[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-foc-2x.svg","height":"96","width":"293","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/themes\/hybris_foc\/assets\/images\/layout\/logo-foc-2x.svg"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","name":"The Future of Commerce","addressCountry":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#Country","addressLocality":"Newtown Square","addressRegion":"PA","postalCode":"19073","streetAddress":"3999 West Chester Pike","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#PostalAddress"},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/","alternateName":"The Future of Commerce and Customer Engagement","additionalType":"news media","name":"The Future of Commerce","description":"News, information, and analysis on the future of commerce, including e-commerce, customer engagement, B2B, B2C, DTC, supply chain, sustainability, and purpose.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/4844282","https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/a-call-for-a-better-experience\/id1479742201","https:\/\/twitter.com\/FutureOfCEC","https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/feed\/"],"contactPoint":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#ContactPoint","legalName":"The Future of Commerce","parentOrganization":"https:\/\/www.sap.com\/index.html#Organization","numberOfEmployees":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/#QuantitativeValue","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/"},"description":"E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods or services via the internet, and the transfer of money and data to complete the sales.","datePublished":"2020-01-19","hasPart":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/e-commerce-trends-2023-infographic.svg","name":"e-commerce trends 2025","about":[{"@type":"Thing","name":"e-commerce","@id":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q484847"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"E-commerce","@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/E-commerce"}],"height":"6000","width":"800","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#ImageObject"},"about":[{"@type":"Thing","name":"B2B Commerce","@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/B2B_e-commerce#Thing"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"Direct-to-consumer (DTC)","@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Direct-to-consumer"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"B2C Commerce","@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Direct-to-consumer#Thing"},{"@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/E-commerce"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"e-Commerce","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Thing"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"Commerce","@id":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q26643#Thing"}],"subjectOf":{"@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":[{"@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Direct-to-consumer"},{"@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/E-commerce"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"direct-to-consumer (D2C)","@id":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q368344"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"e-commerce","@id":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q484847"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"Direct-to-consumer (DTC)","@id":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q5280224"},"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q26643"],"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is e-commerce","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","name":"What is e-commerce","text":"Ecommerce is the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. It involves the digital transfer of money and data to complete online transactions.","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Types of e-commerce business models","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>Following are the most common types of e-commerce businesses and examples of what they mean:<\/p> <ol> <li><strong>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 something from an online retailer.<\/li> <li><strong>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, or a wholesaler and a retailer. Business to business e-commerce isn&rsquo;t 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> <li><strong>Direct to Consumer (D2C):<\/strong> Direct to consumer e-commerce is the newest model of ecommerce, and trends within this category 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, TikTok, Facebook, SnapChat, etc. are popular platforms for direct to consumer sales.<\/li> <li><strong>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, and Fivver.<\/li> <li><strong>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> <li><strong>Business to Government (B2G):<\/strong> Also known as business-to-administration (B2A), business to government involves the sale of goods and services between the business sector as a supplier and a government entity as a customer. For example, government agencies may orders goods or services from external third-party contractors for cleaning and maintaining of public spaces like parks.<\/li> <li><strong>Consumer to Government (C2G):<\/strong> Also called consumer-to-administration (C2A), consumer to government enables consumers to provide feedback or request information regarding public agencies directly to the government administration or authorities. Examples include paying an electricity bill or taxes through a government website.<\/li> <\/ol>","name":"Types of e-commerce business models","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer1"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question1"},{"@type":"Question","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>Here are three type of goods you can sell online:<\/p> <ul> <li>Sale of physical goods: The sale of physical goods is the exchange of monetary value for the purchase of goods that are tangible and have physical mass, for example, merchandize. Physical goods include both durable ( e.g., cars, TVs, furniture) and non-durable goods (e.g., food and beverages).<\/li> <li>Sale of digital goods: The sale of digital goods involves the exchange of monetary value for purchase of good that are intangible and exist in digital form, such as digital media like audio files, video files, and e-books.<\/li> <li>Sale of services: The sale of services involves the exchange of monetary value in return for value to customers that want to achieve specific outcomes. Put another way, a service is a means of delivering value to customers by facilitating specific outcomes that customers expect to achieve. Examples of a service include transportation, healthcare, and education.<\/li> <\/ul>","name":"type of goods you can sell through an e-commerce business","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer2"},"name":"type of goods you can sell through an e-commerce business","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question2"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Most common types of e-commerce-business revenue models","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>Following are some the most common types of e-commerce business models:<\/p> <ul> <li><strong>Retail:<\/strong> Retail e-commerce is the sale of products or services through an online store directly to a consumer without an intermediary. This ecommerce delivery model is also referred to by other terms such as online retail, e-tail, electronic retail, or e-retail<\/li> <li><strong>Drop shipping:<\/strong> Drop shipping is the sale of products that are manufactured and shipped to consumers via a third party. The key difference from the retail ecommerce delivery model is that the selling party doesn&rsquo;t stock or own inventory.<\/li> <li><strong>Digital products:<\/strong> These are downloadable items like templates, courses, e-books, software, or media that must be purchased for use. Whether it's the purchase of software, tools, cloud-based products or digital assets, these represent a large percentage of ecommerce transactions.<\/li> <li><strong>White labeling:<\/strong> The white label business model involves a company selling products with its own branding but manufactured by others. After a customer places an order, the ecommerce company receives the white labeled product, applies their branding and packaging, then delivers the product to the customer.<\/li> <li><strong>Wholesaling:<\/strong> Wholesaling involves products sold in bulk. Wholesale products are usually sold to a retailer, who then sells the products to consumers.<\/li> <li><strong>Private labeling:<\/strong> Private labeling is a suitable approach for companies that may not have upfront capital or don't have their own manufacturing space to produce goods. Typically, private label ecommerce businesses send their plans to a contracted manufacturer, which manufactures the product. The manufacturer, also referred to as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), may also have the ability to ship directly to a customer or ship directly to the company receiving the order.<\/li> <li><strong>Services:<\/strong> These are skills like coaching, writing, and influencer marketing, that are purchased and paid for online.<\/li> <li><strong>Subscription:<\/strong> A popular D2C model, subscription services are recurring purchases of products or services on a regular basis.<\/li> <li><strong>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's then created and shipped.<\/li> <\/ul>","name":"Most common types of e-commerce-business revenue models","@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","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Online refers to a state or mode of being connected to the internet. The internet is a global network of interconnected computers that allows for the exchange of information, data, or communication through various digital channels. These channels can include websites, mobile apps, social media platforms, and other digital tools that enable people to access, share, and interact with content and services from around the world.","name":"Define online","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer4"},"name":"Define online","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question4"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is an e-commerce business?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"An e-commerce business is a company or enterprise that conducts commercial transactions online. This means that they sell products or services to customers through the internet, rather than through a physical storefront or other traditional channels. E-commerce businesses may operate exclusively online, or they may have a physical presence as well. Some examples of e-commerce businesses include online retailers, subscription services, digital marketplaces, and B2B companies that sell products or services to other businesses.","name":"What is an e-commerce business?","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer5"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question5"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is an ecommerce website?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"An e-commerce website is a digital platform that facilitates online transactions between businesses and consumers. These websites typically include product catalogs, shopping carts, payment processing systems, and other features that allow customers to browse, select, and purchase products or services. E-commerce websites may be designed for a specific niche or market, such as clothing, electronics, or home goods, or they may offer a wide range of products across multiple categories. Examples of popular e-commerce websites include amazon.com, walmart.com, and target.com.","name":"What is an ecommerce website?","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer6"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question6"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is an ecommerce store?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","name":"What is an ecommerce store?","text":"An e-commerce store is a type of online retail store that specializes in selling products or services directly to consumers through an e-commerce website. These stores may be operated by a single vendor or by multiple vendors, and may offer a wide range of products or specialize in a particular niche. E-commerce stores typically offer a user-friendly shopping experience with easy navigation, detailed product information, customer reviews, and secure payment options. Examples of e-commerce stores include Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Shopify. E-commerce stores have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the convenience and accessibility they offer to customers, as well as the lower overhead costs for business owners compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores.","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer7"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question7"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is commerce?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Commerce is the activity of buying and selling goods and services. It\u2019s how people and businesses trade products they have for ones they want or need. This can take place in physical locations, like stores, or online through websites. Commerce is important because it helps our economy grow and allows us to get the things we want.","name":"What is commerce?","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer8"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question8"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Benefits of e-commerce","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","name":"Benefits of e-commerce","text":"<ul> <li><strong>24\/7 accessibility:<\/strong> Shop anytime, anywhere.<\/li> <li><strong>Lower startup costs:<\/strong> Avoid expenses tied to physical retail.<\/li> <li><strong>Global reach:<\/strong> Sell to international customers without storefronts.<\/li> <li><strong>Product variety:<\/strong> Offer a wider selection online.<\/li> <li><strong>Personalized experiences:<\/strong> Use AI to tailor the buyer journey.<\/li> <li><strong>Customer retargeting:<\/strong> Re-engage shoppers with relevant offers.<\/li> <li><strong>Scalability:<\/strong> Grow without physical expansion limits.<\/li> <li><strong>Tech efficiency:<\/strong> Streamline operations and marketing with platforms.<\/li> <\/ul>","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer9"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question9"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Disadvantages of ecommerce","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p><strong>disadvantages of ecommerce include:<\/strong><\/p> <ul> <li><strong>Limited customer interaction:<\/strong> No face-to-face service or in-store support.<\/li> <li><strong>No try-before-you-buy:<\/strong> Shoppers can't physically test products online.<\/li> <li><strong>Delayed gratification:<\/strong> Customers must wait for delivery.<\/li> <li><strong>Technical issues:<\/strong> Site crashes or payment failures can impact revenue.<\/li> <li><strong>Security concerns:<\/strong> Online stores are vulnerable to data breaches.<\/li> <li><strong>High competition:<\/strong> Low barriers to entry mean crowded markets and price wars.<\/li> <\/ul>","name":"Disadvantages of ecommerce","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer10"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question10"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is ecommerce in simple words?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","name":"What is ecommerce in simple words?","text":"Ecommerce means buying and selling goods or services over the internet. It\u2019s how businesses and consumers make online transactions.","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Answer11"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#Question11"}],"abstract":"E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods 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.  Online selling has changed tremendously since it began; the evolution and history of e-commerce is fascinating \u2013 and it\u2019s advancing at an even quicker pace today.","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#FAQPage"},"dateModified":"2025-05-16","name":"What is ecommerce 2024? Electronic commerce definition, types, examples","headline":"What is ecommerce 2024? Electronic commerce definition, types, examples","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/thumbnail-d771a7f4e38fcf7614f297ea6c90f497-1200x370.jpeg","height":"370","width":"1200","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/thumbnail-d771a7f4e38fcf7614f297ea6c90f497-1200x370.jpeg"},"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"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"SpeakableSpecification","name":"What is e-commerce?","xpath":"\/\/span[@id=\"what-is-ecommerce\"]","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#SpeakableSpecification"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","about":[{"@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/E-commerce"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q484847"}],"speakable":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/01\/19\/what-is-e-commerce-definition-examples\/#SpeakableSpecification"},"abstract":"E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods or services via the internet, and the transfer of money and data to complete the sales. 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