Marketplaces or e-commerce? Discover the best solution for 2024
Marketplaces and e-commerces have become increasingly relevant, after all, in a world governed by the internet, even highly traditional stores are gaining ground in the online sales market. However, it is important to recognize the difference between the types of this category of solution, to understand which is ideal for each company.
Initially, it must be distinguished what they are e-commerces and marketplaces. Therefore, an e-commerce is a virtual store, specific to each company. In other words, it is responsible for all logistical and financial processes, as well as development and design.
On the other hand, marketplaces are like online shopping malls. There, thousands of companies – or individuals, depending on each case – can register, quickly create their stores and start selling.
Each solution has its pros and cons. That's exactly what we're going to talk about in this article. Continue reading and enjoy!
Best marketplaces in 2024
Meta Marketplaces
Meta's social networks have gone beyond their traditional use and now have solutions for online sales. These are especially interesting solutions when it comes to B2B sales.
On Instagram Shopping you can create a store and catalog all your products, including a brief description and price. However, the sales process is not automated. To make a purchase, customers are required to send a direct message to the store.
It's a good solution for beginner stores, especially when they don't yet have the resources to invest in other platforms, after all, it's free. Furthermore, it can be used as a strategy to increase a brand's visibility, when the company already advertises its products on other platforms.
This manual process is repeated on Facebook Marketplace, where you can even advertise items from a personal account. It is important to note that this platform is dominated by more amateur advertisements, that is, if your objective is to consolidate your brand, choose another option.
Free market
Argentine company that consolidated itself in Brazil, becoming one of the largest online sales platforms, Mercado Livre is a great option for those who prefer not to take risks. This is because the platform is quite renowned, in addition to offering relevant support to sellers.
Furthermore, it is impossible to deny its relevance in the Latin American market: this is the largest marketplace in Latin America, with around 132 million registered users, according to the company itself.
Another important point is the gigantic range of advantages that Mercado Livre offers to consumers – with free shipping plans, packages including streaming platforms, among others – which makes it the first choice of many consumers when they want to make a purchase.
On the other hand, the large volume of buyers and sellers can also be considered a disadvantage, because it increases competition. Finally, the other disadvantages of the platform involve the fees charged and the limitations on store customization. Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate the company's objectives before joining Mercado Livre.
Magalu
One of the largest retailers in Brazil, today it is also a reference when it comes to marketplaces. As it offers a wide variety of support resources to sellers, it has become a recurring choice for those who are starting their journey in online sales.
Companies registered with Magalu have easy delivery services, integration with the brand's physical stores, as well as the possibility of receiving training to further improve their business.
Magalu's marketplace stands out when it comes to customer service. Through automation, buyers can follow the entire sales process from the moment they add a product to the cart until delivery. This way, the seller has the peace of mind of not having to manage the relationship with their customers.
Finally, the disadvantages are common to those of other marketplaces: fees, limitations on store customization and high competition.
E-commerce Platforms
Have you ever heard of Nuvemshop? Unlike the previous examples, it is an e-commerce platform. In other words, by hiring her, the seller can create her own, customizable e-commerce.
Nuvem Shop, however, is just one example of platforms of this model. Like it, there is a wide variety of options, such as Jet E-commerce, Shopify, among others.
Such solutions can be options for beginning businesses, whose salespeople already have some skill with digital tools.
All of them have the premise of being a simple and easy solution that eliminates the web development steps of an online store. This way, anyone could create a store using the available layouts. The platforms can also have integration with different payment and shipping methods.
But, of course, it is also possible to develop a store from scratch, making it truly personalized to the needs and objectives of each company, without depending on the limitations of other resources. After all, the developer will create a unique page.
In any case, having your own online sales platform is the best choice for businesses that want to establish themselves digitally, gaining greater maturity in this market.
Furthermore, the company has greater control over its processes – being able, for example, to choose to make payment methods available that it considers most appropriate. In this sense, it also guarantees closer contact with its consumers, which enables the development of loyalty strategies.
Finally, with a e-commerce, the company avoids charging fees on the sale of each product. In other words, the profit on each item becomes greater. This way, it is possible to manage lower prices and create promotions.
E-commerce with Beatz!
At Beatz, you can count on a specialized and experienced team in software development. e-commerce for the most different sectors. We create easy-to-navigate platforms that guarantee safe and completely personalized purchases for the needs of your company and your customers.
Amid so much competition, stand out and build your own online sales space. Talk to our experts and find out how we can help you!
