Segments within e-commerce

e-commerce broadly operates in any of the following areas. Please remember, this is as per developments till date. There may be more sectors within e-commerce tomorrow

Business-to-Consumer or B2C segment - This segment involves a business as seller at one side and a consumer (end-user) as buyer at the other side. Typical example of B2C is a retail shop. The seller may be selling products (e.g. gifts, foodstuff, books etc.) or services (information service on jobs, education, entertainment services like music/video play etc.). Like retail, the transactions are marked by low value and high volume. Payments are usually made through credit card and goods delivered through courier or on-line (software)

Business-to-Business or B2B segment - This segment involves a business at both ends of transaction. Unlike the B2C segment, the buyer and seller both are business organizations. Examples of B2B segment are supply or distribution chain management by manufacturing companies (e.g. purchase manager of the manufacturing company placing orders to suppliers or sales manager transferring finished goods to dealers) The transactions are high in value and low in volume. The payment method is generally bank to bank money transfer.

The Great Indian Bazaar operates in B2B segment where volume buyers of Indian products meet bulk sellers or exporters through The Bazaar platform

Consumer-to-Consumer or C2C segment - This segment has a consumer at both ends of transaction. For example, you are going on vacation and want to make some money by renting your car for the period. So you put an advertisement, get a suitable consumer, strike a deal for those extra cash. This is a typical C2C transaction.

C2C e-commerce hasn't really arrived so far, though it has the potential to become most vibrant of all e-commerce segments