[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","dateModified":"2021-08-03T16:22:00Z","description":"E-commerce is the online buying and selling of good or services. Learn the strategies and examples of the best e-commerce sites out there.","about":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q484847","datePublished":"2020-01-19T18:30:00Z","name":"What is e-commerce? Definition, benefits, examples","headline":"What is e-commerce? Definition, benefits, examples","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/cdn-bijap.nitrocdn.com\/AuMaQmessFRMSicXmZsEecJFLEquAyoT\/assets\/static\/optimized\/rev-e2a36b3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/D2C-Commerce-Infographic-FCEE.png","height":"4600","width":"800","@id":"https:\/\/cdn-bijap.nitrocdn.com\/AuMaQmessFRMSicXmZsEecJFLEquAyoT\/assets\/static\/optimized\/rev-e2a36b3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/D2C-Commerce-Infographic-FCEE.png"},{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/thumbnail-d771a7f4e38fcf7614f297ea6c90f497-1200x630.jpeg","height":"630","width":"1200","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/thumbnail-d771a7f4e38fcf7614f297ea6c90f497-1200x630.jpeg"}],"hasPart":{"@type":"FAQPage","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/","name":"What is e-commerce? Definition, benefits, examples","dateCreated":"2020-01-19","description":" E-commerce is the online buying and selling of good or services. Learn the strategies and examples of the best e-commerce sites out there. ","about":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/E-commerce","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is e-commerce?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","name":"What is e-commerce?","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/","text":"

What is e-commerce? E-commerce is the buying and selling of good or services via the internet, and the transfer of money and data to complete the sales. It\u2019s also known as electronic commerce or internet commerce.<\/p>","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer1"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/08\/17\/b2b-e-commerce-pricing\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question1"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Types of e-commerce","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/D2C-Commerce-Infographic-FCEE.png","height":"4600","width":"800","@id":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/D2C-Commerce-Infographic-FCEE.png"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/","name":"Types of e-commerce","text":"

As commerce continues to evolve, so do the ways that it\u2019s conducted.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Following are the most traditional types of e-commerce models:<\/span><\/span><\/p>

    1. Business to Consumer (B2C):<\/strong> B2C e-commerce is the most popular e-commerce model. Business to consumer means that the sale is taking place between a business and a consumer, like when you buy a rug from an online retailer.<\/span><\/span><\/li>
    2. Business to Business (B2B):<\/strong> B2B e-commerce refers to a business selling a good or service to another business, like a manufacturer and wholesaler<\/a>, or a wholesaler and a retailer. Business to business e-commerce isn\u2019t consumer-facing, and usually involves products like raw materials, software, or products that are combined. Manufacturers also sell directly to retailers via B2B ecommerce.<\/li>
    3. Direct to Consumer (D2C):<\/strong> Direct to consumer e-commerce is the newest model of ecommerce, and trends within this category<\/a> are continually changing. D2C means that a brand is selling directly to their end customer without going through a retailer, distributor, or wholesaler. Subscriptions are a popular D2C item, and social selling via platforms like InstaGram, Pinterest, Facebook, SnapChat, etc. are popular platforms for direct to consumer sales.<\/li>
    4. Consumer to Consumer (C2C):<\/strong> C2C e-commerce refers to the sale of a good or service to another consumer. Consumer to consumer sales take place on platforms like eBay, Etsy, Fivver, etc.<\/li>
    5. Consumer to Business (C2B):<\/strong> Consumer to business is when an individual sells their services or products to a business organization. C2B encompasses influencers offering exposure, photographers, consultants, freelance writers, etc..<\/li> <\/ol> <\/li> <\/ol>","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer2"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/08\/17\/b2b-e-commerce-pricing\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question2"},{"@type":"Question","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/08\/17\/b2b-e-commerce-pricing\/","name":"What is e-commerce: Examples","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/","name":"What is e-commerce: Examples","text":"

      Here are some examples of types of e-commerce:<\/p>

      1. Retail:<\/strong> The sale of products directly to a consumer without an intermediary.<\/span><\/span><\/li>
      2. Dropshipping<\/a>:<\/strong> The sale of products that are manufactured and shipped to consumers via a third party.<\/span><\/span><\/li>
      3. Digital products:<\/strong> Downloadable items like templates, courses, e-books, software, or media that must be purchased for use. Whether it\u2019s the purchase of software, tools, cloud-based products or digital assets, these represent a large percentage of ecommerce transactions.<\/li>
      4. Wholesale:<\/strong> Products sold in bulk. Wholesale<\/a> products are usually sold to a retailer, who then sells the products to consumers.<\/li>
      5. Services:<\/strong> These are skills like coaching, writing, influencer marketing, etc., that are purchased and paid for online.<\/li>
      6. Subscription:<\/strong> A popular D2C model<\/a>, subscription services are the recurring purchases of products or services on a regular basis.<\/li>
      7. Crowdfunding:<\/strong> Crowdfunding allows sellers to raise startup capital in order to bring their product to the market. Once enough consumers have purchased the item, it\u2019s then created and shipped.<\/li> <\/ol>","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer3"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question3"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Benefits of e-commerce","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/","name":"Benefits of e-commerce","text":"

        Online commerce offers a plethora of benefits, from selling everywhere to personalized experiences that drive loyalty \u2013 and e-commerce provides a 24\/7 storefront.<\/p>Let\u2019s look at some of the biggest benefits of e-commerce:<\/strong>

          1. Convenience: <\/strong>Online commerce<\/a> makes purchases simpler, faster, and less time-consuming, allowing for 24-hour sales, quick delivery, and easy returns.<\/span><\/span><\/li>
          2. Personalization and customer experience: <\/strong>E-commerce marketplaces can create rich user profiles that allow them to personalize the products offered and make suggestions for other products that they might find interesting. This improves the customer experience by making shoppers feel understood on a personal level, increasing the odds of brand loyalty.<\/li>
          3. Global marketplace: <\/strong>Customers from around the world can easily shop e-commerce sites<\/a> \u2013 companies are no longer restricted by geography or physical barriers.<\/li>
          4. Minimized expenses: <\/strong>Since brick and mortar is no longer required, digital sellers can launch online stores with minimal startup and operating costs.<\/li> <\/ol> <\/li> <\/ol>","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer4"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/08\/17\/b2b-e-commerce-pricing\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question4"}],"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#FAQPage"},"author":{"@type":"Person","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/jenn-vande-zande\/","name":"Jenn Vande Zande","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/jennvzande","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jennvandezande"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2019\/07\/11\/what-does-crm-mean\/#Person"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-new-2x.png?_=1","height":"96","width":"500","@id":"https:\/\/23x6xj3o92m9361dbu2ij362-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-new-2x.png?_=1"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/","additionalType":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q1193236","name":"The Future of Customer Engagement and Experience","description":"Relevant, timely information & analysis on commerce trends, both consumer-facing and B2B.","sameAs":["https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/a-call-for-a-better-experience\/id1479742201","https:\/\/twitter.com\/FutureOfCEC","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/4844282","https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/feed\/"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"19","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/\/01\/\/19\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"What is e-commerce? Definition, benefits, examples","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]