1. Business-to-Consumer (B2C)

B2C e-commerce involves businesses selling products or services directly to individual consumers. This is the most common form of e-commerce.

  • Example: A person buying a book from an online retailer like Amazon.

2. Business-to-Business (B2B)

B2B e-commerce involves businesses selling products or services to other businesses. These transactions are often for larger quantities and may involve more complex negotiations.

  • Example: A company purchasing office supplies from a B2B supplier like Staples.

3. Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)

C2C e-commerce provides a platform for consumers to sell products or services directly to other consumers. These platforms typically charge a small fee or commission.

  • Example: A person selling a used smartphone on a platform like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

4. Peer-to-Peer (P2P)

P2P e-commerce connects individuals to share or rent assets and services. This is a key component of the sharing economy.

  • Example: A person renting out their spare room on Airbnb or offering ride-sharing services through Uber or Lyft.

5. Mobile Commerce (M-commerce)

M-commerce refers to any e-commerce transaction that takes place on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. This is a rapidly growing segment of e-commerce.

E-commerce Types in Nepal

In Nepal, all types of e-commerce are present, but some are more prevalent than others.

  • B2C: This is the most common type of e-commerce in Nepal. Some of the most popular B2C e-commerce platforms in Nepal include Daraz, Sastodeal, and Thulo.com.
  • B2B: B2B e-commerce is also growing in Nepal. For example, Foodmandu, a popular food delivery platform, also provides B2B services to corporate clients.
  • C2C: C2C e-commerce is very popular in Nepal, with platforms like Hamrobazar and Facebook Marketplace being widely used for buying and selling used goods.
  • P2P: The sharing economy is also growing in Nepal, with ride-sharing platforms like Tootle and Pathao being very popular in major cities.
  • M-commerce: With the high penetration of smartphones, m-commerce is the dominant form of e-commerce in Nepal. Most e-commerce platforms in Nepal have a mobile app, and many businesses use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to sell their products.