Online purchases by professionals, which had started to slow down in 2022 (+9,9 %) after the strong double-digit growth of the years 2020 and 2021 marked by several confinements, were slowed down again in 2023: +3.5% only. This slowdown, revealed in the E-commerce review 2023 recently presented by the Federation e-commerce and distance selling (Fevad), could be explained by the current context of inflation linked to latest crises and Climate change, which would impose “consumer arbitrage”. For'all merchant sites (professional and general public buyers), which generated 159.9 billion euros in turnover in France last year, the progression also slowed down, with growth falling to 10.5% after the + 15.1% in 2021 and +13.8% in 2022, despite the good dynamic in purchases of services (+20%). Activity on marketplaces, down 1%, continues its decline that began last year.
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In 2023, online purchases by professionals have seen a marked slowdown compared to previous years. After 2020 and 2021 characterized by double-digit growth, with several confinements amplifying this trend, the year 2022 had already started a slight decline with an increase of +9.9%. However, this deceleration was further accentuated last year to reach only a modest +3.5%, according to the 2023 e-commerce report recently unveiled by the E-commerce and Distance Selling Federation (Fevad) .
This significant slowdown can be explained by the current economic and environmental context. The challenges posed by inflation, exacerbated by successive crises, as well as growing concerns linked to climate change have led to more considered “consumer decisions” on the part of companies. This growing awareness of the environmental impact of economic activities influences purchasing choices and online consumption behavior.
In this context of change, e-commerce players are forced to review their strategies to adapt to new market requirements. Sustainability and environmental responsibility are becoming increasingly important factors in business purchasing decisions, prompting a profound transformation of online business practices.
Despite these challenges, e-commerce as a whole continues to grow, albeit at a more moderate pace. For all e-commerce sites, including professional buyers and the general public, growth remained stable at 10.5%, well below the +15.1% recorded in 2021 and the +13.8% in 2022. This more moderate growth is, however, accompanied by a notable increase in purchases of services, with an increase of 20%.
At the same time, activity on marketplaces continued to decline, recording a decline of 1%, thus extending the downward trend observed the previous year. These developments underline the importance for e-commerce players to constantly innovate and adapt to respond to new economic, environmental and social challenges, and thus ensure their sustainability in a constantly changing market.