Australian businesses received online orders worth $189 billion in the twelve months to 2010-11, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 


This includes orders received from Australian households, businesses and government, as well as orders received from overseas customers. 

This is up from $143 billion in 2009-10 and represents a 32% increase. 

Over half of Australian businesses (51%) reported placing orders via the internet, a nine percent increase from 2009-10. 

The proportion of businesses that reported receiving orders via the internet increased by 13% to 28%. Half or more of the businesses in the wholesale trade and manufacturing industries reported receiving orders online (52% and 50% respectively). The retail industry came in sixth place (35%). 

Businesses reporting a web presence increased from 40% to 43%. Nearly all large businesses had a web presence (97%), compared to one-third of micro businesses. 

Innovation in Australian business
Just under 40% of Australian businesses reported some form of innovative activity in 2010-11. 

Large businesses were more than twice as likely to undertake innovative activity than micro businesses (66% compared to 30%).

Over half of all businesses in Wholesale trade industry reported being innovation-active, the highest of any industry. 

Further information is available in Summary of IT Use and Innovation in Australian Business(cat. no. 8166.0).