E-business and E-commerce – What Makes These Business Models Different

The early beginnings of e-business was in 1989, of which the most significant ecommerce website that rolled out is the Amazon online store built by Jeff Bezos in 1990. Ecommerce back then was actually only a part of the larger Internet-based commerce known as ebusiness.

Until later years, smartphone users got into the habit of buying various items online, from clothes, shoes, food, tickets, music and games, to registering for online services and investing in different financial instruments. E-commerce had actually taken roots during the years prior to the COVID-19 outbreak — but it took a pandemic for it to become the norm.

Whereas before, people still preferred to go to physical retail stores simply because shopping per se is a form of recreation. In addition, trying on or testing a product before buying it was the best way to make a purchase. However as the turn of events has it, online store websites became the mainstream representations of ecommerce.

Ecommerce therefore basically references the ecommerce websites serving as online retail spaces in the Internet where selling and buying activities between sellers and consumers take place. A website is an ecommerce store only if there is an established system and methods of payment and shipment of goods.

The e-business aspect, on the other hand, embraces the entire concept of running and maintaining an online platform on which to build, market and manage ecommerce websites and related physical spaces serving as stores, offices, warehouses and shipping points.

While an ecommerce website is wholly dependent on online sales, an ebusiness has different types of ecommerce websites and nature of online transactions as sources of revenues, including from brick and mortar customers who use cashless payment methods.

Most Popular Types of E-commerce Websites

Today, ecommerce is not just about online shoppers and retail store owners or resellers. Ecommerce websites can be categorized based on the type of organization/s or individuals involved and the interchangeable roles they play when transacting their buying and selling business online. Although there are as many as 11 types, the most popular are widely known in the ecommerce world via their acronyms: B2C, B2B, C2C and C2B. That being the case, the ecommerce development company in charge of developing a type of ecommerce website will have to take into account aspects that are relevant to their respective ecommerce roles

B2C or Business-to-Consumer

This is most well known to the average consumer as the sale of goods between sites are exchanges of goods or services between a supplier, distributor or wholesaler who does business with an entrepreneur looking to sell online on a retail basis.

B2B or Business-to-Business:

A B2B platform distinguishes the transaction that transpires as those entered by a manufacturer with suppliers, the logistics and supply chain sector and companies that handle local and global wholesale distribution of products.

C2C or Consumer-to-Consumer

A C2C is an ecommerce website that makes it possible for consumers to exchange or sell used or home-crafted valuable goods to interested consumers. Ebay and Etsy are classic examples of C2C ecommerce websites,

C2B or Consumer-to-Business

A C2B site involves individuals who usually offer services or intellectual property to businesses. Independent app developers, website developers, freelance SEO experts or creators of promotional materials like social media influencers paid by companies to boost the marketing promotions of their brand.