The retail e-commerce market focuses on purchasing and selling goods and services directly to consumers via the Internet. This market includes diverse business models, such as online marketplaces, online retailing, and consumer-to-consumer (C2C) e-commerce. Online marketplaces, such as Amazon, eBay, and Taobao, act as go-betweens for buyers and sellers, allowing customers to search and browse products, compare prices, and buy directly from the seller. These marketplaces typically operate on a low-cost model for sellers responsible for inventory management and order fulfillment.
Conversely, online retailing refers to businesses selling products directly to customers via their own websites. This model enables businesses to maintain control over the entire customer experience, from product presentation to checkout and delivery. The retail e-commerce market has grown significantly over the last few decades, driven by an increasing number of Internet users and the convenience of online shopping. According to a Google report, India alone has over 100 million internet users, with roughly half of them making online purchases, and the number is increasing year after year. The retail e-commerce market is expected to reach USD 11.60 Billion by 2030, with Asia-Pacific accounting for a significant portion of this growth.
The growth of the retail e-commerce market is being driven by many factors that have altered the way consumers shop and businesses operate. One key driver is the growing popularity of online shopping, which is fueled by the convenience and accessibility it provides to consumers. With the rise of e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay, consumers can browse, compare, and buy products from the comfort of their own homes, resulting in a significant shift in consumer behavior toward online shopping.
E-commerce has evolved into a convenient and efficient way for consumers to buy goods and services, and businesses have recognized the market's potential. They are investing in e-commerce platforms to reach a larger audience. The increasing number of mobile users has also fueled growth in the retail e-commerce market. The retail e-commerce market is also being boosted by the rise of social commerce, which involves selling goods and services via social media platforms.
Following are the leading players in the retail e-commerce market -
Amazon.com Inc. is a leading e-commerce company that provides customers with a diverse range of products and services worldwide. The company has invested heavily in its e-commerce platform, including developing new technologies and expanding its product line. In 2022, Amazon.com Inc. launched over 10,000 new brands on its platform, accounting for 12% of all new brand launches detected across the monitored categories.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese e-commerce company that runs several online marketplaces, including Taobao and Tmall. The company has invested heavily in its e-commerce platform, including developing new technologies and expanding its product line. In 2022, Alibaba Group Holding Limited launched over 8,000 new brands on its platform, accounting for 9% of all new brand launches in the tracked categories.
JD.com Inc. is a Chinese e-commerce company that runs several online marketplaces, including JD.com and JD Worldwide. In 2022, JD.com Inc. launched over 6,000 new brands on its platform, accounting for 7% of all new brand launches in the tracked categories.
Walmart Inc., a leading American retailer, has made significant investments in e-commerce. The company operates several online marketplaces and has launched over 4,000 new brands on its platform in 2022, accounting for 5% of all new brand launches detected across the tracked categories.
eBay, one of the largest online marketplaces, has made significant inroads into the retail e-commerce market. The company has been investing in technology and software to improve its e-commerce capabilities and provide customers with a more enjoyable shopping experience. eBay and Adobe announced a partnership in 2021 to integrate eBay's Marketplace and its online and in-store fulfillment and pickup technologies into the Adobe Commerce Platform.
Shopify Inc. provides essential internet infrastructure for commerce, including tools for businesses of all sizes to start, scale, market, and run their operations efficiently. One of Shopify's most recent advancements is the launch of Commerce Components in January 2023. Commerce Components is a modern composable stack that enables retailers to integrate over 30 modular Shopify components into their existing systems.
Rakuten Inc. is a leading Japanese e-commerce company that provides diverse services, including e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and mobile. The company has experienced significant growth in recent years, with consolidated revenue reaching a record high of 2.1 trillion yen in FY2023, up 7.8% yearly.
Zalando SE is a top European e-commerce company specializing in fashion and lifestyle products. One notable partnership is with Fashwell, an AI-powered visual recognition platform that improves Zalando's product search capabilities. This technology lets customers virtually try on clothes and find the best fit, reducing the need for returns and improving the shopping experience.
ASOS Plc is a leading global online fashion retailer that provides customers with a diverse range of fashion and beauty products worldwide. The company has made significant progress in its operations, particularly regarding technology and data strategy. ASOS has made significant progress, including renewing its cloud agreement with Microsoft for the next five years.
Flipkart Online Services Pvt. Ltd. is India's leading e-commerce company, selling a diverse range of products such as books, movies, music, games, consoles, televisions, mobiles, digital cameras, computers, network components, software, peripherals, apparel, shoes, and kitchen appliances.