75% of Consumers Say They Are Concerned About the Security of Their Data When Shopping Online

6 in 10 Irish SMEs do not take any particular steps to protect customer data or don’t know how to, despite 75% of consumers saying that they are ‘very’ or ‘somewhat concerned’ about the security of their personal information when shopping online.

According to new research from .IE, the managers of Ireland’s trusted online .ie address, just 15% of SMEs said they use a firewall or antivirus software, while only 11% use two-factor authentication. Just 4% said they trained staff in cybersecurity best practices.

“While it might be tempting for a small business to postpone investing in anything that doesn’t lead to a measurable return in the here and now, a cyberattack can be immediately devastating and lead to permanent erosion of customer trust,” said David Curtin, Chief Executive of .IE.

“We know from the HSE ransomware attack in 2021 how a small error can lead to the crippling of critical infrastructure.

“Similar incidents among businesses are increasingly common, yet most are entirely avoidable with good security hygiene by staff and the use of basic cybersecurity tools, such as antivirus software and a password manager.”

The findings were revealed today in .IE’s new report, Tipping Point 2022: Irish e-commerce and digital business in the post-Covid era.

The report is the third and final part of a trilogy of research that has examined consumer and SME attitudes and adaptations to the pandemic over the past two years.

Preparing for the post-Covid era

The .IE Tipping Point report shows that the pandemic has accelerated Ireland’s move towards cashlessness. 62% of consumers said they were using cash ‘significantly’ or ‘somewhat less’ since the start of the pandemic.

Surprisingly, increasing cashlessness is universal among all generations—and older people are now the least cash friendly.

66% of Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) said they were using cash less often, compared to 58% of Gen X (1965-1980) and 62% of older Millennials (1981-1990).

Despite this, as many as 25% of all Irish SMEs still only accept cash payments, a figure that rises to 35% among businesses with 1-5 employees and 38% among SMEs with premises in Dublin.

Covid consumers

55% of all consumers will prioritise online shopping in 2022: 16% will do most of their shopping online, while 39% said they will shop for necessities in-store, such as groceries, but buy most other things online. 45% of all consumers plan to do most of their shopping in-store.

“Consumers in the post-Covid era will be driven by convenience, ease of use, and experience.

“Just as many of us now value the flexibility of hybrid working, we also value hybrid shopping.

“We enjoy the experience and the convenience of in-store shopping while simultaneously valuing the ease and speed of e-commerce. We gravitate towards retailers that give us the best of both worlds,’ said Mr Curtin.

Digital-first shopping preferences are particularly apparent among younger consumers.

Just 29% of Millennials will do most of their shopping in-store in 2022 (compared to 45% of the total sample) while 33% of Gen Z consumers (born 1997-2012) will do most of their shopping online (compared to 16% of the total sample).

The Covid SME

Exactly three-quarters of SMEs have a website. Just over a third (34%) have an online store—of that figure, 8 in 10 sell directly through a store on their own website.

Half of SMEs have invested in their online presence since the start of the pandemic. In the majority of cases, this has resulted in improved sales.

Among investing SMEs, 30% said they are busier than before the pandemic and 36% have been able to maintain the same level of pre-pandemic business.

Just over half (54%) of SMEs are planning a significant digital investment in the next 5 years, with most focusing on launching a new website (23%), improving their existing one (15%), or building a dedicated app (13%).

“Our research shows that a tipping point in Ireland’s attitude to digital business and e-commerce has indeed been passed,” said Mr Curtin.

“While an increasing number of SMEs are now selling online with modern e-commerce software, which is very positive, the digital investment must be a proactive and sustained part of business spending.

“Digital change is constant and rapid, and Irish businesses should be careful to avoid stagnation.

“International retailers will be more than eager to snap up Irish customers frustrated with a lack of innovation at home,” said Mr Curtin.

The full report can be found here.