E-COMMERCE: Online trade up in Cyprus, social media rising

E-commerce seems to be picking up in Cyprus, with more businesses saying they are taking online orders, according to the statistical service Cystat.

The share of e-commerce has risen from 8.4% of all orders accepted in 2013 to 11.9% so far this year, Cystat said, adding that enterprises placing orders also rose from 13.2% in 2013 to 15.1% this year.
The survey was conducted among 1,624 enterprises with at least ten employees in specific categories of economic activity.
The survey there was an increase in mobile broadband connections this year, reaching 58.3% compared to 56.2% in 2013, whereas the percentage of enterprises that provide staff with portable devices for mobile connection to the Internet rose to 58.8% in 2014 compared to 57.9% in 2013.
Cystat also said that 25.6% of the enterprises in Cyprus employ ICT specialists.
Moreover, the percentage of the enterprises that use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc.) increased significantly this year, reaching 53.7% compared to 41.0% in 2013.
The survey showed that the percentage of the enterprises that have a website increased to 72.6% in 2014, with 98% offering access to product catalogues and price lists.