DHL New Zealand Survey: Exporters turning to E-commerce

The majority of exporters are now using the Internet for deliveries, pick up and shipping of their goods, according to a survey by express and logistics company DHL.

The DHL Online Trade Survey asked over 250 New Zealand importers and exporters their views on eCommerce, with 60 percent saying they used the Internet.

The survey found that of those exporters who use the internet for deliveries, pick up and shipping of their goods, 57 per cent stated it was because it was more time efficient and 25 per cent claimed it was because they found booking online easy to use.

Of those companies who did not use the internet, only four per cent stated it was because they had fears around security.

Five per cent said it was because the process was too confusing. The majority, 68 per cent stated it was because they prefer to speak to someone in person.

DHL Express General Manager, Derek Anderson, says 81 per cent of exporters have a website for sales and marketing. Of those companies 64 per cent of the queries or sales orders coming from within New Zealand.

The next largest number of responses was from the U.S with 12 per cent.

Mr. Anderson says having a website can be a powerful marketing and reference tool.

However he says when developing off shore markets, face-to-face meetings are always going to be the strongest way to make business connections, which might explain why the majority of the queries and sales leads come from within New Zealand.