What is Ecommerce?

First Published: August 8, 2022

By SEONIADMIN

Last Updated: January 6, 2023

What is Ecommerce? Your Guide To eCommerce for 2023

What is eCommerce? We walk through eCommerce’s history, types, and some eCommerce stats.

What is eCommerce? Let’s find out!

The future of eCommerce is set to revolutionise consumer behaviour. Whether you’re a curious shopper or want to start an online business, it affects your life in various ways.

In this Guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about eCommerce, from the types of eCommerce to relevant stats.

Let’s get into it.

What is Ecommerce?

E-commerce – also known as e-commerce, eCommerce, or internet commerce – refers to buying and selling products and services using the internet.

The term ‘eCommerce’ is often used to refer to online shopping – the sale of physical products via the internet. However, it also applies to any type of online commercial transaction, such as auctions, banking, and software services.

The History of Ecommerce

Understanding eCommerce helps to know a little about how the industry came to be. So, let’s take a quick look at the history of eCommerce.

It all started back in 1994 with a man named Phil Brandenberger.

Brandenberger made history by becoming the first person to purchase using the internet. Specifically, he used his Mastercard to buy a CD of the album Ten Summoners’ Tales by Sting for $12.48.

This was the first time encryption technology was used to facilitate a purchase on the internet. The New York Times shared the groundbreaking news in an article titled “Attention Shoppers: The Internet is Open.”

In the same year, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon. Customers can purchase books from more than one million titles in this online store.

This eCommerce business has grown to be one of the world’s largest companies – making Jeff Bezos the wealthiest man in the world.

The industry was fuelled by the rapid development of personal computing technology.

In 1980, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, shared his dream with the world: “A computer on every desk and in every home.” And in the mid-90s, that dream started to become a reality.

Alongside Gates, other notable innovators like Steve Jobs, who co-founded Apple, helped to make computers accessible to the average Joe.

Until then, eCommerce still required consumers to post checks to purchase goods. However, in 1998, four years after Brandenberger’s online purchase, PayPal was founded. PayPal provides a secure and straightforward way to use credit cards to make payments on the internet.

In 2006, the floodgates opened with the launch of Shopify and other electronic commerce platforms.

These services made it easy and inexpensive for small businesses to create online stores. From this point on, anyone with a computer and an internet connection could buy and sell online.

Fast forward to 2014, and worldwide online sales reached a whopping 1.33 trillion U.S. dollars. Since then, the industry has continued to grow at an exceptional rate – global eCommerce retail sales amounted to 3.53 trillion U.S. dollars in 2019.

Today, the eCommerce industry is part of everyday life for many. One-day delivery and competitive costs make online shopping convenient for consumers. It’s also more accessible than ever to start an online business.

What Are the Different Types of Ecommerce

We can classify eCommerce types by the goods sold, the parties involved, or the platforms used.

In this article, we’ll break down all three of these aspects so that you can get a rock-solid understanding of what eCommerce is.

The Types of Ecommerce Classified by What’s Sold

First, we’ll look at types of eCommerce with examples, classified by the products and services sold.

#1. Physical Products

Most people think of this when they hear the term ‘ eCommerce.’

It encompasses retailers selling products online, such as clothing, toys, furniture, and food products.

Let’s look at an eCommerce example from Gymshark (screenshot below) – a business that sells sports clothing.

Consumers can head to online stores like Gymshark to browse products, add items to their cart, and pay for them on the website.

Then, the business will ship the products to customers. Alternatively, some companies allow customers to purchase online and arrange to collect products in-store.

#2. Digital Products

Some eCommerce businesses sell digital products such as ebooks, software, music, and online courses.

RetroSupply (screenshot below) is an eCommerce business that sells graphic design templates and tools.

Consumers can browse and buy services online and receive the end product via email or post.

#3. Physical Services

Many businesses use the internet to sell physical services. This category includes services from educators, freelancers, consultants, and agencies. For example, you can use the internet to hire math tutors, freelance writers, realtors, and plumbers.

Stretch Tents (screenshot below), based in Australia, uses its website to sell its tent rental and set-up services.

You can rent a tent on their website, and they will deliver the tent to your location and set it up for you.

#4. Digital Services

This next type of eCommerce covers all exchanges of digital services using the internet, such as subscriptions to digital marketing tools, website hosting, or accounting software.

Many digital service examples on the Shopify app store, such as Omnisend Email Marketing (screenshot below). This app allows companies to use email marketing to grow their businesses.

Another type of digital service is ‘affiliate marketing.’ It’s the process of referring consumers to a business and receiving a commission for every customer you help create.

For example, Website Builder Expert (screenshot below) is a Shopify affiliate. The website has articles that promote Shopify’s online store builder with links to sign up for the service. In this arrangement, Shopify pays Website Builder Expert a small fee whenever one of the website’s readers becomes a Shopify customer.

The Types of Ecommerce Classified by The Parties Involved

Here are four main types of eCommerce with examples when classified by the parties participating in the transaction.

#1. What is B2C Ecommerce?

B2C stands for ‘business to consumer.’ Any time a business sells to an individual using the internet, it can be considered B2C eCommerce.

For example, the eco-friendly shoe brand Allbirds (screenshot below) sells products to consumers via its online store.

This type of eCommerce encompasses a large proportion of online transactions.

#2. What is B2B Ecommerce?

B2B is ‘business to business’. It is the name of transactions between two or more businesses, products or services.

For example, Shopify (screenshot below) sells eCommerce solutions to other businesses. When small businesses want to start selling online, they can purchase a subscription to Shopify’s platform to build a website.

#3. What is C2C E-commerce?

C2C stands for ‘consumer to consumer.’ This type of eCommerce refers to individuals selling to other individuals.

eBay (screenshot below) hosts many examples of C2C eCommerce transactions. Individuals can sign up to sell items to other people.

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist also play host to C2C – although neither platform facilitates the actual payment, consumers must exchange money via another service like PayPal and Venmo.

#4. What is C2B E-commerce?

C2B stands for ‘consumer to business.’ It refers to instances when individuals sell to businesses.

It’s fair to say that this type of eCommerce isn’t as widespread as the others mentioned. However, there are plenty of examples of C2B commerce out there.

Here’s an example from Decluttr (screenshot below).

This online business buys consumer products like DVDs, video games, smartphones, and legos. The company then resells these products to consumers in B2C transactions.

The Types of Ecommerce Channels

Finally, let’s look at some common types of eCommerce channels used.

#1. What is an Ecommerce Store?

A common type of eCommerce channel is individual stores. For example, Beardbrand (screenshot below) sells men’s grooming products through its website.

#2. What is an E-commerce Platform?

E-commerce platforms are what power individual stores.

For example, Shopify provides an eCommerce website builder and a range of tools to help businesses sell online. This platform powers more than one million businesses worldwide.

#3. What is an Ecommerce Marketplace?

An eCommerce marketplace is a website that facilitates trade between other buyers and sellers. Examples include Amazon and eBay.

There are also plenty of niche eCommerce marketplaces online. Upwork connects freelancers with businesses and individuals looking for services. And Exchange Marketplace (screenshot below) is used to buy and sell websites and online businesses.

#4. What is Social Commerce?

Another common way to do business online is through social commerce. This term refers to any transaction through a social media platform.

Many large social media platforms, such as the Facebook Shop feature, have made special features to facilitate this type of eCommerce.

Watch brand MVMT (screenshot below) sell through its eCommerce store and participates in social commerce. The image below showcases MVMT’s Instagram Shop.

#5. What is Mobile Commerce?

Mobile commerce – also known as m-commerce – refers to any transaction made through mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets.

Mobile commerce often occurs through mobile responsive websites and marketplace apps, such as Amazon Shopping or Shopify’s Shop app (screenshot below).

What are the Advantages of E-commerce?

Understanding the benefits of eCommerce can make it easier to learn what it is and why it’s snowballing.

Here are nine advantages of eCommerce over traditional commerce.

Unlimited Reach for Businesses

E-commerce allows businesses to enter almost any market, anywhere in the world. This provides an immense opportunity as businesses have access to countless potential customers.

Wider Selection for Consumers

You can purchase pretty much anything online! So, if your local town doesn’t have a dedicated anime comic book store, don’t worry – the internet has plenty.

Opportunities to Scale Niche Stores

It would be difficult for someone in rural Montana to build a successful brick-and-mortar sriracha hot sauce store. The market just wouldn’t be big enough.

However, the internet provides a way for niche businesses to reach diehard fans wherever they are. This is why Sriracha2Go (screenshot below) became so successful.

Ecommerce Happens 24/7

Consumers don’t have to wait for stores to open. They can shop whenever they like!

Plus, businesses don’t ever have to close – e-commerce allows them to make sales all hours of the day. Even when customers in New York, U.S., are going to sleep, other customers in Sydney, Australia, are just about to take their lunch break.

Convenience

E-commerce is very convenient for businesses. It can take weeks to open a brick-and-mortar store, but anyone can open an online Shopify store in minutes. Plus, entrepreneurs can work from home.

It also allows consumers to save time. There’s no need to travel or walk around a store looking for the item they came for – a quick search is all it takes. Plus, many businesses offer same-day or next-day delivery.

Low Costs

With so much competition online and the ability to shop for better prices easily, consumers can often save money on purchases.

Many businesses pay thousands of dollars each month to rent a physical storefront. In contrast, Shopify (screenshot below) starts at just £29 per month.

Automated, Data-Driven Marketing

The internet provides businesses with some very advanced marketing tools. For example, Facebook’s ad pixel allows firms to track website visitors and automatically retarget them with ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Personalised Shopping Experiences

Thanks to technology and algorithms, it’s easier than ever for businesses to deliver personalised shopping experiences to individual consumers.

As a result, businesses can create more effective marketing campaigns, and consumers get to spend more time on items and services they find interesting.

Ecommerce Has a Low Barrier to Entry

Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can start an eCommerce business. It’s that simple. With free dropshipping tools like Oberlo (screenshot below), new entrepreneurs don’t even need to purchase inventory upfront.

Plus, there are tons of free online resources to help, and many marketing methods, such as social media marketing and SEO, are free.

More Ecommerce Advantages and Disadvantages

To learn more about the pros and cons of eCommerce, check out this video from Oberlo.

Ecommerce Stats Worth Knowing

The scale and impact of the eCommerce industry can take time to grasp.

Here are 16 eCommerce statistics to help illustrate what it is and why it’s essential.

Stat #1. Ecommerce is a Large Part of the Retail Industry

According to Statista, 14% of all retail sales worldwide are eCommerce sales. Plus, this figure is expected to reach 22% by 2023.

Stat #2. The Ecommerce Industry is Growing Quickly

In 2019, worldwide eCommerce retail sales amounted to 3.53 trillion U.S. dollars. And revenues are expected to grow to 6.54 trillion U.S. dollars by 2023.

Stat #3. The Number of People Shopping Online is Growing

A massive 2.14 billion people worldwide are expected to make online purchases in 2021. In 2016, there were 1.66 billion global eCommerce consumers.

Stat #4. Amazon is the Largest Ecommerce Marketplace

The graph below shows the visitor market share of the top eCommerce marketplaces in the United States in 2018. Amazon received 56.1% of the segment’s traffic.

Stat #5. Mobile Commerce is Taking Over

In 2018, mobile commerce made up 63.5% of total eCommerce sales. By 2021, mobile commerce will account for 72.9% of total sales.

Mobile commerce is expected to generate a staggering $3.55 trillion worldwide in U.S. dollars in 2021.

Stat #6. Consumers Value Mobile Shopping Experiences

According to Google, people who have a negative experience on a mobile shopping website are 62% less likely to purchase from the company in the future.

Stat #7. Page Load Speed Matters in Mobile Commerce

The likelihood of a consumer leaving a mobile webpage increases by 32% when the page takes one to three seconds to load (compared to pages that take less than a second to load).

What’s more, the chances of users leaving increase by 90% if the page takes between one and five seconds to load.

Stat #8. Younger People Spend the Most Time Shopping Online

In a 2016 U.S. survey, BigCommerce found that, on average, younger people spent the most time shopping online. Here’s how much time different generations spend shopping online per week:

Millennials and Gen Xers: 6 hours
Baby boomers: 4 hours
Seniors: 2.5 hours

Stat #9. The Key Benefit of Ecommerce is Convenience

The ability to shop 24/7 is the number one reason people shop online. Other benefits of shopping online include the ability to compare prices and save time.

The graph below shows the reasons consumers shop online.

Stat #10. Most Online Shoppers Conduct Research Before Purchasing

According to Salesforce, 85 per cent of consumers research online purchases before buying.

Stat #11. Ecommerce Directly Affects Brick-and-Mortar Stores

While in a physical store, 65% of consumers use their mobile devices to compare prices.

Stat #12. Consumers Don’t Trust Online Advertisements

According to Hubspot, 65% of consumers don’t trust advertisements, and 71% don’t trust sponsored social media ads.

Stat #13. Consumers Want Ecommerce Businesses to be Transparent and Open

The graph below shows that consumers are more likely to trust businesses when they:

Make it easy to contact people at the company (51%)
Are open and honest about negative news or events (43%)
Let consumers control how their data is used (41%)

Stat #14. Only a Small Number of Ecommerce Website Visitors Make a Purchase

On average, 2.86% of people who visit an eCommerce website make a purchase. In other words, roughly 1 in 35 people buy something.

Stat #15. The Majority of eCommerce Shopping Carts are Abandoned

According to Statista, 69.57% of eCommerce shopping carts are abandoned.

To put it another way, for every 100 people who go online, find something to buy, and add it to their cart, almost 70 don’t go through with the purchase.

Stat #16. Consumers Want a Smooth Ecommerce Checkout Process

Online shoppers abandon eCommerce carts because:

They were hit with extra costs like shipping fees and taxes they felt were too high (60%)
The website wanted them to create an account to be able to checkout (37%)
They found the process too long or complicated (28%)

Summary: What is E-commerce?

E-commerce refers to any type of transaction that takes place using the internet.

The industry was born in 1994 when Phil Brandenberger became the first to purchase using the internet. And entrepreneur Jeff Bezos started Amazon in the same year.

Many different things are sold in the eCommerce industry, such as: