Specific eCommerce Questions
Provides an explanation of key terms like store and marketplace, GMV, eCommerce activity revenue, first and third party sales, price calculations, online/offline splits and more.
An online store is defined by its specific URL. For example, the company Zalando has different stores: zalando.de, zalando.fr, etc.
An online marketplace is a type of eCommerce platform that allows multiple sellers to sell their products or services to consumers. In an online marketplace, the marketplace operator provides a platform where sellers can list and sell their products, and buyers can browse and purchase them. The operator typically charges a commission for each transaction and/or a fee for using the platform. Examples of online marketplaces include Amazon, eBay, and Tmall. For more details see our glossary.
GMV stands for gross merchandise value, or gross merchandise volume. It is the total value of merchandise sold through a company's online platform in a given time period. It includes the value of merchandise sold by both the first-party seller (i.e., the marketplace operator that sells its own products on that platform) and a third-party seller (i.e., sellers who do not own the marketplace but only use that platform to sell their products). GMV is the most commonly used measure of marketplace size.
GMV includes first- and third-party sales, as well as value-added tax (VAT). GMV also includes returns, marketplace commissions, and service fees (such as shipping costs).
eCommerce activity revenue includes all gross first party sales and third party GMV generated on all online platforms operated by a company or its subsidiaries which are in-scope.
In the context of an online marketplace, a first-party seller, also known as direct seller, is the owner or operator of the marketplace that sells its own products on the platform.
A third-party seller is a brand or entity that partners with an online retailer. These sellers list their products or services on the retailer's platform, alongside the retailer's offerings.
The revenue share of a given month always corresponds to the year it belongs to. For example, a 7.6% revenue share in August 2023 indicates that 7.6% of the total yearly revenue in the market for 2023 was generated in that month.
A shipping service provider (SSP) is a company that handles the physical transportation of goods from the seller to the buyer. SSP offer a variety of delivery options, such as standard or express shipping, and can deliver to various destinations, including domestic and international locations. Examples of shipping service providers include DHL, UPS, and FedEx.
At ECDB, we include delivery methods such as "Self-collection/Click & collect" as part of the SSP options. These options are important for customers who prefer to collect their orders in person or at a designated pickup location rather than have them delivered to their home or workplace. For more details see our glossary.
A payment service provider (PSP) is a third-party company that allows businesses to accept electronic payments, such as credit card and debit card payments. PSPs act as intermediaries between those who make payments, i.e. consumers, and those who accept them, i.e. retailers.
They will often provide merchant services and act as a payment gateway or payment processor. We identify all payment providers mentioned in the check-out process of a store. ECDB has identified over 500 different PSPs worldwide.
Shop software, also known as eCommerce software or online store software, is a type of computer program designed to help businesses create, manage, and operate an online store. It typically includes a set of features and tools for managing online sales, inventory, customer data, payment processing, shipping, and other aspects of eCommerce. Shop software can vary in complexity, from simple platforms for small businesses to more advanced solutions for large enterprises.
Some popular examples of shop software include Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. For more details see our glossary.
The online/offline split in the Sales Channels box shows the share of online retail versus offline retail. The total of 100% corresponds to the market size of the relevant market in Statista’s Consumer Market Insights, which covers both online and offline sales.
The online share, meanwhile, represents the corresponding eCommerce market. The remaining share refers solely to offline sales.
