to find and purchase their products and services online. This includes website development, payment processing, shipping, and customer service.

What Are The Benefits of eCommerce?

There are many benefits of e-commerce, both for businesses and consumers. For businesses, it enables them to reach a larger audience with their products and services.

It also allows them to operate 24/7 without needing brick-and-mortar stores. For consumers, it provides a convenient way to shop for goods and services from the comfort of their own homes.

Difference Between Ecommerce and E-Business

Ecommerce refers to buying and selling of goods and services online, while e-business refers to all business transactions that take place online. This includes things like marketing, customer service, and even human resources.

Advantages And Disadvantages of eCommerce

Before starting an online store, eCommerce has a few key advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of eCommerce

  • Ecommerce businesses have a lower barrier to entry than brick-and-mortar businesses. All you need is a website and some products to sell.
  • Ecommerce businesses can reach a larger audience than brick-and-mortar businesses. With an online store, you can sell to customers worldwide.
  • Ecommerce businesses have lower overhead costs than brick-and-mortar businesses. You don’t need to pay for rent, utilities, or staff.

Disadvantages of eCommerce

  • Ecommerce businesses are more vulnerable to online security threats than brick-and-mortar businesses.
  • Ecommerce businesses can be challenging to stand out from the competition. With so many online stores, it can be hard to attract customers to your store.
  • Ecommerce businesses can be reliant on search engine traffic. Getting customers to find your store can be challenging if you don’t have a good SEO strategy.

Why Ecommerce is So Important and Talked About: The Stats

Ecommerce is a rapidly growing industry, with projections that it will continue to grow in the future. Here are some statistics that highlight just how vital eCommerce is:

Types of e-commerce According to “Who” is Selling

1. Business to Consumer (B2C)

The best-known type of eCommerce. It is defined as companies that sell products or services directly to consumers through an online channel. The main advantage of B2C eCommerce is that it allows businesses to reach a larger audience with their products and services.

Some examples of B2C businesses are Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

B2C businesses can be further divided into the following subcategories:

  • Retail eCommerce: This type of eCommerce involves the sale of physical goods, such as clothes, electronics, and books.
  • Service eCommerce: This type involves selling services like travel or food delivery.
  • Media eCommerce: This type of eCommerce involves the sale of digital content, such as music, movies, and games.

B2C businesses can use various marketing strategies to reach their target markets, such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing (SMM), and content marketing.

2. Direct to Consumer (D2C)

D2C eCommerce is a type of B2C eCommerce where businesses sell their products or services directly to consumers without using an intermediary. The main advantage of D2C eCommerce is that it allows companies to build a direct relationship with their customers.

3. Business To Business (B2B)

B2B eCommerce is companies selling products or services to other businesses through an online channel. The main advantage of B2B eCommerce is that it allows businesses to reach a larger audience with their products and services.

Some examples of B2B businesses are Alibaba, Amazon Business, and eBay Business.

4. Consumer To Business (C2B)

C2B eCommerce is a type of B2C eCommerce where consumers sell products or services to businesses through an online channel. The main advantage of C2B eCommerce is that it allows companies to reach a larger audience with their products and services.

Some examples of C2B businesses are Airbnb and Fiverr.

5. Consumer To Consumer (C2C)

C2C eCommerce is a type of B2C eCommerce where consumers sell products or services to other consumers through an online channel. The main advantage of CtoC eCommerce is that it allows businesses to reach a larger audience with their products and services.

Some examples of C2C businesses are Craigslist, eBay, and Etsy.

Types of E-commerce According to “What” They Sell

1. Retailers Selling Physical Goods

The first and most prominent type of e-commerce company are retailers selling physical goods. These businesses sell products that can be shipped to the customer, such as clothes, electronics, books, and more.

The two main types of retail e-commerce are online stores and marketplaces. Some examples of retail eCommerce businesses are Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

2. Service-Based Businesses

The second type of e-commerce company is a service-based business. These businesses sell services they can deliver to customers, such as travel, food delivery, and more. The two main types of service e-commerce are online services and marketplace.

3. Digital Products

The third type of e-commerce company is businesses selling digital products. These businesses sell products that are delivered to the customer electronically, such as software, e-books, and more. The two main types of digital product e-commerce are online stores and subscriptions.

4. Wholesale Vendors

The fourth type of e-commerce company is wholesale vendors. These businesses sell products to other businesses at a bulk discount, such as office supplies, food ingredients, and more. The two main types of wholesale e-commerce are online stores and marketplace.

5. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an e-commerce business where the retailer does not keep any inventory of the products they sell. Instead, any customer order on the retailer’s website is forwarded to suppliers. These suppliers then ship all orders directly to the customer. 

Dropshipping businesses can either be in the form of online stores or sells their products on marketplaces.

Learn more: Dropshipping Guide

6. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a type of e-commerce business where businesses or individuals raise money from many people to finance a project or venture. Crowdfunding businesses can be either online stores or marketplace.

Some examples of crowdfunding platforms are Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe.

7. Subscription-Based Businesses

The seventh and final type of e-commerce company is subscription-based businesses. These businesses sell products or services regularly, such as monthly boxes, food delivery, and more. The two main types of subscription e-commerce are online stores and marketplace.

Some examples of subscription eCommerce businesses are Dollar Shave Club, Birchbox, and Spotify.

What Is an Ecommerce Website?

An eCommerce website is a website that allows customers to buy products or services online. Ecommerce websites are built using various technologies, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more.

To build an eCommerce website, you’ll need to choose a domain name and hosting plan, design your website, add products or services to your store, and set up a payment gateway.

If you’re unsure where to start, we recommend checking out our guide on building an eCommerce website.

E-Commerce Website Examples

Now that we’ve gone over what an eCommerce website is, let’s look at some examples.

Some of the most popular eCommerce websites are Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and AliExpress. These websites are all marketplace platforms that allow businesses to sell products to customers worldwide.

Amazon

Amazon is the world’s largest online marketplace. The company was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and started as an online bookstore.

Today, Amazon sells everything from books and electronics to clothing and furniture. The company also has a cloud computing business, Amazon Web Services, and a streaming service, Amazon Prime Video.

Walmart

Walmart is the world’s largest brick-and-mortar retailer. The company was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and today has over 11,000 stores worldwide.

Walmart sells various products, including groceries, home goods, and electronics. The company also has an eCommerce website that allows customers to buy products online.

Taobao

Taobao is a Chinese online marketplace owned by Alibaba Group. The company was founded in 2003 and has over 800 million active users.

Taobao sells various products, including clothes, electronics, and home goods.

The company also has an English version of its website, making it easy for international customers to buy products from Taobao.

Tmall

Tmall is a Chinese online marketplace owned by Alibaba Group. The company was founded in 2008 and has over 500 million active users. Tmall is a popular online shopping platform that sells many items, including apparel, electronics, and home products.

The company has an English version of its website, which makes it simple for international clients to purchase items on Tmall.

AliExpress

AliExpress is an online marketplace that was founded in 2010 by Jack Ma. The website allows businesses to sell products to customers all over the world.

AliExpress sells various products, including clothes, electronics, and home goods. The company also has a payment service, AliPay, that allows customers to pay for products with a credit card or bank account.

Learn more: Dropshipping With AliExpress

eBay

eBay is an online marketplace that was founded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar. The website allows businesses to sell products to customers all over the world.

eBay sells various products, including clothes, electronics, and home goods. The company also has a payment service, PayPal, that allows customers to pay for products with a credit card or bank account.

Flipkart

Flipkart is an Indian online marketplace founded in 2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. The website offers a wide range of goods, such as apparel, electronics, and house items.

Flipkart also has a payment service called Flipkart Pay that allows customers to pay for products with a credit card or bank account.

eCommerce Platform Examples

You’ll need to choose an eCommerce platform to start an online store. There are many different platforms available, and each has its features.

Some of the most popular eCommerce platforms are Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, and Carrd. These platforms allow businesses to create an online store and sell products to customers worldwide.

Shopify

Shopify is a comprehensive eCommerce platform that allows businesses to create an online store and sell products to customers worldwide. The platform offers many features, including a customizable checkout process, inventory management, and shipping options.

Magento

Magento is a popular eCommerce platform that allows businesses to create an online store and sell products to customers worldwide. The platform offers various features, including product management, order management, and shipping options.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress that allows companies to create an online store and sell products to customers globally. The platform offers a wide range of features, including a flexible checkout process, inventory management, and shipping options.

Carrd

Carrd is a simple eCommerce platform that allows businesses to create an online store and sell products to customers worldwide. The platform offers many features, including a customizable checkout process, inventory management, and shipping options.

Social Media Marketplaces

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have become popular places to buy and sell products. These platforms allow businesses to reach a large audience of potential customers.

Facebook Marketplace is a feature on the Facebook app that allows users to buy and sell items. The platform offers various categories, including clothes, electronics, and home goods.

Instagram is a popular photo-sharing app that also allows businesses to sell products. The platform offers a wide range of features, including product tagging, hashtags, and geotagging.

Unique Digital Platforms

In addition to the traditional eCommerce platforms, several unique digital platforms allow businesses to sell products.

Etsy and Amazon Handmade are two of the most popular platforms that allow businesses to sell handmade or vintage items. These platforms offers various product management, order management, and shipping options.

What Is Ecommerce Marketing?

Ecommerce marketing is driving traffic to an online store and converting that traffic into sales.

You can use several marketing channels to drive traffic to an eCommerce store, including paid advertising, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and email marketing.

FAQs: What is eCommerce

What is eCommerce in simple words?

Ecommerce is the buying and selling of goods and services online.

What is eCommerce, and show me its examples?

Ecommerce is the buying and selling of goods and services online. Some examples of eCommerce platforms include Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.

What are the 3 types of e-commerce?

The three types of eCommerce are business-to-business (B to B), business-to-consumer (B to C), and consumer-to-consumer (C to C).

What is an eCommerce business?

An eCommerce business is any business that sells products or services online.

What Makes an Ecommerce Store Successful?

Several factors contribute to the success of an eCommerce store. Some of the most important factors include:

  • A well-designed website
  • A user-friendly checkout process
  • A wide range of products
  • Competitive prices
  • Fast shipping times

Conclusion: Future of Ecommerce

The future of eCommerce is bright.

The industry is increasing in size and is expected to grow in the coming years.

Some of the trends that are shaping the future of eCommerce include:

  • The rise of mobile commerce
  • The growth of social media marketplaces
  • The increasing popularity of unique digital platforms
  • The expansion of global markets
  • The rise of artificial intelligence in eCommerce

The future of eCommerce is fascinating. With the continued growth of the internet and mobile devices, more companies will be able to reach a global audience of potential customers.

In addition, new technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality will allow companies to create unique shopping experiences for their customers.

With everything we've said above, there's no better time to start your own ecommerce business. What are you waiting for? Get started on your own ecommerce business and if you ever need help to create

Written By
Rifqi Renanda

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