India-No 32 in worldwide e-commerce survey

A global survey carried out by one of the world's largest market information conglomerates has ranked India 32nd in terms of Internet usage. A survey carried out in 36 countries by the Internet research arm of Taylor Nelson Sofres, the world's fourth-largest market research firm, has revealed that 13 percent of India's adult population accesses the Internet.

The research is part of TNS Interactive's-Global e-Commerce Report 2001 is based on about 42,000 representative interviews in 36 countries. Across all those countries surveyed, there has been an increase of 50 percent in the proportion of Internet users who have shopped online compared with 12 months ago when the first Global e-Commerce Report was published.

Key findings for India include:

• Some 13 percent of the Indian adult population has used the Internet in the last month, with 18 percent of males, and seven percent of females doing so, compared with the global adult population average of 31 percent.
• The proportion of the adult population that has used the Internet in the last four weeks has increased by three percent since last year.

Some 10 percent of Internet users say that they plan to buy or order goods or services online within the next six months. 

DP Basu, MD, Taylor Nelson Sofres Mode, the Indian arm, which carried out the study in the four metropolises in the country, said, "Compared to the global average of 31 percent, 13 percent may seem low, but it also shows encouraging growth. And this also shows the potential for e-commerce in the country."

In terms of e-commerce and online shopping, India ranks 33rd at two percent, compared to an average of 15. US heads this list with 33 percent of its Internet users shopping online followed by Germany, Great Britain, Norway and Korea.

"These findings confirm that online shopping in India is starting to grow and its potential is now being recognized by many Internet users. At the same time, companies which provide products and services online need to focus on developments which both reassure customers on issues relating to security and which aim to provide a more tangible shopping experience than at present," Basu added.

"These findings show that online shopping is continuing to undergo significant growth worldwide, despite the much publicized problems of the industry. In part, this is because of increasing confidence in online properties-especially in the more established e-markets. However, it is also the result of a growing number of users in emerging markets shopping online for the first time."

"What is encouraging is that the range of products and services purchased via the Internet is increasing, and that there is a more obvious success in the integration of offline and online activities. It appears that the e-commerce world is realizing that it exists within an offline world and not in an independent environment", concluded Basu.