Ranking: The UK’s 50 most-visited retail websites

Next, Tesco, Currys and eBay are among the most-visited retail websites of the past year, according to Retail Week’s latest report.

Ecommerce 2022 offers four key lessons to approach the new world of ecommerce and shows how leading retailers are embracing the rapid flight to online and designing their business models to meet the digital revolution head-on.

1. Invest in omnichannel

Firstly, omnichannel is proving itself to be the winning model. As Alex Baldock, the boss of Currys, which ranked sixth, says: “It had the mother of all stress tests over the last couple of years and it came through it.”

Digital customer service has been a key focus for the retailer: at the start of the pandemic, Currys launched its ShopLive service, which connects customers digitally to store staff.

Retailers such as Tesco (number five on our ranking) and Asda (number seven) have responded by ramping up online capacity and working through new ways to pick, pack and fulfil online orders.

Even as store shopping climbs back to pre-pandemic levels, omnichannel is here to stay for the leaders on our list. 

2. Double down on tech infrastructure

Secondly, find ways to invest in the infrastructure needed. Next, for example – fourth on our list – has prioritised investment in ecommerce, IT and supply chain systems to become the go-to for clothing and homeware. 

Online leaders cannot afford to stand still. On an annual basis Amazon, for example, typically invests 40% of capital expenditure on infrastructure, 30% on adding fulfilment capacity, 25% on transportation and 5% on offices and stores.

3. Collaborate to streamline supply chains

Thirdly, remember the importance of keeping up with innovation in logistics. EBay, for instance – number two on our list – recently began the rollout of eBay fulfilment by Orange Connex, its first end-to-end fulfilment service for UK sellers with faster delivery options, improved logistics management and more streamlined processes.

Across the board, those in our top 50 are continually investing in this area and partnering with suppliers to improve services. 

4. Make data pay

Finally, prioritise the use of data. In the grocery sector, Tesco is looking to make the huge amount of data it collects from its 20 million Clubcard customers work harder for the business as well as third parties.

Going forwards, Tesco plans to use this competitive advantage to provide a much richer customer experience, personalising the offer to a much greater degree – including the way in which shoppers earn and use the rewards they accumulate – and responding to their changing needs in real time.