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21 Sep 2000

Dear Dr. Ecommerce:

Could you clearly explain to me the differences between and the characteristics of: a single seller site, a full service site, a facilitating market-place and a procurement site (all in relation to B2B transactions)?

Thanks,

Bart

Dear Bart:

There's enough material to fill a book here. So I'll keep it simple and if you want more information, I suggest you buy a book! Also, it's important to bear in mind there is no universal, authoritative dictionary of e-commerce terms. Different people can, and do, have somewhat different definitions for common e-commerce terms such as... well, such as for "e-commerce"

A single seller site is an individual's or single company's web site selling goods and or services via the Internet. It can be as simple as an online catalogue with basic ordering facilities or it can be much more sophisticated.

A full service site is a web site offering full services! That can vary according to the industry. In the advertising industry, a full service agency, would be an agency offering all advertising services from banner adverts on the web to TV advertising to billboards and everything else. A lot of technology providers bill themselves as full service providers in that they offer everything the aspiring e-commerce entrepreneur needs to do e-commerce.

A facilitating market-place is the electronic equivalent of the old fashioned market-place that has existed for thousands of years. It is a web site that allows (or 'facilitates') buyers and sellers to meet and buy and sell. There are varying ways of doing this. Usually sellers can post their goods or services for sale. Sometimes buyers can post their purchasing requirements. Sometimes there are electronic auctions. Generally there will be interactive functions that allow buyers and sellers to communicate. In any event, electronic forms facilitate transactions, bids, posting of interest, etc.

A procurement site is a web site in which a business posts its purchasing requirements and which sellers can use to submit offers. These can be more complex, possibly using reverse auctions or allowing interaction between the business and its suppliers.

All the best,

Dr. Ecommerce

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