The different types of marketplaces
The marketplace is today defined as an Internet site on which independent sellers, professionals, or private individuals, can sell their products or services online in return. In the most well-known cases, a commission is levied by the site on each sale. There are other economic models based on fixed fees on sales, subscriptions, insertion fees, lead pricing, or services to sellers. But then, what are the different types of marketplaces?
Two main categories
There are two main categories of marketplaces:
– Product marketplaces
– Service marketplaces.
Product marketplaces
A product market is an economic marketplace where final goods or services are traded. It is not limited by a physical location since it refers to the commercial environment of a given economic system.
Service marketplaces
A service marketplace is an online platform that initiates, facilitates, coordinates, and concludes buying and selling of services between service seekers and service providers. Service marketplaces cater to specific niches.
Three types of marketplaces
There are three types of marketplaces, depending on whether they put individuals in contact with each other, professionals in contact with each other, or individuals in contact with professionals.
B2C Marketplace
The B2C marketplace is undoubtedly the most notorious nowadays. It is the model adopted by major merchant sites such as Cdiscount or Amazon. The principle: put professional salespeople and private customers in touch with each other. This form of marketplace enables these e-commerce giants to provide other e-merchants with visibility. But also to allow them to benefit from their infrastructures. In return for a commission on the number of sales made.
B2B Marketplace
In this marketplace model, the aim this time is to bring together professional sellers and professional customers as well. This model differs from the B2C model in that, instead of being aimed at the general public. It is intended for business-to-business transactions. The B2B marketplace itself is available in four variants:
– range extension
– distributor platform
– internal hub
– purchasing platform.
C2C Marketplace
This platform is reserved, as its name suggests, for transactions between private individuals. It, therefore, allows individuals to sell, buy or rent products or services to other individuals. Examples include the LeBonCoin platform (resale of second-hand goods between individuals). And Airbnb: short-term rental of accommodation between individuals. This type of marketplace is currently experiencing a real boom. And more and more of these platforms are flourishing in the social networks, such as Facebook and its Marketplace.
Finally
If you are interested in the subject of marketplaces, take a look at the articles in this category. We publish regularly
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