The 3 Types of E-commerce and the Top Platforms

If you’re looking to sell goods online, you need to know your goals, your target audience, and where you can succeed. If you don’t know what type of e-commerce you’re engaging in and the best platforms, you could run into far more obstacles along the way compared to if you create a clear path with modern e-commerce trends.

To help you understand what path you should follow, here are the three types of e-commerce and the top platforms used for each.

1. B2B

Business-to-business is when businesses sell services to one another.

Adobe is known for its Creative Suite, but it also created e-commerce software that’s a big hit with B2B sellers. Adobe Commerce (Magento) has many features that help big brands get their products to buyers on one platform.

Adobe is known for products that are rigorous yet complex. Amasty services support businesses that are scaling by providing services to improve their Magento storefronts.

If you’re operating as a business and creating products for other businesses, working with a more customizable platform like Magento may be ideal for the best results.

2. B2C

A business-to-consumer model is when a business sells a good or service to an individual, like going to a mall to buy shoes.

In 2020, the use of e-commerce skyrocketed, and the amount of time consumers spend on their phones is rising and increasing sales. In fact, mobile shopping has risen nearly 40% in the past five years and is currently 72.9% of the market share. Three out of every four dollars is spent on a mobile device, so businesses work hard to stand out to consumers and use platforms that are best used on mobile devices.

Amazon is the greatest example of B2C e-commerce and has excellent mobile shopping features. It’s responsible for nearly half of all e-commerce sales in the US. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that many businesses are turning to Amazon for their B2C selling needs.

If you’re new to the e-commerce space, starting with Amazon may be an easy way to get started and where you’re likely to find many customers.

3. C2C

Consumer-to-consumer is when a consumer sells a good or service to another consumer. The best example of this are auction sites like eBay.

According to a recent report, internet sales have increased significantly from 2015-2025. As e-commerce has been growing steadily over the past 20 years, it has accounted for 20 percent of retail sales worldwide—almost five trillion U.S dollars. If this trend continues, the online marketplace will make up a quarter of retail sales globally, potentially exceeding seven trillion U.S dollars. With all this money going around, it’s no wonder that consumers are getting in on the trend.

Originally called AuctionWeb, eBay was founded in 1995. The very first item sold at auction was a broken laser pointer for $14.83. Pierre Omidyar, the founder of the site, was perplexed, and reached out to the winner to ask if he knew that the laser pointer was broken, and it turned out that the buyer knew. He explained that he collected broken laser pointers, to Omidyar’s astonishment.

From this interaction, Omidyar knew that a consumer-to-consumer auction website could be very successful, as consumers can be the best sellers of niche items to other consumers.

Getting Involved in E-Commerce

Whether you’re a consumer looking to make some side income or a business leader who wants to improve profits, e-commerce is an excellent way to do it. However, you’ll need the right platforms to ensure you get your sales off to the right start.

Use this guide to find the right platform based on your needs for selling, and get started today.