The future of shopping is here | Digital Business dot Gov | DBCDE

This is a guest post by Sassoon Grigorian, Head of Government Relations for eBay Australia

Shopping is turning on its head.

A? PwC report found that online shopping is now the norm, with a record 53% of Australians shopping online. A PayPal commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting predicts that Australian online retail is set to reach $31.7 billion this year, making an irreversible impact on Australia?s retail landscape.

This comes on the back of a decision by the Australian Government to fund the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to track Australian online retail spending. Having detailed, comprehensive, high quality internet retailing data available will help the government in their policy development and businesses in their decision making. And that?s a good thing.

One important way these statistics could be used is to promote and embrace multi-channel commerce. Multi-channel commerce means engaging customers through different channels, which may include traditional retail, online, mobile and others.

If, as expected, online retail figures are more buoyant than the traditional ?brick and mortar? retail figures, it will demonstrate those businesses that embrace multi-channel commerce can succeed.

Embracing multi-channel commerce is the key to embracing the future of commerce.

And that?s just the start. We are on the precipice of a mobile commerce boom.

In 2011, eBay transacted $5 billion through mobile devices globally ? an overall increase of 150%. eBay expects to transact $8 billion in 2012, with Australia and the UK the fastest growing international eBay mobile markets, as detailed in its Online Business Index [560KB, PDF].

One of the reasons why Australia is experiencing strong growth in mobile commerce is because Australia has one of the highest smartphone penetrations in the world. We are also consuming more apps according to research by IPSOS commissioned by Google [6.7MB, PDF].

More recently, eBay achieved 100 million app downloads and 100 million listings via mobile. Top brands listed on mobile in Australia include Seafolly, Supre and City Chic.

eBay?s annual Online Business Index [560KB, PDF] also found that half of eBay?s top sellers in Australia acknowledge more customers are demanding mobile integration, and more than 70% say mobile strategy will play an important role in their 2012 business outlook, while 63% believe mobile savviness would increase their ability to attract new customers.

Furthermore, a majority (61%) of respondents are committed to investing in mobile technology for the first time in 2012.

The future of retail is an opportunity to be embraced and leveraged.

This is exciting for customers and a great opportunity for retail.

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Source: http://www.digitalbusiness.gov.au/2012/10/12/the-future-of-shopping-is-here/

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