Business-to-Business (B E-Commerce (2B) - B2b E-commerce Quantified, B2b E-commerce In Early Adopter Stage, Customer Service

Internet-based business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce is conducted through industry-sponsored marketplaces and through private exchanges set up by large companies for their suppliers and customers. Of course, companies also sell to business customers through their own Web sites.

In the early 2000s, industry-sponsored marketplaces (ISMs) accounted for only a small percentage of B2B transactions. The main reason, according a survey of 25 ISMs published in the industry periodical B to B, is that ISMs have had problems convincing buyers and sellers to use them. For one thing, companies are reluctant to acquire customized designs through marketplaces because they don't want to reveal proprietary information on an site that is shared by competitors. These companies fear they will give away too much information about their competitive strategies simply by taking part in such a marketplace. ISMs also do not necessarily level the playing field for small companies against larger competitors. As a result, companies use such marketplaces mainly to purchase commodity goods, manage their supply chains, and conduct indirect procurement transactions not related to their core business.

Business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce is significantly different from business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce. While B2C merchants sell on a first-come, first-served basis, most B2B commerce is done through negotiated contracts that allow the seller to anticipate and plan for how much the buyer will purchase. In some cases B2B is not so much a matter of generating revenue as it is a matter of making connections with business partners.