Products or services directly to individuals, such as purchasing clothing or electronics from an online store. Although it may seem the most widespread, the global B2B market is approximately twice as large as the B2C market.
Consumer to Consumer (C2C)
This model resembles open markets or online auctions, where individuals sell products to each other. These products may be handmade items such as arts and crafts, or used goods resold by their owners.
Consumer to Business (C2B)
In this model, individuals provide value to companies, for example:
- Sell photos to photo platforms.
- Earn money by reviewing products.
- Selling products or services to businesses, such as freelancers offering their services online Business to Government (B2G)
Also known as B2A, it includes transactions between businesses and government agencies. For example:
- A cleaning company may submit electronic bids to win a government building cleaning contract.
- A technology company offers solutions for managing a city’s IT infrastructure. Government to Consumer (C2G)
When individuals pay government fees or dues online, they participate in C2G. Examples include:
- Pay traffic violations or taxes through government websites.
- Purchasing goods from online auctions run by official authorities.
Advantages of e-commerce for beginners compared to traditional stores
E-commerce for beginners offers many advantages over traditional stores, making it an attractive option for small business start-ups and entrepreneurs. Here are some of the most important advantages:
lower cost
E-commerce doesn’t require a large investment in real estate or store rent, as well as labor and warehousing, which increases profit margins, especially for small businesses.
High flexibility
Customers can shop anytime, even outside of traditional store hours. Business owners can manage their stores from anywhere and with a flexible schedule.
Easier and more accurate marketing
E-commerce stores provide data analysis tools that help measure performance and improve digital marketing strategies, such as targeting the right customer segments via email or targeted advertising.
Ease of creating store and product listings
Sellers can quickly create their product listings with customizable images, descriptions, prices, and shipping costs, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions with ease.
Easily compare prices and products
Customers can quickly compare products and prices online, helping them make smart purchasing decisions and allowing sellers to easily keep track of market trends and competitors.