The findings reveal a business world striving to maximise the revenue potential of digital technology but struggling to make that a reality. Despite UK businesses investing in digital commerce, with mcommerce (49%) and desktop ecommerce (81%) already key sales channels, only 19% of total annual revenue currently comes from digital commerce.
When asked to pinpoint the challenges faced in maximising the potential of digital commerce, respondents claimed the biggest battle for developing ecommerce as a whole (41%), and more specifically when it came to mcommerce (23%), was the issue of integration with traditional sales channels such as face-to-face and in-store. Handling customer service (37%) and managing the distribution of products when selling to customers (35%) were also noted as challenges.
However, businesses need little convincing of the advantages of digital sales channels and in many cases are already experiencing them – 89% of luxury retailers with a mobile sales channel have experienced benefits as a result. Additionally, over two thirds (69%) of respondents highlighted the ability to collect customer data and target customers more accurately as key benefits.
Neil Stewart, CEO of Salmon commented: “Increased year-on-year spend, technologies providing the next cutting-edge development and improved customer engagement are all proof that UK business is certainly seizing this opportunity with both hands. But the ecommerce journey is not a smooth one for a number of organisations and this is hindering their potential across digital channels.”
Despite the revenue opportunities digital commerce brings, it is clear that businesses face challenges in turning benefits, such as improved brand awareness, into increased sales. The situation is not helped by lack of clear responsibility – 67% don’t have a dedicated team in place – or a plan to deal with the pace of change, with over half (51%) agreeing their organisation does not have the skills to maximise the potential of digital technologies.
Looking ahead, as digital technology continues to innovate and new services come into play, businesses are preparing to take advantage, with almost half of all organisations (49%) planning to invest in the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables within the next five years.
“British businesses are certainly exploiting digital sales channels but the fact is that they can do more to realise their full potential,” added Stewart. “Rushing ahead with emerging digital technologies before mastering the basics is unlikely to reap the revenue returns we all hope for. Digital commerce has the potential to be as vital to UK plc – whether B2B or consumer-facing – as it is to the lives of the general public. Businesses need to think long and hard about the role digital commerce can play in their organisations and go on a journey to realising that potential, implementing strategies which suit the bespoke needs of their customers.”
The full study, entitled ‘British Business In The Digital Age’, is available for download from www.salmon.com/digitalbritain2015.
Source: Salmon
