Similar questions

Business Models for e-commerce.

E-business models.

1. A business model can be defined as follows: “An architecture for the product, service, and information flows, including a description of the various business actors and their roles; and a description of the potential benefits for the various business actors; and a description of the sources of revenue.”
2. Timmers (1999) identified 11 different types of business model that can be facilitated by the web:

• E-shop: Marketing of a company or shop via web.
• Third-party marketplaces: They are basically electronic B2B marketplaces.
• E-procurement: Electronic tendering and procurement of goods and services.
• Value chain integrators: Offers a range of services across a value chain.
• E-malls: A collection of e-shops such as Indigo Square.
• Value chain service providers: Specialize in providing value to a specific part of value chain, such as logistics company UPS.
• E-auctions: They can be B2C e.g. eBay or predominantly B2B e.g. QXL.
• Information brokerage: Provides information for consumers and business, often to assist in making the buying decision or for business operations or leisure.
• Virtual communities: These can be B2C communities such as iVillage or B2B communities such as Vertical Net. These are important for their potential in e-marketing.
• Trust and other services: They authenticate the quality of service provided by companies trading on web. E.g. Internet Shopping is Safe (ISIS) or TRUSTe which authenticate the quality of service provided by companies trading on the web.
• Collaboration platforms: They establish collaboration between businesses or individuals. For example e-Groups, now part of Yahoo services.