Top 10 eCommerce Companies in United Kingdom (U.K.)

Overview

The internet has changed the way we shop all over the world, and the United Kingdom is no exception. There are top e-commerce companies in the UK providing a wide range of products and services.

Here, in this article, we are going to throw light on the products and features of top online platforms in the country. In addition, we will also discuss how to select the best e-commerce company in the UK. 

To start with, we see that E-commerce ventures have been adopting various tech innovations to revolutionize consumerism.

British online platforms are finding creative ways to take advantage of their clients' high demands with the help of a top-notch logistics industry. As a result, the customer experience has become more personalized with comprehensive post-purchase services.

Therefore, the e-commerce market in the UK has grown towards unprecedented consumer numbers and profit margins.

So, as consumers, you can take advantage of this e-commerce growth and the availability of refined customer services today. With that in mind and after extensive research, we have made a listicle of the top 10 e-commerce companies in the United Kingdom for you.

Top 10 Best eCommerce Companies in the UK (United Kingdom) [2024 Updated List]

1) Amazon

Amazon is the most extensive online e commerce platform by revenue in the world. It started as an online bookstore and has become one of America's best-known companies with over 300 million customers worldwide! This platform has become one of the most diverse online stores selling everything from mobile devices to grocery items.

Amazon logistics has become one of the best courier services companies in the UK (United Kingdom). It only ranks second after Royal Mail, followed by Hermes, DHL, and UPS. Nearly 90 percent of shoppers in the UK use Amazon, which covers almost 30 percent of the market share.

Moreover, nearly 15 million people have subscribed to Amazon, and the company provides around 27,500 jobs in the UK. Furthermore, Amazon has generated a revenue of around £36 billion in the UK, which is poised to reach 77 billion by 2025.

2) eBay

eBay is a worldwide company that facilitates business-to-business and consumer transactions through its website. It was initially an online auction platform but has expanded into many other aspects of commerce, including buying and selling online items locally or internationally.

When eBay opened to UK customers, Paypal was used to execute payments, but currently, selling is done through the eBay payment management system. Moreover, almost 24 million Britishers visit the site every month with 175 million active users, and eBay has created 1065 new millionaires in the UK.

Furthermore, eBay has generated around 1678 million USD in 2020 and has 400 employees in the UK. Finally, eBay has made InPost its major delivery partner in the country.

3) Tesco

Tesco is a British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer. Tesco offers hypermarkets, supermarkets, Tesco metro, express shops, and fuel stations. Moreover, Tesco developed its own products covering food, beverages, home, clothing, mobile and financial services.

In 2016, Tesco introduced its own mobile wallet, providing a simplified customer experience with contactless payments.

However, Tesco reported an annual turnover of £64,760 million in Feb 2020 and has an employee strength of 423,092 with plans to create 9000 new jobs in the UK. Furthermore, Tesco employs XPO logistics for its supply chain operations in the country.

4) Argos

Argos is one of the UK's biggest merchandise retailers, operating physical stores with a substantial online presence. In 2016, it was acquired by Sainsbury international, a conglomerate from South Africa, for £1.4 billion.

Argos developed its own brands, including Challenge, Cookworks, Pro Action, Pro-fitness, Steamworks, Acoustic solutions, etc.

Moreover, it has generated a revenue of £4.1 billion in the year 2020 and has aggregated more than 29,768 employees in the UK. With a traffic of 38.44 monthly visitors, this e-commerce company has 60,000 products on offer.

Finally, Argos and LLamosoft partnered to provide solutions to their supply chain operations.

5) Asos

Asos is a British online fashion and cosmetic retailer. The site has access to over 850 brands, including its own labels for clothing and accessories.

Asos expanded globally in the early 2010s to establish itself in Europe, Australia, Russia, and China. A major portion of its sales is in the fashion category, and its products also feature furniture and household appliances.

DHL is one of its major partners for supply chain operations. Moreover, its monthly traffic is close to 79 million visits, and Asos employs 4000 people and generates a revenue of over £3.26 billion in 2021.

6) Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencers is another major British retailer with a consolidated online presence. It offers clothes, home, and food products. It expanded to 450 international stores with 970 stores in the UK and employed around 85,000 people. Marks and Spencers generated revenue of £9 billion in the UK and international market.

Moreover, this online venture opened its first online store in 1999 and launched new websites in 40 countries worldwide in the 2010s.

Furthermore, Marks and Spencers is setting up a 450,000 sq ft warehouse space for a distribution center and employing third-party logistics services to fulfill its orders.

7) B and Q

It is a multinational DIY and home improvement retail company. B and Q has a comprehensive online presence in the UK and other European countries.

This retail chain offers 40,000 products to its customers through 300 stores and its e-commerce website. Moreover, B and Q generated a revenue of more than £4 billion in 2020 with an employee strength of over 16,700 people.

This e-commerce establishment holds a customer base of over 7 million people and offers a 10 percent discount for people over the age of 60. Additionally, this company has all of its supply chain operations carried out by XPO logistics.

8) Asda

Asda is a top-rated ecommerce company in the United Kingdom with headquarters in Leeds and established in 1949. It was acquired by Walmart in 1990 for £6.7 billion and later became one of the largest supermarket chains in the UK.

Furthermore, it was acquired by the Issa brothers and TDA capital, with Walmart retaining an equity investment in the company.

Asda has its own clothing range called George, which is also sold through Walmart. However, Asda brought in a revenue of more than £23 billion in 2020 and employed more than 160,000 people. Finally, Asda uses its in-house logistics services to fulfill orders across the country.

9) Next

Next is a British multinational retailer offering clothes, footwear, and home products. It was established in 1864 with headquarters in Enderby, London. It has 500 stores across the UK and is one of the largest clothing retailers in the country.

With multiple joint ventures and acquisitions, Next has 3 million active customers and its own brand called Lipsy. Through Lipsy, Next manufactures and sells young women's clothes through websites and retail channels.

Moreover, Next operates stores and e-commerce for Victoria's secret in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, this online company has generated a revenue of £3.28 billion by 2021 and has an employee strength of over 44,000.

10) Screwfix

Screwfix is a multichannel retailer of trade tools, accessories, and hardware products in the United Kingdom. It was acquired by Kingfisher PLC in 1999. It has a considerable online presence with 640 stores in the UK. With a 325,000 sq ft distribution center it has consolidated its order fulfillment while also providing express and next-day delivery services.

Moreover, with Click and collect service, customers can order and pay securely online. With in-store pick-up, Scrrefix, increased sales by 250 percent.

Furthermore, this online platform has accumulated revenue of £1.67 million armed with more than 8,800 employees. Additionally, with an in-house logistics wing, Screwfix Sprint, manages "click and collect" rapid deliveries.

How to Choose the Best eCommerce Company in the United Kingdom (UK)?

The best e-commerce companies are those that have an extensive list of features and services. A lot goes into choosing the right company, so here's what you need to look out for in those companies!

1) The Number of Regions Delivered to

One important factor when selecting an e-commerce company is its ability to deliver different volumes of products to a high number of regions.

As consumers, we want the leverage that comes with being able ship to different regions, be it international or remote locations; plus it would be great if the online platform can provide bulk shipping as well!

2) Products, Service, and Benefits

E-commerce companies have the impetus on them to provide their customers with a wide range and variety of merchandise. On top of that, first-rate e-commerce companies offer top-notch packages for your purchases.

They can include benefits, discounts, extended warranties, and complimentary services for products you buy from the online platform. So, look out for attractive packages before you shop online for your desired product.

3) Delivery Mechanisms 

The delivery mechanisms employed by e-commerce companies have become increasingly important. That includes transportation, warehousing, communication, and regular delivery.

When ordering from an online company, we as consumers always want to make sure that our items will be delivered in a safe and secure manner.

Highly reliable e-commerce platforms practice secure and safe transport protocols and invariably win out over others. Therefore, secure delivery mechanisms encourage customers to purchase any kind of product without apprehension. 

4) Delivery Speed

A timeline of 4-5 days for regular delivery is a thing of the past. Today customers are on the lookout for fast-tracked delivery services for a satisfying purchase experience.

So, online platforms are providing expedited shipping speeds like super express, same-day, next-day, 2-hour, and hyperlocal deliveries.

These expedited options prove to be an attractive and necessary feature in today's e-commerce practices that rope in many customers. Moreover, accelerated delivery times put the customer's mind at ease and also reduce order cancellations.

5) Order Tracking Visibility

Providing order tracking status with regular updates is a versatile feature that keeps the customer informed and prepared for deliveries. Top e-commerce companies offer end-to-end order tracking visibility with real-time notifications.

As a result, online ventures have managed to create trust among customers who are looking for transparency in the shipping process. 

6) Proof of Delivery

Online companies utilize proof of delivery for validating successful order fulfillment. Proof of delivery is a document that consists of the consignee's signature on a paper or a digital page with a date and time. This document can be crucial in case of failed deliveries or malpractices.

It helps e-commerce platforms attend to grievances or complaints raised on the condition of the product at the time of the final delivery. Moreover, proof of delivery also ensures that the shipping service provider is held responsible for any mishap.

7) Returns policy and management

When searching for products online, it is essential to check the company's return policy before making a purchase. Because customers tend to return products either for exchange or refund, covering more than 10% of the total purchases.

Therefore, companies with concise return policies and management will ensure that pick-up and reverse logistics of your product are managed efficiently.

8) Reputation and reviews of the e-commerce company

In order to find the best online platform for your needs, it is important that you take into account the reputation and reviews of the company.

There are many websites and blogs that provide detailed insight and reviews about top e-commerce companies. These insights and reviews will help you gauge the reputation and order fulfillment consistency of an e-commerce platform.

Role of the logistics company and technology in e-commerce today (With statistics)

The e-commerce industry is driving a new era in customer service with extensive automation. With augmented reality, chatbots, and big data to analyze your preferences and AI-powered engines, you can find the best deals on voice shopping apps or online sites. The logistics industry is constantly adapting to new technologies and innovations.

Soon, drone deliveries might become more common in the United Kingdom. At the same time, hyperlocal services help businesses deliver their goods, fast-tracking last-mile delivery for a quick turnaround time on ecommerce orders from major retailers. Here is a look at some stats on the e-commerce market in the UK (United Kingdom).

• The UK has generated 109 billion USD revenue through e-commerce.
• 63% of shopping was done on smartphones.
• 30% sales due to returns availability.
• The fashion industry accounts for £27,060 million in 2021.
• 55% of the population shopped for clothes and sports goods.
• 49% of purchasing was done with Paypal.
• 53 million active social media users in the UK
• Royal Mail is the top shipping company covering 36% of delivery.
• The sales forecast is set to increase by 44 % in the next 5 years.

Final Conclusion

The e-commerce industry is now a £108 billion market in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 6% annual growth rate. This trend has been supported by logistics companies and social media platforms. That has helped make shopping online in the United Kingdom more accessible than ever before.

So, it's no surprise that shoppers are turning to their computers and phones for every purchase. Therefore, the top 10 e-commerce companies in the UK (United Kingdom) have been able to stand out in the market today.

Because in addition to products, they have also offered excellent customer support and customizations in shopping to build brand image and loyalty. So, let this article guide you in selecting the right online platform for your needs.