A new survey of 300 eCommerce decision makers in the U.S., UK and
Canada, commissioned by web infrastructure and cloud hosting provider Peer
1 Hosting, reveals that 76 percent believe customers’ perceptions of
their brand are directly impacted by the quality of user experience on
their eCommerce website. As a result, 33 percent of those surveyed plan
to invest significantly in the overall design of their eCommerce sites,
and 29 percent in improving overall user experience, to achieve higher
online conversion rates in 2014.
Additionally, Peer 1 asked decision makers about the impact of key
eCommerce investments during one of their busiest times of the year –
the 2013 holiday season – which accounted for approximately two-fifths
(65%) of their annual revenue, according to the survey results. Overall,
86 percent report excellent or good conversion rates during this
timeframe, and 65 percent say conversion rates were higher during the
2013 holiday season than the previous holiday season. Nearly half (49
percent) credit this improvement to investments in overall website
design.
Online retailers also attribute success during the 2013 holiday season
to investments in user-centric website features and capabilities,
including shopping cart and checkout functionality (36 percent), mobile
device compatibility (35 percent), security (23 percent), load time
improvements (21 percent) and SEO (21 percent). In their plans for 2014,
respondents cite similar investments, with the addition of building out
international capabilities (19 percent), which many plan to prioritize
in the coming year.
“eCommerce brands around the world are realizing the impact of
delivering a truly personalized experience for their customers and are
investing in making their websites more user-centric,” said Robert
Miggins, senior vice president of business development, Peer 1. “Not
only does a high quality eCommerce experience boost a brand’s
reputation, but as our research shows, it has a huge impact on website
conversions and, ultimately, the bottom line. With more and more
transactions happening online, e-retailers are likely to continue
investing heavily in making every online interaction matter.”
“Delivering a user-centric eCommerce experience requires more than just
good performance or device compatibility,” said Greg Segall, president
of digital commerce agency One
Pica, a Peer 1 partner. “It requires website customization that can
rival the in-store experience. Therefore, many e-retailers are
experimenting with web personalization features, such as those outlined
in Peer 1’s survey, as well as new try-on, location-aware and 1-to-1
recommendation services. For all e-retailers, the trend continues to
focus on breaking down the boundaries of online shopping, allowing
retailers to develop a more personal relationship with their customers
while also developing new revenue streams.”
Peer 1 believes that much can be accomplished when great people fuel
amazing technology. Peer 1 helps global brands realize their potential
and boost their performance online with optimized and wholly-scalable eCommerce
infrastructure. Online retailers can rely on Peer 1’s robust PCI
compliance, 10 Gbps FastFiber Network and a team of knowledgeable
experts who will never settle for the status quo.
Visit Peer
1’s website for the full results of the survey.
About Peer 1 Hosting
Peer 1 Hosting, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cogeco Cable Inc. (TSX:
CCA), is a global web infrastructure and cloud company where dreamers,
innovators, and disruptors go to harness the untapped power of the
Internet, to change the world for the better. Peer 1 makes this a
reality with every interaction, using innovative technology to deliver
an exceptionally responsive, reliable and secure hosting experience. The
Peer 1 commitment "where every interaction matters," represents the
company’s dedication to powering human potential online, through its
personal interactions and connections with customers, partners, people,
resources, and technology. For more information visit: http://www.Peer1.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014