Mobile accounts for 5% of all online sales

Sales via the device have jumped from 3.9% last quarter, and just 0.4% two years ago, according to the IMRG Capgemini Quarter Benchmarking Index.

Visits to retail sites through mobile devices also experienced strong growth and now accounts for 10% of total traffic, rising from 8.2% in the previous quarter.

Etail trade body IMRG chief information officer Tina Spoonersaid: “The rise in mobile sales for this quarter is massive. Although it was already growing rapidly, this actually marks an acceleration in pace. Some retailers actually reported that m-commerce sales accounted for as much as 9% of their total online sales over the festive period.”

However, click-and-collect sales dropped 0.6% in the quarter, making up 9.8% of online sales.  The trade body said it was unclear whether the fall signified that the shopping option had peaked in popularity or whether it was because it was not available in all retailers throughout the January sales period.

The Index also found that the number of orders cancelled due to fraud dropped to its lowest level in two year.

Capgemini head of retail and technology Chris Webster said: “The growth in mobile payments is equally as important as the decline in fraud, which has traditionally been a major concern and barrier to consumer adoption in this channel. The news that consumers are more willing to engage and are less at risk is welcome.”