Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Strong growth
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- Figure 1: Total development of e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- The B2B activity
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- Figure 2: B2B e-commerce sales, 2015-19, by channel
- Wholesale and manufacturing leading the market
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- Figure 3: Segmentation of e-commerce sales, 2019, by sector
- Figure 4: Segmentation of B2B e-commerce sales, 2019, by sector
- The importance of e-commerce
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- Figure 5: Proportional importance of e-commerce, 2018, by sector
- The major drivers
- Strong prospects
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- Figure 6: Forecast development of B2C and B2B e-commerce, 2020-24
- Figure 7: Forecast segmentation of the B2B e-commerce market, 2020-24
- Companies and brands
- The role of marketplaces
- The remainder of the sector
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- Figure 7: Proportion of companies making e-commerce sales, by channel, 2009-18
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Marketplace or website?
- The facts
- The implications
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- Figure 8: Proportion of companies gaining orders for goods or services via a website or app, 2018, by size of company
- To market or sell on the internet?
- The facts
- The implications
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- Figure 9: Proportion of UK businesses with marketing and e-commerce websites, 2018
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- Figure 10: Sector penetration of small businesses, by sector, 2019
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- 16% growth
- The B2B activity
- Market penetration
- Routes to market
Market Size
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- Strong e-commerce growth
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- Figure 11: Total development of e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- Website sales driving growth
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- Figure 12: E-commerce sales 2015-19, by channel
- The B2B activity
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- Figure 13: B2B e-commerce sales, 2015-19, by channel
Market Segmentation
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- B2B much larger than B2C
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- Figure 14: Segmentation of e-commerce activity, 2019, by end use market (£ billion)
- The role of EDI
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- Figure 15: Segmentation of the B2B e-commerce market, 2019, by channel (£ billion)
- Business sector segmentation
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- Figure 16: Segmentation of e-commerce sales, 2019, by sector
- Figure 17: Segmentation of B2B e-commerce sales, 2019, by sector
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- Figure 18: Proportional importance of e-commerce, 2018, by sector
Segmentation: Manufacturing
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- Continued steady growth
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- Figure 19: Development of manufacturing e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- EDI is the favoured route
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- Figure 20: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the manufacturing sector, 2015-19, by channel
- The dominant role of B2B
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- Figure 21: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the manufacturing sector, 2015-19, by end use market
- The mismatch in importance
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- Figure 22: Proportion of Turnover and proportion of companies active in E-commerce in the manufacturing sector, 2018
Segmentation: Utilities
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- Erratic e-commerce development
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- Figure 23: Development of utilities e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- The importance of e-commerce
- A major website sales market
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- Figure 24: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the utilities sector, 2015-19, by channel
- B2C more important than B2B
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- Figure 25: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the utilities sector, 2015-19, by end use market
Segmentation: Construction
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- A modest user of e-commerce
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- Figure 26: Development of construction e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- EDI and web sales both in growth
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- Figure 27: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the construction sector, 2015-19, by channel
- B2B leading the growth
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- Figure 28: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the construction sector, 2015-19, by end use market
- The mismatch in importance
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- Figure 29: Proportion of Turnover and proportion of companies active in E-commerce in the construction sector, 2018
Segmentation: Wholesale
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- The largest e-commerce market
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- Figure 30: Development of wholesale e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- An equal split; website and EDI sales
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- Figure 31: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the wholesale sector, 2015-19, by channel
- Still predominantly a B2B market
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- Figure 32: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the wholesale sector, 2015-19, by end use market
- Still major potential
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- Figure 33: Proportion of Turnover and proportion of companies active in E-commerce in the wholesale sector, 2018
Segmentation: Retail
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- Strong growth continues
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- Figure 34: Development of retail e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- Website sales dominate
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- Figure 35: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the retail sector, 2015-19, by channel
- Mainly, but not totally, targeting consumers
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- Figure 36: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the retail sector, 2015-19, by end use market
- Still further potential
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- Figure 37: Proportion of Turnover and proportion of companies active in E-commerce in the retail sector, 2018
Segmentation: Transport and Storage
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- A strongly penetrated sector
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- Figure 38: Development of transport and storage e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- EDI slowly growing in importance
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- Figure 39: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the transport and storage sector, 2015-19, by channel
- B2B more important than B2C
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- Figure 40: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the transport and storage sector, 2015-19, by end use market
Segmentation: Accommodation and Food Services
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- Growth increases in 2019
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- Figure 41: Development of accommodation and food services e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- Strongly geared to website sales
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- Figure 42: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the accommodation and food services sector, 2015-19, by channel
- Growth of B2C market
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- Figure 43: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the accommodation and food services sector, 2015-19, by end use market
- Major differences between sectors
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- Figure 44: Proportion of Turnover and proportion of companies active in E-commerce in the accommodation and food services sector, 2018
Segmentation: Information and Communications
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- Strong growth continues
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- Figure 45: Development of information and communications e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- Strong website sales activity
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- Figure 46: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the information and communications sector, 2015-19, by channel
- Strongest growth in B2C sector
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- Figure 47: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the information and communications sector, 2015-19, by end use market
- Still room for growth
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- Figure 48: Proportion of Turnover and proportion of companies active in E-commerce in the information and communications sector, 2018
Segmentation: Other Services
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- Slow growth
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- Figure 49: Development of other services e-commerce sales, 2015-19
- Market led by website sales
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- Figure 50: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the other services sector, 2015-19, by channel
- B2C and B2B both major markets
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- Figure 51: Segmentation of e-commerce sales in the other services sector, 2015-19, by end use market
Market Forecast
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- Significant further potential
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- Figure 52: Forecast total e-commerce market, 2020-24
- Strong growth of both B2C and B2B
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- Figure 53: Forecast development of B2C and B2B e-commerce, 2020-24
- EDI and website sales in the B2B sector
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- Figure 54: Forecast segmentation of the B2B e-commerce market, 2020-24
The Impact of the Economy
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- UK GDP flat in Q4
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- Figure 55: UK GDP growth rate, 2012-19
- Covid-19 affecting markets around the world in 2020
- Business investment and confidence suffering from uncertainty
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- Figure 56: UK business investment, £ million, Q1 2015 – Q3 2019
- Figure 57: UK ICT investment, £ million, Q1 2015 – Q3 2019
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- Figure 58: ICAEW UK National Business ConfidenceTM index, Q1 2014 – Q1 2020
Market Trends
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- The influence of B2C on B2B e-commerce
- Environmental issues gaining importance
- The voice-enabled evolution
- AI and ML continued development and impact
- Online marketplaces
- Speed of order fulfilment
- Immersive e-commerce
Market Drivers
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- Continued internet growth
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- Figure 59: Worldwide internet usage, by region, 2000-19 (million)
- Figure 60: Proportion of UK businesses with internet access, by size of company, 2018
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- Figure 61: Proportion of employees using computers and the internet for their business, by size of company, 2018
- Figure 62: Breakdown of employees with work internet access, by size of company, 2018 (million)
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- Figure 63: Proportion of employees provided with a 3G portable device for accessing the internet for their business, by size of company, 2018
- Website use by companies
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- Figure 64: Proportion of UK businesses with websites, by size of business, 2018
- Figure 65: Proportion of companies with various capabilities on their websites, by size of business, 2018
Companies and Brands – What You Need to Know
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- Marketplaces open the market to all
- More and more companies getting involved
- Size matters
Industry Structure
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- The role of marketplaces
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- Figure 66: Sales development of world top e-commerce marketplaces, 2018 (number)
- The remainder of the industry
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- Figure 67: Development of the dedicated retail sales via mail order or internet, 2015-19
- Strong potential for growth
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- Figure 68: Proportion of companies making e-commerce sales, by channel, 2009-18
- E-commerce sales vary by company size
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- Figure 69: Proportion of companies gaining e-commerce sales by size of company, 2017 and 2018
- Figure 70: E-commerce sales by size of company and channel, 2018
Competitive Strategies
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- Introduction
- E-commerce plus
- Internationalisation
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- Figure 71: Geographic breakdown of Electrocomponents sales 2019 (£ million)
- Transforming catalogue sales
- The multi-channel approach
Company Profiles
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- Alibaba Group Holdings
- Activity
- Performance
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- Figure 72: Turnover summary of Alibaba Group Holdings, 2015-19
- Figure 73: Revenue segmentation of Alibaba Group Holdings, 2019 (US$ million)
- Strategy
- Amazon
- Activity
- Performance
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- Figure 74: Financial performance of Amazon, 2014-18 ($ million)
- Figure 75: Net sales of Amazon in the UK, 2014-18
- Strategy
- Electrocomponents
- Activity
- Performance
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- Figure 76: Financial performance of Electrocomponents, 2015-19 (£ Million)
- Strategy
- Office Depot International
- Activity
- Performance
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- Figure 77: Financial performance of Office Depot International (UK), 2014-18 (£ million)
- Strategy
- Orbital Fasteners
- Activity
- Performance
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- Figure 78: Financial performance of Orbital Fasteners Holdings, 2014-18 (£ million)
- Strategy
- Screwfix Direct
- Activity
- Performance
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- Figure 79: Financial performance of Screwfix Direct, 2015-19 (£ million)
- Strategy
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Abbreviations
- Methodology
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