Types of Ecommerce Services

Ecommerce Services can apply to a number of different business transactions performed over the Internet. The services you hire should match the type of business you are involved in; therefore a preliminary study of the market is highly advisable, before you start selecting the service provider most suitable for your needs. The most common Ecommerce Services can be categorized according to the following: business to business (B2B), business to consumer (B2C), consumer to business (C2B), business to employee B2E) and consumer to business (C2B).

Business to business (B2B):
Otherwise known as EDI, or electronic data interchange, business to business ecommerce services operate usually via the Internet. Two businesses are passing information electronically to each other. This form of business currently makes up ninety-four percent of all e-commerce transactions.

Business to consumer (B2C):
B2C Ecommerce Services operate solely via the Internet. In this form of business, the consumer has access to the supplier's system.

Consumer to business: (C2B):
Consumer to business ecommerce is a growing field, where the consumer requests specific information or service from a business online.

Business to Employee (B2E):
Ecommerce Services also refer to this form of business as "Intranet". B2E ecommerce is a website created for employees, in order to provide information on the organization. Intranet is usually operated by the organization's own network yet in some cases it can be extended to outside sources who use the Internet for access.

Consumer to consumer (C2C):
C2C Ecommerce Services offer auction sites, where consumers may place lists for purchase. Other consumers can access this information and bid for the goods or services listed. In most cases the site owner charges a transaction cost for the service.  

Although ecommerce businesses vary in the type of services they offer, this highly competitive field's common aim is to connect buyers and sellers through the international platform provided by the Internet.