Web sales, Slovenia, 2018

83% of enterprises have a website on the Internet. Enterprises provide on the websites description of goods or services they provide, catalogues, price lists (81%) and 18% provide the possibility of online ordering, reservation or booking. Enterprises are following the changes in the shopping habits of their customers. In 2019, 56% of individuals aged 16–74 purchased online in the period of 12 months (51% in 2018). Enterprises can sell products or services, receive orders or reservations via their own website or a website of the parent enterprise, via extranet and e-commerce marketplaces – websites used by several enterprises for trading products or services, e.g. platform for online reservations.

In 2018, 21% of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed generated their income by receiving orders for products or services, reservations via websites, which is the same as in 2017. 15% of enterprises generated turnover with web sales via own website or a website of the parent enterprise, via extranet and 9% via e-marketplaces. 

Regarding the enterprise size (number of persons employed), 20% of small, 21% of medium-sized and 31% of large enterprises had web sales and generated turnover with them.

14% of small, 16% of medium-sized and 29% of large enterprises generated turnover via own website or a website of the parent enterprise. Turnover was generated via e-marketplaces by 9% of small and medium-sized enterprises and by 7% of large enterprises. 

In 2018, 14% of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed  generated turnover by receiving orders for products or services, reservations via websites (own or e-marketplaces) to private consumers and the same share of enterprises with sales to other enterprises and public authorities. 

Almost a fifth of enterprises generated turnover with web sales of products or services in Slovenia (19%) and 11% with web sales to other EU countries or the rest of the world. Turnover was generated with web sales to other EU countries by 11% of enterprises and to the rest of the world by 5% of enterprises. 

In 2018, 11% of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed generated turnover with web sales to other EU countries; 11% of small and medium-sized and 13% of large enterprises. Of the enterprises that generated turnover with web sales to other EU countries 14% experienced difficulties when selling to other EU countries; 14% of small and medium-sized and 16% of large enterprises. 

11% of enterprises with web sales to other EU countries experienced difficulties of high costs of delivering or returning products and 4% of enterprises had the following difficulties: with difficulties related to resolving complaints and disputes, with the need to adapt product labelling, with restrictions from business partners. 1% of enterprises experienced difficulties due to lack of knowledge of foreign languages for communicating with customers in other EU countries.

Enterprises generated 2.4% of their turnover (excluding VAT) with web sales in Slovenia in 2018, which is the same as in 2017. Small enterprises generated 3.4%, medium-sized 1.7% and large enterprises 2.2% of their turnover (excluding VAT) with web sales.

In 2018 enterprises generated with web sales around EUR 1,900 million (in 2017 around EUR 1,800 million) of their turnover. 38% of the total turnover was generated by small, 21% by medium-sized and 41% by large enterprises.

Enterprises generated the major part of their turnover (excluding VAT) in 2018 with web sales to other enterprises or public authorities (65.5%; 72% in 2017) and the rest (34.5%) with web sales to private consumers (28% in 2017).

As in the previous year, the majority of the turnover generated with web sales (excluding VAT) was generated with web sales via own website or a website of the parent enterprise, via extranet (81%; 78% in 2017) and 19% via e-marketplaces (22% in 2017).   

Enterprises generated 49% of their turnover (excluding VAT) with web sales in other EU countries (48% in 2017), 42% with web sales in Slovenia (44% in 2017) and 8% with web sales to the rest of the world (the same as in 2017). 

In 2018, 35% of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed received orders, reservations via websites in trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 45–47 of NACE Rev. 2). They generated with web sales 1.8% of their turnover (excluding VAT) or around EUR 497 million. More than half of this turnover was generated with web sales to other enterprises or public authorities (56%) and 44% with web sales to private consumers. 

In retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G 47 of NACE Rev. 2) 36% of enterprises with 10 or more persons employed generated turnover with web sales. These enterprises generated 1.8% of their turnover (excluding VAT) with web sales or around EUR 222 million. 84% of the turnover was generated with web sales to private consumers and 16% with web sales to other enterprises or public authorities. 81% of turnover generated with web sales was generated with web sales in Slovenia and 19% with web sales to other EU countries. 

28% of enterprises with web sales sold to other EU countries in this activity. Of those 42% experienced various difficulties: 40% experienced difficulties of high costs of delivering or returning products and 12% difficulties related to resolving complaints and disputes and with the need to adapt product labelling when selling to other EU countries. 58% of enterprises did not experience any mentioned difficulties when selling to other EU countries via a website in 2018.