Back to Glossary

B2C

What Is B2C?

At its core, B2C stands for business-to-consumer, which includes online transactions done between eCommerce businesses and end users of certain products and services. The business usually has a platform, which can include a website or mobile app where consumers browse product catalogs with the intention of making a purchase.

What Is An Example Of A B2C Company?

There are various B2C examples, but the most widespread and prevalent one is probably Meta, originally known as Facebook. The company is at the epicenter of B2C marketing, thanks to its ever-growing online community that facilitates product promotion, brand awareness, as well as engagement among B2C businesses.

What Are The Benefits Of B2C eCommerce?

A B2C business model comes with various operational benefits, including:

A global market reach: The internet has no geographical barriers. A small business can access the same market just as an eCommerce giant, stimulating online economies.
Ability to leverage data insights: Running a business online means more access to readily available information about customers from analytic tools. Businesses can use this information to profile customers and enhance their experience.
Zero physical overheads: Consumers make purchases online, eliminating the need of setting up multiple brick-and-mortar stores across a bigger geographical area. This reduces operational costs.
Businesses can track their marketing efforts: B2C models operate purely online, giving them the ability to track marketing efforts and strategies at every consumer touchpoint, from the time they enter the website to the checkout stage.

What Are The 5 Types Of B2C Models?

B2C companies use five prevalent models to sell products and services directly to consumers, including:

Direct sellers: Businesses using this model sell exclusive in-house products and services directly to the end user.
Online intermediaries: This model consists of online intermediaries, such as eBay who upload products on their site to sell on behalf of other businesses for a small percentage commission.
Community-based business-to-consumer: Businesses using this model rely on like-minded, closely-knit online communities to generate qualified leads for their products and services.
Advertising-based B2C: This model entails buying advertisement space on high-traffic online platforms, such as YouTube with the aim of targeting potential customers.
Fee-based B2C: These are business models that require consumers to pay a subscription fee to access its services, such as Netflix.

What Are The Differences Between B2C And B2B eCommerce?

Compared to B2B eCommerce B2C eCommerce is a business model that targets primary consumers directly with products and services. On the other hand, a B2B business model targets other businesses with products and services as the immediate customers.

A B2B checkout process can also be quite complicated and requires real human support for product demos, video chats, as well as phone calls. On the contrary, the checkout process in a B2C business model is pretty straightforward. Nearly everything is automated and the live customer service steps in only when the buyer faces some issues. The modes of payment are also numerous, as opposed to a B2B business model.

Likes 0

Frequently Asked Questions About B2B

What are challenges of B2C in eCommrece?

B2C business models face various eCommerce challenges, such as:

Poor supply chain visibility;
Last-time delivery hurdles that complicate the customer experience;
Omnichannel strategy and fulfillment challenges;
High transport and logistics costs;
Attracting the perfect target audience can be daunting.

What are the future of B2C in eCommerce?

The future of B2C in eCommerce largely hinges on customer experience. Businesses are going to adopt emergent interactive technologies, especially now when Web3 is in play. For instance, AR and VR applications can turn online stores into immersive environments that are a must-visit for many consumers. This will in turn stimulate sales.

Is Amazon a B2B or B2C?

Amazon qualifies both as a B2B and a B2C company. It sells a wide range of products directly to consumers all over the world. At the same time, the eCommerce giant is a source of supplies and raw materials for many small businesses.

What is a B2C eCommerce platform?

This is an online version of what we know as traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Instead of walking through shelves, customers browse through product catalogs before adding items into a shopping cart and paying for them at the checkout stage.

Learn how manufacturers can align with the EU Circular Economy goals by preparing for the Circular Economy Act 2026.

B2C