# E-Marketplace State of the Art and Trends: VR-ZOCO--An Architectural Proposal for the Future
## 2 Electronic Marketplaces
### Emerging Trends  
A review of the literature on the design, development, and implementation of e-commerce portals identified eight key research themes from a variety of areas (business, management, and accounting; social sciences; computer science; environmental science; engineering; energy; economics, econometrics and finance or decision sciences) [12; 21]: _EM success, EM adoption, EM design, EM impact, EM and trust, EM and SMEs_, mobile EM, and EM security.  
Building on the eight identified research themes, the current landscape of EM necessitates further exploration in several cutting-edge areas. Each of these areas not only enhances the e-commerce experience but also addresses significant societal and environmental challenges.  
* **Environmental Impact of E-Marketplaces.** As the digital economy expands, its environmental footprint becomes a growing concern. Research into minimizing carbon footprints through optimized logistics, encouraging local pickups, and integrating eco-friendly technologies is imperative [14; 15; 26]. This is particularly relevant in the development of models that support the concept of a '15-minute city' [19], where consumers can access goods and services within a short walk or bike ride from their homes, thus reducing vehicular emissions and promoting sustainability.
* **Strengthening Local Economies.** The synergy between online platforms and local businesses can be harnessed more effectively. There is a significant gap in understanding how e-marketplaces can empower local economies while maintaining global reach [18]. Investigating strategies for local economic boosts, such as featuring local SMEs prominently on portals and creating dynamic local ecosystems, could provide substantial benefits to both consumers and local businesses.
* **Generative Artificial Intelligence in EMs.** The potential of generative AI as a copilot for both users and vendors in e-commerce portals remains largely untapped. Research into AI that can dynamically generate accurate and engaging product descriptions, provide personalized shopping advice, and create interactive and immersive experiences can transform user interactions. This involves not just recommendation systems but AI that understands and predicts user needs and preferences in real time [27; 28; 29; 30].
* **Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, Augmented Reality and the Metaverse.** With advancements in virtual and augmented reality, the next frontier for e-commerce lies in immersive experiences. The development of interfaces that allow consumers to interact with products in a virtual space offers a richer, more informative shopping experience. Investigating how these technologies can be seamlessly integrated into existing platforms and studying their impact on consumer behavior and satisfaction, will be crucial [31; 32; 33].  
Each of these areas presents unique challenges and opportunities for research and development. The proposed e-commerce portal model aims to leverage these trends to not only enhance user experience but also to contribute positively to environmental sustainability and local economies. The next section details how these integrations are envisioned within the new platform, addressing the specific functionalities that set it apart from existing solutions.