Forrester Research, Athens, Ala., an independent research firm, has recognized IBM WebSphere Commerce as the only commerce vendor to land in the leaders category for the last two years in both
B2C (business-to-customer) and B2B (business-to-business) e-commerce, in a 3rd Quarter 2006 Forrester Wave Commerce Platform report.
Results suggest that content and design elements do not work the same way for B2B and
B2C banner advertisements.
Exclusions may be more important for
B2C transactions, where the VAT charged is not recovered by the customer and hence forms part of the tax revenue of the country.
More than 25,000 apparel, footwear and accessory items are offered for sale through sportswear manufacturer adidas America's business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (
B2C) Web sites.
In fact, Forrester Research estimates B2B commerce will significantly outpace
B2C commerce in the near future.
Just as investors (and, more embarrassingly, analysts) refused, amid the original hysteria, to recognize the importance of data that were plain for all to see, they now seem to have abandoned hope just as
B2C profitability is at last coming into view.
Startups targeting the
B2C or business-to-business segments are going to find it very difficult, if not impossible, to succeed unless their play is unique.
B2C players are quickly finding that the cost savings promised by e-commerce are being eaten up by high delivery expenses, leaving them struggling for profitability.
are increasing their share of value, while
B2Cs, B2Bs, ISPs/ASPs, and consultants have lost share," Byrne says, adding that "value is rapidly flowing to the few remaining profitable companies."
"It will continue to accelerate into 2001, especially in the
B2C area.
"There's life in the
B2C health care market, but health care organizations still have much to learn about new economy strategies, such as adopting a customer-centric focus and using e-enabled strategies to integrate services, capture market share, and improve customer loyalty," says Graham Pallett, a Principal at Deloitte Consulting, Health Care Practice.
The most popular area in terms of hype is the
B2C businesses, such as Amazon.