• Business
  • Finance
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Markets
  • Real Estate
  • Educational Business
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Friday, September 22
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Checkout
  • Contact Us
  • Get In Touch
  • Our Authors
  • Sitemap
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn VKontakte
Business Zania
Banner
  • Business
  • Finance
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Markets
  • Real Estate
  • Educational Business
Business Zania
You are at:Home»Business»Ecommerce Platform vs. Marketplace: What’s the Difference?
Business

Ecommerce Platform vs. Marketplace: What’s the Difference?

adminBy adminJune 29, 2022Updated:June 29, 2022No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Ecommerce Platform vs. Marketplace: What's the Difference?
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Thanks to the internet, the retail world is no longer dominated by brick-and-mortar stores with limited shopping hours. People can shop online 24/7. Likewise, anyone with the drive and resources can set up an ecommerce operation. An entrepreneur can create their own online operation from scratch, use an ecommerce platform, or sell through a marketplace.

Working from scratch is self-explanatory. But what about ecommerce platforms and marketplaces? What are they and how do they differ? If you want to know, keep reading. This post will break down both options in easy-to-understand terms.

  1. The Ecommerce Platform

An ecommerce platform is a cloud-based platform on which entrepreneurs can build their own ecommerce sites. For all intense and purposes, an ecommerce platform is essentially software-as-a-service combined with web hosting services, storage space, and the necessary tools for doing business – like shopping carts and payment processing.

When an entrepreneur chooses an ecommerce platform, they remain in complete control of the business. To make getting started easier, most platforms offer templates from which online stores can be built. Shopify is one such platform. Their templates are functionally similar to those found on well-known content management systems like WordPress and Drupal.

Shopify also gives ecommerce operators a full suite of tools for managing and tracking inventory, managing shipping, processing payments, and even handling returns. It is an all-in-one package that gets an ecommerce operator up and running with very little hassle.

  1. The Ecommerce Marketplace

An ecommerce marketplace is an online property through which an unlimited number of sellers can ply their wares. The most recognizable example is Amazon. Although Amazon does have its own retail operations, it allows other ecommerce sellers to list their products on their site.

eBay is another example of an ecommerce marketplace. As you may know, eBay started out as an online auction site. The traditional eBay auction is still available, but the marketplace behaves more like Amazon these days. In both cases, ecommerce operators sign up for accounts and then begin listing their products.

With a marketplace, sellers are locked into how that website is set up. They do not get to design their own site that aligns with their branding. They are also locked into whatever the marketplace decides for payments, shipping, etc. Sellers generally have some options, but these may be limited.

  1. Order Fulfillment Differences

In terms of how orders are fulfilled, both models offer the same options. Ecommerce operators can fulfill orders themselves or outsource the task to a third party. Shopify users hoping to outsource might contact a company like Preferred Shipping (visit their website here), a company that can handle both fulfillment and international shipping.

Entrepreneurs who choose the marketplace model have the same two options. But in the case of Amazon, there is a third option available to some operators: having Amazon fulfill the orders. Sellers ship their products to an Amazon warehouse; orders that come into Amazon are fulfilled by Amazon.

  1. A Matter of Control

Deciding how to set up an ecommerce operation is really a matter of control. Does the business owner want to control everything from the ground up? If so, building from scratch is the right way go. If they do not mind surrendering a little control and getting a lot of help in the process, an ecommerce platform makes sense.

Going with an ecommerce marketplace means surrendering a lot of control to that marketplace. It works for some ecommerce operators. For others, not so much. The marketplace is the most restrictive because you are selling your goods in someone else’s store.

What are your thoughts? Which model do you prefer?

Ecommerce Marketplace ecommerce sites
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleGrow Your Business With Modern Commercial Drinks Fridges
Next Article The Future Of Filing VAT Returns Online
admin
  • Website

Related Posts

FAQS About Small Business Phone Systems To Support Every Entrepreneur’s Investment Decisions!

August 17, 2023

Tips To Find Free Wood Pallets For DIY Business Projects In Houston Texas!

July 25, 2023

6 Common Commercial Electrician Services For Your Business Property!

July 15, 2023

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

  • Popular
  • Latest

FAQS About Small Business Phone Systems To Support Every Entrepreneur’s Investment Decisions!

August 17, 2023

Why You Need to Hire a Chartered Accountant Firm Before You Set up Your Business

October 24, 2020

Why Data Analytics for Business Sustainability in the Market?

October 24, 2020

Hire the Best Inspection Company for Overseas Business Profitable Propagation

October 28, 2020

FAQS About Small Business Phone Systems To Support Every Entrepreneur’s Investment Decisions!

August 17, 2023

6 Essential Factors to Consider Before Renting a Property in Dubai

August 1, 2023

Tips To Find Free Wood Pallets For DIY Business Projects In Houston Texas!

July 25, 2023

6 Common Commercial Electrician Services For Your Business Property!

July 15, 2023
Archives
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
Don't Miss

FAQS About Small Business Phone Systems To Support Every Entrepreneur’s Investment Decisions!

6 Essential Factors to Consider Before Renting a Property in Dubai

Tips To Find Free Wood Pallets For DIY Business Projects In Houston Texas!

6 Common Commercial Electrician Services For Your Business Property!

Categories
  • Automotive
  • Business
  • Chemical Industry
  • Debt
  • Educational Business
  • Entrepreneur
  • Finance
  • Insurance
  • Legal
  • Loan
  • Markets
  • Real Estate
  • Sales & Marketing
  • Trading
  • Uncategorized
  • World
About
About

Your source for the lifestyle news. This demo is crafted specifically to exhibit the use of the theme as a lifestyle site. Visit our main page for more demos.

We're social, connect with us:

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn VKontakte
Popular Posts

FAQS About Small Business Phone Systems To Support Every Entrepreneur’s Investment Decisions!

August 17, 2023

6 Essential Factors to Consider Before Renting a Property in Dubai

August 1, 2023

Tips To Find Free Wood Pallets For DIY Business Projects In Houston Texas!

July 25, 2023
Copyright © 2023. Designed by ThemeSphere.
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Checkout
  • Contact Us
  • Get In Touch
  • Our Authors
  • Sitemap

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.