The coming year will be a busy one for UK delivery services as the online market continues to grow, but internet retailers need to ensure they are offering a secure and safe service to consumers, according to a recent study.

Data from CyberSource's eighth annual UK Online Fraud Report suggests the success of 2011 is likely to be reflected in growing sales figures for internet retailers.

It found 73 per cent of online merchants expect a boost in trade over 2012, with 24 per cent expecting steady, unchanged revenue.

Smaller businesses are especially optimistic about their prospects in the new year, with their average growth expectations coming to a 35 per cent increase in revenue.

Dr Akif Khan, co-author of the report and director of products and services for CyberSource in the EMEA region, said the results were encouraging but warned m-commerce channels had to be properly secured to avoid criminal activity.

The British Retail Consortium recently revealed that Christmas 2011 had seen unprecedented volumes of shopping activity on smartphones.
 

Author:  Paul Burn