Impact of Online Business on UK Retail Sector: Research Findings

This research report investigates the impact of online business on the UK retail sector, focusing on Marks and Spencer. The study utilizes a questionnaire to collect primary data from employees, analyzing their perspectives on the growth and benefits of online business over the past decade. The findings reveal that a majority of respondents are knowledgeable about online business and its positive impact on the UK market. The report explores key themes, including the benefits of online business to retail sectors like attracting more customers, easy market access, and reduced overhead. It also examines the role of online promotion in business growth and factors affecting online business, such as lack of knowledge, distribution channels, and resources. The conclusion highlights the positive influence of online business on the retail sector's profitability and growth, emphasizing the role of social media and online platforms.

RESEARCH FINDINGS
REPORT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................3
DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................................................................3
QUESTIONAIRE ......................................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH FINDING.....................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Research finding report assist in providing information which is being gathered through
the use of primary data collection method which include the questionnaire in which the question
is being asked to the business employees of Marks and Spencer. This assignment, will provide
information regarding the finding of the research on the basis of the views of respondents
regarding the impact of online business on retail sector over the last 10 years in UK. The
research finding report assist in providing the answer to the question and the outcome of the
research on the basis of the primary data which is being collected through the use of
questionnaire.
DATA COLLECTION
QUESTIONAIRE
Name
Age
1. Do you know about the concept of online business?
 Yes
 No
2. Do you agree that online business have its impact in UK over the last 10 years?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Strongly disagree
 Disagree
3. From the following, what are the benefit of Online business to retail sector?
 Attracting more customers

 Easy access to market
 Reduce overhead
 All of the above
4. Do you agree that online promotion assist in growth of business?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Strongly disagree
 Disagree
5. From the following which are factor which affect the online business?
 Lack of knowledge
 Lack of distribution channel
 Lack of resources
 All of the above
Issues and challenges faced during collection of data
There were many issues and challenges which were faced by the researcher while
collection of data from the respondents because many of the respondents were not ready to
answer the question due to which many of the information was not collected (Chou, Chuang and
Shao, 2016) . But then also, the information which is gathered from the respondents which
provided their views the researcher was able to identify the finding which will help the
companies.
RESEARCH FINDING
THEME: 1 The concept of online business

Particular Respondents (20)
Yes 15
NO 5
Interpretation:
From the analysis of above primary research data of employees of the Marks and
Spnencer, it can be interpret that more than 50% of the respondent of the have knowledge about
the online businesses. They have enough knowledge about dealing with the online businesses
and their benefits as well (Cao and Li, 2015) . The above research has also been supported by the
secondary research.
THEME 2 : Online business have its impact in UK over the last 10 years
Particular Respondents (20)
Yes NO
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Respondents (20)
Illustration 1: THEME: 1 The concept of online business

Strongly agree 10
agree 5
Strongly disagree 3
Disagree 2
Interpretation:
By analysing the above response of various employees of Marks and Spencer, on the
present question and its graphical representation, it can be analysed that most of the population
of UK have strongly agreed that the online business have strongly impacted the UK. Although
average amount of the population agrees with the scenario (ernie and Sparks, eds., 2018) . The
same answer has been find out in the secondary research of the project.
THEME 3 : Benefit of online business to retail sector
Particular Respondents (20)
Strongly agree agree Strongly disagree Disagree
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Respondents (20)
Illustration 2: THEME 2 : Online business have its impact in UK over the last 10 years

Attracting more customers 5
Easy access to market 3
Reduce overhead 2
All of the above 10
Interpretation
The above graphs and responds developed in context to the benefits of online businesses
to retail sectors, it can be interpret that maximum amount of Marks and Spencer's employees
thinks that the maximum there are several benefits of online businesses to retail sector. Although,
a part of population thinks that it only provides the benefit of attracting maximum amount of
customers towards it. Some of them also thinks hat the only benefit of online business to retail
sector is to reduce their overheads or access maximum amount of market easily.
THEME 4 : Online promotion assist in growth of business
Particular Respondents (20)
Attracting more customers
Easy access to market
Reduce overhead
All of the above
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Respondents (20)
Illustration 3: THEME 3 : Benefit of online business to retail sector

Strongly agree 10
agree 5
Strongly disagree 3
Disagree 2
Interpretation:
By analysing the response of members of the Marks and Spencer, it can be interpret that
maximum number of employees strongly agrees that with the help of doing online promotional
activities, the company can achieve a sustainable growth. Further, there are a few number of
population that does not agree with the statement saying achieving higher amount of growth with
the help of online promotional; strategies (Kurnia and et.al., 2015) .
THEME 5: Factor which affect the online business
Particular Respondents (20)
Strongly agree agree Strongly disagree Disagree
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Respondents (20)
Illustration 4: THEME 4 : Online promotion assist in growth of business

Lack of knowledge 5
Lack of distribution channel 3
Lack of resources 2
All of the above 10
Interpretation
The above graph made through the response of several employees of Marks and Spencer,
it can be interpret that all the factors such as lack of knowledge, lack of distribution, lack of
resources, etc. have a huge effect over the performance of online businesses. Although, there are
a few numbers of employees that were agreed with the effect of lack of resources over the
business performance of the online businesses. The same result was also supported by the
secondary research made by the company.
Findings
In accordance with thematic presentation it has been found out that online business is the
idea of doing business online. It is an effective approach of targeting buyers of products and
Lack of knowledge
Lack of distribution channel
Lack of resources
All of the above
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Respondents (20)
Illustration 5: THEME 5: Factor which affect the online business

services because in this firm is able to target online traffic. The advancement in the technology
and change era of millennials it can be said that online business is the successful approach of
launching business and determine response of people to innovation. In accordance with results it
is identified that majority of sampled participant were aware about the concept of internet
business. As per the applicant it is been analysed online business has become essential part of
digitalisation age where company owns global access 7 days a week an d 24 hours. Further, as
per the results it has been found out that internet business is a cost saving approach which
requires minimum investment and assets requirement which reduces the risk of market
acceptance.
On the other hand, from the research it has been analysed that online business in UK has
created tremendous impact (Nguyen, de Leeuw and Dullaert, 2018) . As per review it is been
analysed that participants strongly agreed that internet business led to major change on business
world UK like improve customer services as firm are able to directly communicate with buyers
and able to address individual requirements and expectation. Moreover, it is been analysed
through online business, organisation in UK are able to provide work life balance to employee
and therefore it can be said that doing selling services and products online has improved
flexibility at workplace.
Further, from the collected data it has been found out that that there are lot of benefit of
online business like some the participants said that internet business will help retailers in
attracting more and different type of customer. This is the bets way of targeting differentiated
customer group and improving diversity. In addition, with the helps of online business retailers
are able to access market which reduces risk of investing into market research and store selling
cost. However, from accumulated and interpreted information it is derived that online promotion
of internet business is effective approach of reaching customer (Elms, De Kervenoael and
Hallsworth, 2016). In this firm owns wide range of options of reaching customers like social
media marketing, sponsored advertisements, etc.
Apart from this, from the data evaluation it is been found that there are various factors
which impacts internet business like lack of knowledge. In accordance with participants stated
about knowledge of products and customers which play a crucial role in managing effective
online business operations. In contrast, as per applicants it is been identified that online business

limits distribution channel and resources which can be a barrier to growth of online business.
Thus, from the outline it can be said that online business is effective approach of managing
success and development because it supports innovation as well as diversity. The approach of
doing business online also assist in improving internal management of company like flexibility
in working hours and customer services.
CONCLUSION
From the above research finding report it can be concluded that the online business has
assisted the retail sector in their growth which has increased the profitability of the sector. As per
the literature source, it is being found out that the growth of online business is mainly due to the
use of social networking sites which include social media and other site that promote the product
and services provided by organisation. From the finding it is being identifying that online
business have increase the demand of the retail sector and many of customer are attracted
towards this kind of businesses.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Chou, Y. C., Chuang, H. H. C. and Shao, B.B., 2016. The impact of e-retail characteristics on
initiating mobile retail services: A modular innovation perspective. Information &
Management. 53(4). pp.481-492.
Cao, L. and Li, L., 2015. The impact of cross-channel integration on retailers’ sales
growth. Journal of Retailing. 91(2). pp.198-216.
Fernie, J. and Sparks, L. eds., 2018. Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new
challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan page publishers.
Kurnia, S. and et.al., 2015. E-commerce technology adoption: A Malaysian grocery SME retail
sector study. Journal of Business Research. 68(9). pp.1906-1918.
Nguyen, D. H., de Leeuw, S. and Dullaert, W. E., 2018. Consumer behaviour and order
fulfilment in online retailing: A systematic review. International Journal of Management
Reviews. 20(2). pp.255-276.
Elms, J., De Kervenoael, R. and Hallsworth, A., 2016. Internet or store? An ethnographic study
of consumers' internet and store-based grocery shopping practices. Journal of Retailing and
Consumer Services. 32. pp.234-243.