Although nearly 60% of European Internet users shop online, only one in 10 consumers is ready to buy online abroad
“Most of online trading is concentrated within each country; we are back to national markets all over again. Much of this has to do with trust.”, says Herman Van Rompuy (photo), President of the European Council, in a keynote speech at the EuroCommerce 20th anniversary gala dinner.
The jobs of the future will all be digital
“Exactly a month ago we devoted an entire European Council precisely to how to achieve a more consumer-friendly digital economy, how to truly connect our continent in the digital age. I was not surprised to hear these aims are at the very top of your Manifesto. But it goes deeper than just infrastructure and rules and regulations. What it’s also about is skills: the jobs of the future will all be digital at least in part.
I often repeat this figure but it’s always as astounding: by 2015, we’re looking at finding ourselves with 900,000 unfilled IT vacancies. 900,000. At a time when jobs are scarce, it’s not hard to do the math. We seriously need to invest in digital skills.”
To shop online abroad still a matter of trust even in EU
“Nowadays expanding through online channels, conquering the digital economy is not just for the Amazon and eBays of this world, but an opportunity for all. Almost every single SMEs in our countries could improve its business by making better use of digital technology, of digital services and digital selling channels. The Christmas season is just around the corner, and more and more gifts will be bought online. That’s the new reality.
Yet there are still huge differences between European member states: on average nearly 60% of European Internet users shop online, but this ranges from over 80% in the United Kingdom to under 30% in Estonia and Italy. Which is surprising since we like to think of Estonia as an e-country!
But more worrying still are the low figures of consumers ready to buy online abroad: only about one in 10. Most of online trading is concentrated within each country; we are back to national markets all over again.
Much of this has to do with trust, with providing secure online payment means, and guarantees for privacy and data protection. It should be as easy and safe to buy and sell online from another European country as it is at home. Which is where European measures can and should help.”
Anders Olofsson – former Head of Payments Finastra
Banking 4.0 – „how was the experience for you”
„So many people are coming here to Bucharest, people that I see and interact on linkedin and now I get the change to meet them in person. It was like being to the Football World Cup but this was the World Cup on linkedin in payments and open banking.”
Many more interesting quotes in the video below:
