British online businesses growing more than 50 times faster than the economy

Companies that operate online are thriving despite the current tough economic conditions, according to new research from Barclays’ Technology, Media and Telecoms industry team, with half of those questioned having produced double digit growth in the last three years.

Barclays Online Business Outlook 2013 has revealed that the average online company surveyed experienced 11.4% compound annual growth over the last three years.  With the UK economy growing just 0.2% in the same period, the online sector is growing at a rate of 57 times faster.

The in-depth independent research found that the UK’s online economy has performed exceptionally well in what has been an uncertain environment worldwide.

Regarding respondents’ outlook for their business over the next year:

• Nearly two thirds (64%) of online businesses are optimistic about their own growth prospects for the year ahead. Only 4% of those surveyed are pessimistic
• 48% stated that they are optimistic about the UK economy in 2013, with only 13% being pessimistic
• 35% cited a rise in competition in their sector as the biggest threat they face this year
• 25% cited increasing costs across their business as the second biggest threat

Sean Duffy, Managing Director and Head of Technology, Media and Telecoms at Barclays, comments: “Online businesses have bucked the trend over the last three years and experienced success in spite of the stagnant economic conditions.  The next challenge for companies operating online is sustaining this level of growth and ensuring that they take advantage of new and rising trends.  We are advising our online clients to become mobile-ready, as it’s a significant opportunity, particularly with the imminent roll out of 4G networks across the UK due to make mobile browsing easier for more and more consumers. Businesses that fail to move with the times risk losing out on valuable ecommerce opportunities.”

As well as looking into the overall business picture and the growth rates of online businesses, the research also investigated attitudes towards mobile and in particular, the arrival of 4G networks.  Already widely identified as a key trend to affect online companies, Barclays Online Business Outlook revealed many businesses are unprepared for this opportunity:

• 64% of online businesses in the UK believe a mobile strategy is an important factor in their 2013 business success, yet almost the same number (60%) admitted they are yet to devise and implement such a strategy
• 89% of online businesses have not yet developed their website for mobile devices
• Online businesses that have developed mobile sites or apps generated 27.8% of their revenues from mobile in 2012, an average of £2,474,000*
• 34% of online businesses  questioned reported a rise in mobile traffic to their website since Christmas last year, compared to the same period the year before
• 53% believe that 4G networks will increase mobile traffic to their website further still
• Almost half (45%) are unsure whether their website will be able to cope with the additional traffic generated from 4G networks

Sean Duffy concludes: “In our experience, online businesses that have already invested in the mobile side of their business through the development of mobile-ready websites or apps are already seeing a significant proportion of their business coming from mobile devices. Our research backs up what our clients are telling us – mobile-ready online businesses generated more than a quarter of their revenue from mobile last year. Considering that the average online business in the UK generated £8.9 million in revenue in 2012, this equates to almost £2.5 million of potential income through mobile. Online business is already booming and with the number of mobile consumers only set to rise, our view is that it will continue to do so.”

The independent research comes as 4G mobile licences were awarded to leading mobile phone operators in an Ofcom auction worth almost £2.5bn.  With 4G networks due to roll out to the majority of consumers this year, 4G mobile broadband will  provide smartphone and tablet computer users with “superfast” download speeds, up to 10 times faster than current speeds.

The study also looked into attitudes around bank borrowing, 46% of online companies believe bank borrowing is more expensive nowadays compared to five years ago, despite the fact that banks such as Barclays are currently lending at the cheapest rates for 25 years.

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Notes to editors

For further information, please contact: 

Kathryn Mills-Webb, Babel PR for Barclays Corporate Banking

(T) +44 (0)20 7434 5550, Kathryn@babelpr.com

 

Or 

Carla Evans, Media Relations, Barclays Corporate Banking

(D) +44 (0)20 7166 6058, (M) +44 (0)7881 318 455, Carla.evans@barclays.com

 

Barclays Online Business Outlook 2013 was undertaken in February-March 2013 by Harris Interactive, and surveyed 302 online businesses in the UK where at least 60% of total revenue in 2012 was generated online.

*Based on average revenues of £8.9 million in 2012 (Barclays Online Business Outlook 2013)

About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 140,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.

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