E-commerce is going mobile: 20% of younger Canadians have made purchases from mobile devices according to the 2015 .CA Factbook

Many Canadian small businesses still lack an online presence

OTTAWA, Feb. 24, 2015 /CNW/ - The 2015 .CA Factbook, an annual report on the state of the Canadian Internet, points to deepening mobile engagement among Canadians, a declining interest in cable subscriptions and new opportunities for Canadian e-commerce.

Key findings from the report

Canadian businesses must seize e-commerce opportunities now

• The Canadian e-commerce sector continues to grow. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian enterprises sold more than $136 billion in goods and services over the Internet in 2013, up from $122 billion a year earlier.
• Mobile devices are taking a more central role in e-commerce. According to .CA's tracking research, 20 per cent of Canadians ages 18-34 have made a purchase from a mobile device.
• Canadians who are buying online report spending more on transactions through Canadian websites than they do on international ones. Selling to Canadians through Canadian websites, therefore, may be an effective sales strategy
• A strong web presence affects retailers looking to drive sales in-store; many Canadians report browsing online for goods they will eventually purchase in-store.

Executive quote

"E-commerce represents an important avenue of growth for Canadian companies," said David Fowler, director of marketing and communications for .CA. "Our research found more than 40 per cent of small businesses do not have websites, yet all Canadians, particularly younger adults, are increasingly making purchases from mobile devices. Canadian small businesses need to get online, and they need to be ready to sell on mobile."

Additional report findings

• New sources of online video have turned Canada into a country of cord-cutters: 39 per cent of Canadians without a cable subscription point to the availability of online video as a factor in their decision not to subscribe. Of those with cable subscriptions, 30 per cent of survey respondents are considering canceling their cable subscriptions.
• Canadians have embraced the mobile revolution and are deepening their engagement on mobile devices: How Canadians use mobile devices is shifting. There was a 46 per cent growth in photo and video sharing (likely due to the popularity of Instagram, snapchat, vine and similar apps.) Mobile viewing of sports content and use of maps and directions applications increased by almost 40 per cent.

Further data is available in the full 2015 .CA Factbook, available online here.

About CIRA and .CA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) manages the .CA top-level domain on behalf of all Canadians. A Member-driven organization, CIRA also develops and implements policies that support Canada's Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

SOURCE Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)

or interview requests: Ryan Saxby Hill, Communications Manager, CIRA, [email protected], 613-316-2397