. Abstract The Internet, being the platform of eCommerce in implementing channel functions, is regarded as eChannels of distribution. While eCommerce has being developing rapidly and spreading out around the world, studies on eChannels of distribution have become critical. In order to fully address the complex nature of eChannel environment, in this study, an eChannel typology is proposed and examined. Correspondence Analysis (CA) and cluster analysis are utilized for analysis purposes. Differences between various types of eChannels of distributions are compared and the reasons behind these phenomena are disclosed. Nevertheless, after introducing eChannels of distribution, the performance of eChannels of distribution may not be as good as expected. Factors contributing to the performance of the implementation of eChannels of distribution are therefore highly concerned. However, factors leading to high performance (i.e., success) and low performance (i.e., failure) may differ. Under such a circumstance, factor isolation based on this concept should be conducted. Through a robust literature review, it is revealed that this concept is still in the innovative stage. In addition, factors resulting in success or failure across various types of eChannels of distribution may also be different. In this study, an attempt is made to study the above concerns. Therefore, a set of factors is collected through reviewing literature. Questionnaires are then designed and sent to field practitioners based on various types of eChannels, which are derived from the eChannel typology proposed by this study. The findings of the data analysis lend supports to the above assertion that factors leading to implementation failure of an eChannel of distribution differ from those of success. Besides, success/failure factors across various types of eChannels of distributions vary.
