The construction and evolution path of cross-border e-commerce ecosystem

Abstract

Cross-border e-commerce is a novel form of online commerce that has become increasingly important in driving the growth of international trade and promoting economic globalization. As a strategic tool, it allows businesses to expand their reach across borders, connect with a global customer base, and tap into new markets with greater ease and efficiency than traditional forms of trade. The "cross-border" attribute of cross-border e-commerce has led to a diverse and complex ecosystem. Although the industry has begun to recognize the important role of cross-border e-commerce, there is still a lack of effective theories to analyze it. In this paper, we use the theory of ecosystem to interpret the concept and analyze the structure of the cross-border e-commerce ecosystem. The paper argues that the cross-border e-commerce ecosystem evolves in a similar way to other ecosystems, including business and e-commerce ecosystems. While it aligns with the development of related practice fields, it is still in its early stages. Taking a symbiosis theory and niche theory perspective, this paper examines the evolution path of the cross-border e-commerce ecosystem, using a case study of Alibaba. The analysis focuses on the symbiotic unit, symbiotic relationship, symbiotic environment, and niche width.