A multi‐agent architecture to support B2C e‐Marketplaces: the e‐ZOCO case study

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a multi‐agent architecture, which offers services to be applied in B2C e‐Marketplaces and to present the core system: the search agent.

Design/methodology/approach

The different parts that compose an e‐commerce portal are naturally performed through intelligent agents, which have the ability to communicate with one another and autonomously act depending on defined goals.

Findings

The search agent returns the more relevant results in direct shopping than others previously used. It is based on a usability‐improved fuzzy searching mechanism that allows the specification of uncertain and vague searching preferences.

Research limitations/implications

More empirical research efforts need to be directed to study the efficiency over time. This work is based on a prototype, which is its main limitation.

Practical implications

Intelligent agents can be useful to improve e‐commerce services in B2C portals.

Originality/value

The research extends previous authors' work on the application of intelligent agents to e‐commerce fields.

Citation

Jesús Castro‐Schez, J., Miguel, R., Vallejo, D. and Herrera, V. (2010), "A multi‐agent architecture to support B2C e‐Marketplaces: the e‐ZOCO case study", Internet Research, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 255-275. https://doi.org/10.1108/10662241011050704