Australian consumers are tipped to spend an estimated $2.8 billion online this Christmas.
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) predicts that the first two weeks of December will prompt a surge in sales as shoppers aim to avoid late deliveries.
In addition the ARA believes there will be a spike in mobile shopping with around 25% of digital sales attributed to smartphone and tablet devices.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said that Australian retailers will reap the benefits of offering services such as same day delivery and click-and-collect.
“Although the ARA would advise online shoppers to make sure they are leaving plenty of time to ensure Christmas deliveries arrive before December 25, retailers are now offering a host of options to allow shoppers more convenience and flexibility this Christmas.
“We’re seeing Australians increasingly use online for the purchase of Christmas gifts, especially as the channel evolves to make it easier for shoppers to receive their goods quickly and in a way that suits them.
“In fact we see a big incidence of people who may order a product online, go into a store to pick it up, and end up purchasing other products while instore."
Zimmerman has also issued a warning to retailers to avoid security breaches during the festive season.
“The number of people doing their Christmas shopping from a mobile or tablet is expected to be the largest ever, and the ARA encourages retailers to ensure they have all the requirements in place to enable shoppers a happy experience, from security measures to back of house IT systems."