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E-Commerce and E-Business

2. Ordering: To order a service or product, a consumer can make use of electronic forms that are
similar to paper forms or an e-mail.

3. Payment: Payment for the product can be made by credit cards or bank checks. Consumers can
also make cash payments.
4. Fulfillment: This means delivering the service or product from the retailer to the consumer. This
process can be complicated depending upon the products that need to be delivered. The products
can be books, videos, CDs, music systems, software, and electronic equipment.
5. Service and Support: This aspect is important in e-commerce as there is no human interaction. The
service and support activities are e-mail confirmation, online surveys, periodic news flash, help
desks, and online auctions. To make a B2C e-Business successful, the functions of all the five
activities have to be tested.
2.3.1 B2C Models

B2C models aim to use and combine the unique qualities of Internet and Web. The different B2C models
are portal model, storefront model, content providers, transaction brokers, service providers, market
providers, and community providers.
Portal Model
Portal is a major starting site for users when they are connected to the Web. Portals offer powerful
search tools plus an integrated package of content and services. There are general portals as well as
specialized portals.

Some major general portals include Yahoo, Netscape, CNET, and AOL.com and
specialized portals include Garden.com (for gardeners), SearchNetworking.com (for
network administrators), and many more.
Storefront Model

The customers and sellers interact directly in this model. Orders are taken directly through the Web site
and payments are made in a secured environment. The marketers in this model gain revenue through
product sales.

Web sites such as Amazon.com and Dell.com gain revenue through product sales.

Content Providers
Content providers provide digital content on the Web. Digital content includes news, music, video, and
artwork. Revenue in this model is generated through subscription fees or advertising.

Web sites such as Rhapsody.com, Espnstar.com and CNN.com provide digital
content.

Content providers were the second largest source of B2C e-commerce revenue in
Did you know? 2002.

Transaction Brokers
Transaction brokers provide sites that process transaction for consumers. The main advantage of this
model is that they help in saving time and money for the consumers. Revenue in this model is
generated through transaction fee. This model is used in financial services, job placement and travel
services industries.

Web site such as Naukri.com provides job placement services and makemytrip.com
provides travel services.

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