The UK B2B eCommerce market has faced unprecedented disruptions in recent years, with Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently supply chain disruption and high inflation all having an impact on the industry. Mintel’s UK B2B eCommerce Market Report examines how the market has performed and where it is headed.
Key Issues Covered in this Report
- B2B eCommerce market performance.
- The market drivers impacting the market.
- The segmentation of B2B eCommerce between EDI and website sales.
- The major variations in both current penetration and prospects of end-use markets.
UK B2B eCommerce Market Insights
The B2B eCommerce market is more than one and half times the size of the B2C market. But, in contrast to the UK being the most developed B2C market in Europe, the B2B sector remains somewhat underdeveloped. It has also faced different challenges to the consumer market, including Brexit, COVID-19 and, more recently, supply chain disruptions and high inflation.
Website sales have opened geographical opportunities to SMEs that were previously unobtainable, yet it is the larger businesses and enterprises that have gained the most through ecommerce. Paradoxically, the opportunities opened by ecommerce have also favoured the micro-companies, whilst ‘other small’ businesses (10-49 employees) have underperformed.
The continued digitisation of business, the growing number of millennials in decision-making positions, and major advances in technology are all extending the potential of the market over and above wider economic growth. B2B eCommerce is set to become an even more important sales channel.
Purchase Mintel’s full report for a complete analysis of the UK B2B eCommerce market, including an analysis of market drivers and the competitive landscape.
Expert Analysis from a B2B Specialist
This report, written by Claudia Preedy, a leading B2B analyst, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends in the UK B2B eCommerce market and add expert context to the numbers.
The B2B eCommerce market is set for continued growth as business buyers and sellers see digital commerce as a more efficient and effective way to research and purchase corporate goods and services.
Claudia Preedy
Senior B2B Analyst
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- Key issues covered in this Report
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Executive Summary
- Opportunities for the B2B eCommerce market
- Market dynamics and outlook
- Graph 1: market size and forecast for B2B eCommerce, 2023-28
- Graph 2: role of B2B in the eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Graph 3: segmentation of B2B eCommerce market, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 4: segmentation of B2B eCommerce sales, by business sector, 2023
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Market Dynamics
- Market size
- Graph 5: market size of eCommerce, 2019-23
- Market forecast
- Graph 6: forecast for B2B eCommerce market, 2024-28
- Market segmentation
- Graph 7: role of B2B in the eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Graph 8: segmentation of B2B eCommerce market, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 9: segmentation of all eCommerce sales, by business sector, 2023
- Graph 10: segmentation of B2B eCommerce sales, by business sector, 2023
- Graph 11: proportion of businesses making eCommerce purchases, by sector, 2021
- Segmentation: manufacturing
- Graph 12: breakdown of manufacturing sector turnover, by size of company, start 2023
- Graph 13: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the manufacturing sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 14: role of B2B in the manufacturing eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Segmentation: utilities
- Graph 15: development of utilities eCommerce sales, 2019-23
- Graph 16: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the utilities sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 17: role of B2B in the utilities eCommerce market, 2017-22
- Segmentation: construction
- Graph 18: breakdown of construction sector turnover, by size of company, start 2023
- Graph 19: development of construction eCommerce sales, 2019-23
- Graph 20: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the construction sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 21: role of B2B in the construction eCommerce market, 2017-22
- Segmentation: wholesale
- Graph 22: breakdown of the wholesale sector turnover, by size of company, start 2023
- Graph 23: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the wholesale sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 24: role of B2B in the wholesale eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Segmentation: Retail
- Graph 25: breakdown of retail sector turnover, by size of company, start 2023
- Graph 26: development of retail eCommerce sales, 2019-23
- Graph 27: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the retail sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 28: comparisons of the role of retail website sales, 2022
- Graph 29: share of online sales, by type of retail operation, 2020-24
- Graph 30: role of B2B in the retail eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Segmentation: logistics
- Graph 31: breakdown of transport and storage sector turnover, by size of company, start of 2023
- Graph 32: development of logistics eCommerce sales, 2019-23
- Graph 33: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the logistics sector, by channel, 2017-22
- Graph 34: role of B2B in the logistics eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Segmentation: accommodation and food services
- Graph 35: breakdown of accommodation and foodservice sector turnover, by size of company, start of 2023
- Graph 36: development of accommodation and food service eCommerce sales, 2019-23
- Graph 37: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the accommodation and food service sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 38: role of B2B in the accommodation and food service eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Segmentation: information and communications
- Graph 39: breakdown of information and communication sector turnover, by size of company, start of 2023
- Graph 40: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the information and communication sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 41: role of B2B in the information and communications eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Segmentation: other services
- Graph 42: development of other services eCommerce sales, 2019-23
- Graph 43: segmentation of eCommerce sales in the other services sector, by channel, 2019-23
- Graph 44: role of B2B in the other services eCommerce market, 2019-23
- Market trends
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Market Drivers
- Macro-economic factors
- Graph 45: real GDP first quarterly estimates, 2022-23
- Graph 46: financial performance of UK businesses, 2023-24
- Graph 47: ICAEW National Business Confidence Index, 2010-23
- Graph 48: CPI inflation rate, 2021-24
- Graph 49: the financial wellbeing index, 2016-23
- Graph 50: the financial confidence index, 2016-23
- UK digital development
- Graph 51: businesses and charities using digital services or processes, by type of service/process, 2022
- UK business demographic
- Graph 52: number of private businesses, 2010-23
- Graph 53: comparison of the proportional importance of website sales and overall sales, by size of company, 2021
- Graph 54: other small business market share, by sector of the economy, 2022
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Competitive Landscape
- Industry structure
- Graph 55: development of the retail sales via mail order or internet sector, 2019-23
- Graph 56: financial structure of the dedicated retail sales via mail order or internet sector, 2023
- Graph 57: proportion of businesses making website sales, by industry sector, 2021
- Graph 58: value of website sales, by size of company (number of employees), 2021
- Graph 59: proportion of businesses making website sales, by size of company (number of employees), 2021
- Graph 60: segmentation of website sales, by type of platform, 2021
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Appendix
- Supplementary data
- Report scope and definitions
- Methodology
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