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Clash of the e‐commerce titans: A new paradigm for consumer purchase process improvement

Sameer Kumar (Opus College of Business, University of St Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
Jessica Eidem (Opus College of Business, University of St Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
Diana Noriega Perdomo (Opus College of Business, University of St Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management

ISSN: 1741-0401

Article publication date: 14 September 2012

7197

Abstract

Purpose

The motivation for this paper arises from the evolution of the e‐commerce which has provided new means for retailers to serve customers. Pure e‐tailers and clicks‐and‐mortars are two business models of this new paradigm. It aims to study the particularities of pure e‐tailer (Amazon.com) and clicks‐and‐mortars (Walmart) with special focus on their dot com supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

Strengths, weaknesses, oppositions, threats (SWOT), the Five Forces Model and Financial Performance Metrics analyses were used to draw comparisons and contrasts between Walmart.com and Amazon.com supply chains.

Findings

The paper finds that both companies serve their customers effectively through their efficient supply chains; however, due to the infancy of e‐commerce, both business models still face important challenges.

Originality/value

Amazon.com and Walmart.com have different supply chain models, as well as, strengths and weaknesses. They both face the same opportunities and threats as the e‐commerce industry grows rapidly. Analysis shows how lessons from one business entity can be applied to the other in order to bring even more efficiencies to both e‐tailers’ and clicks and mortars’ supply chains.

Keywords

Citation

Kumar, S., Eidem, J. and Noriega Perdomo, D. (2012), "Clash of the e‐commerce titans: A new paradigm for consumer purchase process improvement", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 61 No. 7, pp. 805-830. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410401211263872

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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