According to the study conducted by Internet Retailer and Vovici Corp, over seven out of ten internet-based retailers intend to increase their budgets for certain applications and services in the coming year, eMarketer reports.

 

Many are considering replacing their entire platforms, while others will be implementing products such as customer reviews and ratings, live chat and enhanced site search, as well as improving personalisation.

 

Also high on the agenda for digital traders is social marketing, with almost 50 per cent planning to bring in strategies involving this over the next 12 months.

 

Founder of Fry Inc David Fry spoke to Internet Retailer, observing that intelligent businesses will understand that they need to bring in new technology now or risk missing out on bigger opportunities after the recovery has happened.

 

"The last time many retailers installed a new ecommerce platform was five years ago," he said.

 

Earlier this month, it was suggested by eDigitalResearch that traditional high street-based stores that also have a web presence are outperforming those that operate exclusively online, with better customer service and multi-channel technology given as reasons for this.