B2C E-commerce Companies Research Articles

Financial performance and capital structure – an econometric approach for Romanian e-commerce companies during the COVID-19 pandemic

The study investigates the inverse relationship between financial performance and capital structure for the Romanian B2C e-commerce companies, based on a representative sample of 437 companies active in the period 2005–2020. Statistical analyzes show the evolution of financial performance and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on it, depending on the company category. All company categories had better financial performance in 2020 compared to 2019, based on sample results. The study reveals valid reference values for the financial ratios of Romanian electronic commerce, being a model to be applied in any industry. The analysis of the causality of the financial variables and their correlations, on the sub-periods 2005–2008 and 2009–2020, both at the company category level and at the sample level, are the basis of the GMM approach. The econometric models Difference GMM and System GMM explain the relationship between financial performance and capital structure leading to interesting conclusions. As e-commerce has a sustainable development, the findings and conclusions of the study provide guidance for economic policies at the sectoral level. Financial performance in relation to strategic debt management depends on the company category. Stimulating the development of those categories of companies that ensure the efficient performance framework can be the key to a sustainable development of the national economy. The study is useful for managers, investors, financial analysts, decision makers, in financial education as well as for the banking system.

Customer Churn Prediction Using AdaBoost Classifier and BP Neural Network Techniques in the E-Commerce Industry

In customer relationship management, it is important for e-commerce businesses to attract new customers and retain existing ones. Research on customer churn prediction using AI technology is now a major part of e-commerce management. This paper proposes a churn prediction model based on the combination of k-means clustering and AdaBoost classifier algorithm, allowing the segmentation of customers into three categories. Important customer groups can also be determined based on customer behavior and temporal data. Customer churn prediction was carried out using AdaBoost classification and BP neural network techniques. The results show that the research method of clustering before prediction can improve prediction accuracy. In addition, a comparative analysis of the results suggests that the AdaBoost model has better prediction accuracy than the BP neural network model. The research results of this paper can help B2C e-commerce companies develop customer retention measures and marketing strategies.

Coopetition between B2C E-commerce Companies: Price Competition and Logistics Service Cooperation

This paper studies the impact of logistics cooperation in two competing companies, one of which is equipped with a self-run logistics system while the other is not. The latter outsources logistics services to a third-party logistics company before logistics cooperation, or to its competitor after logistics cooperation with the client’s service quality being in proportion to and no greater than the service provider’s service quality. We find that when the service provider is a price taker, logistics cooperation is beneficial to both firms only when the service quality after logistics cooperation is moderate. Interestingly, under some circumstances, the client’s profit increases even when its service quality decreases after logistics cooperation because logistics cooperation eases the price competition. We also find that all-win situations in which logistics cooperation increases the firms’ profit, consumer surplus and social welfare can be achieved. Finally, when the service price can be chosen by the service provider, we propose a negotiation process in which agreement on logistics cooperation can be reached; when the firm can invest in service quality, logistics cooperation may lower the equilibrium investment level.

Research on B2C E-commerce and Logistics Optimization in Coastal Areas

Wang, Y.C. and Zhai, X.D., 2020. Research on B2C E-commerce and logistics optimization in coastal areas. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 461-464. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.This paper studies the optimization of logistics in coastal areas business processes for B2C E-commerce companies. First, it analyzes the main problems faced by B2C E-commerce companies in China. On the basis, it fully expounds the necessity of optimization, and finally focuses on three B2C enterprise logistics Corresponding optimization strategies and key points are presented for key business processes. This paper proposes that B2C enterprises should continue to optimize logistics business processes to reduce the distance of logistics links and achieve seamless connection between links, further improving the efficiency and efficiency of B2C enterprises. The level of customer service reduces unnecessary operating costs, thereby enhancing the core competitiveness of B2C companies and lying the foundation for the implementation of corporate strategies.

Impacts of logistics resource sharing on B2C E-commerce companies and customers

Abstract Logistics resource sharing between competing B2C E-commerce companies is common in recent years. But still different B2C E-commerce companies make different decisions in the way of providing logistics service. To find out the reason behind this difference, we in this paper intend to investigate the impacts of logistics resource sharing on the participators. Specifically, we study the logistics resource sharing problem between two B2C E-commerce companies. One company has self-run logistics (SRL) system (we denote it as SRL provider) and shares its logistics to the other company which does not have self-run logistics system but resorts to third-party logistics (3PL) previously (we denote it as SRL receiver). We build and solve two Hotelling models to examine the impacts of the sharing on the optimal prices and profits of two companies, consumer welfare, and social welfare. We find that three parameters are critical in determining the impacts, i.e., the degree of differentiation between two companies, customers’ logistics benefit, and logistics provider’s logistics efficiency. We find that the sharing always benefits the logistics receiver company, but benefits the logistics provider company only when both the degree of differentiation between companies and the logistics provider’s logistics efficiency are relatively high. We also find that the sharing benefits customers only when both the degree of differentiation between the two companies and the customers’ logistics benefit are relatively large. However, the sharing always improves the social welfare.

ENTERPRISE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT BASED ON BIG DATA MINING

Based on the customer relationship management in the context of big data, focusing on B2C e-commerce companies, this paper constructs a customer classification index system, uses a factor analysis and Bagging model to study the sales data of an e-commerce business, and demonstrates the specific operation of customer relationship management under the background of big data. This paper finds that through the classification of past consumer behavior data, managers can distinguish between potential, core, and lost customers. The bagging model can predict the type of customer and guide the administrator to perform differentiated customer relationship management.

Using an integrated order picking-vehicle routing problem to study the impact of delivery time windows in e-commerce

European e-commerce sales are increasing every year. Nowadays, customers buy more frequently online in smaller quantities. Handling this large amount of customer orders puts the logistic activities of the supply chain under pressure. At the same time, customers have high expectations concerning the delivery of their online purchase. In order to meet these expectations at low cost, B2C e-commerce companies have to reconsider their logistic activities. Instead of optimizing every single process of the supply chain, related problems need to be tackled simultaneously. In the integrated order picking-vehicle routing problem(I-OP-VRP), picking lists and vehicle routes are determined simultaneously. One possibility to meet the high expectations of customers is to allow customers to choose the time window in which they want to be delivered. However, the more customers select a time window during the purchasing process, the higher the total costs for the B2C e-commerce company since the company has less flexibility to construct their delivery routes. To cover the cost increase, e-commerce companies often only provide this service at an additional cost. The objective of this paper is to estimate the additional cost of allowing customers to choose a preferred delivery time window using the integrated order picking-vehicle routing problem. An experimental design is set up to investigate this service cost under varying circumstances depending on customer characteristics, time window characteristics and operator size. Based on the results of the ANOVA it can be concluded that the investigated factors have a significant influence on the additional cost of allowing customers to select a delivery time window.

A Study on Logistics Operation Strategies for the Successful Overseas Direct Sales of the Korean B2C eCommerce Companies: Focus on the Chinese Market

본 연구의 목적은 해외 온라인 소비자의 요구와 기대수준이 높아지고 있는 현 상황에서 국내 B2C 전자상거래 기업 성공의 핵심요소인 물류를 어떻게 운영할 것인가에 대하여 체계적인 안목을 갖도록 일조하는 데 있다. 이 연구를 통하여 학문적으로도 해외 직접 판매를 위한 물류운영방안에 대한 활발한 논의의 장을 제공할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 본 연구는 주로...

An Empirical Study of the Quality Evaluation in Logistic Service of the B2C E-commerce Companies in China

As the outsourcing of key suppliers and business processes becomes increasingly popular, the evaluation and selection of the logistics outsourcing companies is of critical importance in supply chain management. However, there are few quantitative studies on the investigation of the main affecting factors of the logistics service quality focused on the market in China, which is one of the developing countries with the highest online population growth. This paper is an attempt to identify the main factors affecting the logistics service satisfaction of the B2C e-commerce sites in China, and Fisher’s exact test is applied to identify the main affecting factors of logistics service satisfaction and evaluation. The results could be the guideline for the e-commerce companies in terms of improving their outsourcing logistics services.

Main Factors Affecting the Performance of the B2C e-commerce Companies in Retail Market in China

As the development of the internet, there are increasingly online shoppers in the world engaging in e-commerce activities. As the biggest developing country, China has the highest online population growth rates in terms of online shopping. For companies to take full advantage of the potential offered by the Web, it is essential that their electronic commerce (e-commerce) websites be prepared and organized in highly usable manner. This paper is an attempt to investigate the main factors affecting the performance of the top 10 B2C ecommerce companied in retail market in China. GRA (Grey Relational Analysis) and Fisher’s exact test is applied to identify the main affecting factors of online performance of the selected e-commerce companied. The results could be the guideline for the e-commerce companies in terms of improving their online popularity. The managerial implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

Online Service Quality of the B2C e-commerce Companies in China

Online Service Quality of the B2C e-commerce Companies in China

Relationship between employee engagement and big five personality factors: a study of online B2C e-commerce company

Employers want committed employees who will put in their best efforts. They want winning solutions that can match their corporate as well as employees goals. They require committed employees to ensure their success. Employee engagement is a workplace approach designed to ensure that employees are committed to their organization's goals & values and are motivated to contribute to organizational success. The benefits of an engaged workforce are reflected in performance & productivity, improved quality and customer care, enhanced cooperation amongst the workforce, reduced staff turnover, reduced absenteeism and disputes etc. The purpose of this research work was to study personality profile & engagement level of employees and also to explore relationship between personality of employees and their engagement. Five personality traits: Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Openness to Experience were taken as independent variables. Employee Engagement was the dependent variable. This study was conducted amongst the employees of a leading Indian web based B2C e-commerce company located in the National Capital Region with a sample size of 90 respondents. The study revealed that out of five personality factors only Agreeableness, Conscientiousness & Openness to Experience have moderate but positive and significant relationship with employee engagement. Extraversion was found to be unrelated with employee engagement whereas Neuroticism was negatively related.

Inventory Management Challenges for B2C E-commerce Retailers

This research was conducted on B2C e-commerce companies or online retailers to study the challenges involved such as demand variations, reverse logistics, seasonal fluctuations, and stockless policy in inventory management and the risks such as lost sales, lost customers, low customer satisfaction associated with the same. This study also includes various strategies to mitigate the risk associated with inventory management of online retailers.The study revealed that online retailers are poised with myriad of inventory management problems such as demand fluctuations, reverse logistics, stock outs, managing SKU's, keeping count of the inventory, multi channel shoppers, bottleneck and weak points, bullwhip effect and distressed stocks. To mitigate these risks online retailers adopted strategies such as dropship strategy, classification of inventory, hybrid strategy, pre-purchase stocks and stock less policy that is purchasing stocks after customer orders. The study also revealed that better inventory management plays an important role in enhancing customer satisfaction levels which in turn helps e-commerce companies in the long run.

A Study on Logistic and Distribution Innovation of a B2C E-Commerce Company

Most traditional B2C E-commerce enterprises outsource their logistic to the third-party logistics and cooperate with flat channel distributors, which could lower their cost and reduce their risks. Taking Beijing 2688 E-commerce Co., LTD as example differently from the traditional enterprises, which establishes the procurement service model through cooperating with procurement services in the supply chain, this article analyzes the innovations on distribution and logistics of the case enterprise. Consequently the article proposes the key problems that the B2C E-commerce enterprises should pay attention to in the future.