Small retailers slow on ecommerce uptake
Small retailers are lagging behind their bigger rivals in integrating ecommerce into their business operations, a survey carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the DTI has found.
Overall, more than three-quarters (77%) of retailers have adopted ecommerce technologies, while 71% use email and 53% have a website.
But amongst smaller retailers, only 56% have thought about the benefits of ecommerce, creating a ‘digital divide’ in the UK retail sector.
According to the report, ecommerce can result in significant cost and time savings through implementing such things as supply chain management models and CRM technologies.
Stephen Timms, ecommerce minister said UK retailers were making progress in the adoption of ecommerce and developing ebusiness solutions, but he added: ‘Ebusiness technologies offer a wealth of benefits. In order to exploit these we must help create the right culture throughout the business community so that UK firms of all sizes can seize the competitive advantage.’