Excel Corporation (EXCC)

[powerbattles]

E-COMMERCE & INTERNET OVERVIEW

The global Internet audience continues to grow steadily, with the worldwide base of broadband Internet users (including fixed and wireless) in the 3.2 billion range as 2016 began. This vast base of high speed Internet users encourages businesses to innovate in order to offer an ever-evolving array of online services. Sectors that are growing very rapidly online include the sale of entertainment products, event tickets, travel, apparel and consumer electronics. Even groceries have moved into the fast lane, as online grocery sales are growing quickly in the U.S. thanks to a growing list of same-day delivery options. The most powerful trends on the Internet include access via wireless devices, the migration of entertainment to the web and cloud-based software-as-a-service.
Today, consumers are more focused than ever on finding the best prices, as consumer attitudes and shopping habits changed dramatically as a result of the 2007-09 recession. Consequently, e-commerce firms that offer high value at low prices are well-positioned to prosper. The standout winner in e-commerce continues to be Amazon, where sales have soared thanks to aggressive discount pricing, free shipping for its “Prime” members and an ever-growing variety of merchandise categories. Amazon’s revenues soared from $34.2 billion in 2010 to $107.0 billion in 2015. The firm’s sales outside North America are booming as well, despite the fact that it has major foreign competitors, particularly from relatively new companies based in China. Clearly, there is growing adoption of online consumer purchases throughout the world’s major economies, and the soaring number of broadband users is paving the way.
Analysts at eMarketer reported American retail e-commerce sales in 2015 of an estimated $347.3 billion (up significantly from $304.1 billion in 2014). This figure includes online retail sales, travel sales and digital downloads, but not online gambling. Global Internet retail sales exceeded $1.59 trillion in 2015, according to eMarketer, and could top $1.88 trillion in 2016. China is posting phenomenal growth in e-commerce, up by 32.0% in 2015, according to analysts at eMarketer, to a total of $562.7 billion.
Euromonitor forecast growth in online travel dollars spent at nearly 8% for 2015, in a broad view of the sector including car rental, hotel rooms, transportation and tourist attraction sales totaling more than $600 billion. The success of new accommodation sharing sites like Airbnb and vacation home rental sites like HomeAway is boosting this trend.
Online and mobile advertising in 2015 in the U.S. collectively reached $58.6 billion, according to eMarketer, taking 30.9% of the advertising market. Online leader Google’s recent results are a good indicator of the strong growth in online advertising. The firm saw revenues soar 13.6% in fiscal 2015, to $75 billion.
Growth in broadband subscriptions worldwide continues at a strong pace. The number of American homes and businesses with broadband access capabilities topped 104 million by early 2016, according to Plunkett Research estimates, thanks in part to modest monthly fees at Internet service providers.

https://www.plunkettresearch.com/industries/ecommerce-internet-technology-market-research/