Identification of Actors – Amazon E-Commerce System

In software engineering, especially in use case modeling, an actor is any entity that interacts with the system from outside its boundaries. These can be users, roles, external systems, or services. Below are the primary actors for the Amazon platform:

1. Customer (End User)

Role: The primary consumer who visits Amazon to search, browse, and purchase products.

Responsibilities:

• Register and log in.
• Browse and search for products.
• Add products to cart and wishlist.
• Place orders and make payments.
• Track orders and request returns.
• Provide ratings and reviews.

Why an Actor?: Customers initiate the majority of system functionalities and generate business.

2. Seller (Vendor)

Role: An individual or business that lists products on Amazon for sale.

Responsibilities:

• Manage seller account and profile.
• Add and update product listings.
• Manage inventory and pricing.
• View and process customer orders.
• Handle returns and disputes.
• Analyze sales and performance metrics.

Why an Actor?: Sellers interact with Amazon’s back-office system to offer products and manage orders.

3. Admin (Amazon Staff)

Role: Internal users who maintain the overall functioning, content, and policy enforcement of the platform.

Responsibilities:

• Approve or block seller accounts.
• Monitor fraud and suspicious activities.
• Manage categories, promotions, and advertisements.
• Respond to escalations and customer complaints.
• Maintain system integrity and performance.

Why an Actor?: Admins have system-level access and manage both user and seller activities.

4. Payment Gateway (External System)

Role: A third-party service provider that processes customer payments securely.

Responsibilities:

• Authorize and authenticate payment details.
• Handle refunds and chargebacks.
• Provide payment status to Amazon.

Why an Actor?: It’s an external system that plays a critical role in financial transactions.

5. Delivery Partner (Courier Service)

Role: External logistics provider responsible for picking up and delivering packages.

Responsibilities:

• Accept order pickup requests.
• Provide real-time tracking updates.
• Confirm delivery or return status.

Why an Actor?: It’s an external agent providing delivery services but integrated into the Amazon process.

6. Guest User (Unregistered Visitor)

Role: A non-logged-in user browsing the platform without an account.

Responsibilities:

• Search and browse products.
• View promotions and product details.
• Register or login to continue to checkout.

Why an Actor?: Though limited, they interact with the system and can become customers.