State-of-the-art review of customer to business (C2B) model

With the continuous improvement of living standards, customers are ever more looking for products which are characterized by individualization, entertainment and scene. The production model of the enterprises is moving from the traditional inventory model to the manufacturing model driven by the customer orders. In this paper, we have summarized the birth, concept, characteristics, classification, evolution, related technologies and application of C2B (Customer to Business) models. Through the analysis of C2B which is based on e-commerce, mass customization and mass personalization, we have summarized and redefined the several forms of C2B: such as Customer to Business to Manufactory- Mass Customization (C2B2M-MC) model, Customer to Business to Manufactory- Mass Personalization (C2B2M-MP) model, Customer to Manufactory (C2M) model, CPM (Customer Platform-connecting Manufactory) model, Customer to Manufactory to Service (C2M2S) model, and have made a comparative analysis on these models. Finally, the implementation stages were proposed and effects of C2B were summarized. In addition, in the prospect of subsequent research, combining with the existing analysis and C2B projects we involved in, we will derive an overall framework of C2B. The research theory of this paper can give a certain reference to enterprises in the new period from the traditional mode to the network innovation mode. At the same time, it also has a good implementation effects in the related C2B projects we have participated in.