Types of Marketplaces
How many types of e-marketplaces are there? What types of online marketplaces exist and which one is right for me? What do all these B2B, B2C, P2P acronyms mean?
Types of Marketplaces
Marketplaces are one of the most complex types of businesses to run as their success depends on the satisfaction of multiple parties. Not only do you have to make the lives of the demand-side simpler by making it easier to discover listings and users of interest, but it is increasingly expected by the supply-side that the marketplace helps manage and simplify the listing creation process either manually or via automated software.
Deciding whether to pursue a managed marketplace model, SaaS-enabled one, horizontal market, vertical market, or multi-sided marketplace can be a confusing, but critical decision. What type of customers you choose NOT to target is just as important as who you DO choose to serve.
The definitions below can serve as helpful frameworks to think of your marketplace business. Explore the pros and cons of each model below.
Types of marketplaces by the number of user roles:
Types of marketplaces by value proposition:
Types of marketplaces by industry focus: