Many have been watching the growth of e-commerce over recent years and has not slowed down. It's growth is currently at an average of 16% per year. E-Commerce sales appear they will continue to do so in the years to come as well. Experts have now put numbers to their findings and show they will reach very high by 2017.
According to eMarketer Incorporated, e-commerce sales will reach $434 billion by 2017 reported Internet Retailer. The projection is at a compounded annual growth rate. 2013 sales are expected to reach $258.9 billion. This is up from sales for 2012, which ended at $225.5 billion. This is also an increase from 2011, which was 15.8% at $194.7 billion. They project the numbers will taper off yearly and will be as the following: 14.6% in 2014, 14.2% in 2015, 13.6% in 2016 and 12.8% in 2017.
The report discussed how mobile devices are weighing in as a key component to the projected online growth. EMarketer has find that currently smartphones and tablets are accounting for 11% of e-commerce sales. They project by 2017, mobile devices will steadily grow, and they will account for 25% of all e-commerce sales. This is a large percentage considering this means one fourth of all e-commerce sales shoppers will perform transactions on-the-go, at home, or somewhere else. This shows shoppers will continue to seek convenience and speed to get their online purchases in their hands.
Web sales increase will be largely seen in the category of computers and electronics. These categories will account for $56.8 billion in 2013, equating to 21.9% of all e-commerce growth. Apparel and accessory categories will also rank as being on high online demand by shoppers. They will reach $54.2 billion this year, which equates to 20.9% of web sales this year. Shoppers have products they are looking for on the web and will be cross-shopping to get the deals they are looking for, especially with knowing there will always be a deal available if they purchase online.
Web traffic has a lot to do will the forecast as well. There is an increased online traffic for retail giants like Amazon in 2012, where online traffic grew 3% in the fourth quarter at 115 million. Macy's online traffic grew 11% in the fourth quarter at 118 million. There certainly appears to be a trend that e-commerce is steadily growing and consumers are more comfortable shopping online. With the increase of e-commerce, many online retailers such as Wal-Mart, eBay, Nordstrom's, Target, and more are testing same-day delivery for their e-commerce sales to offer the components of online shopping customers are looking for.
A same-day courier like A-1 Express can assist retailers capitalize on the e-commerce growth. This nationwide courier is able to develop a courier logistics solution that fits the online delivery needs of retailers. As e-commerce continues at this fast pace, an optimal delivery system by a same-day courier will be just what e-retailers need to compete through 2017 and beyond.
Reference: 4.25.13, Internet Retailer, Allison Enright, U.S. e-commerce sales could top $434 billion in 2017