{"id":374001,"date":"2023-12-08T18:13:37","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T18:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/blog\/ecommerce-italy-definitive-guide"},"modified":"2026-06-19T13:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T13:39:08","slug":"ecommerce-italy-definitive-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-italy-definitive-guide","title":{"rendered":"[FREE report] Ecommerce in Italy: the definitive guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.webinterpret.com\/global-ecommerce-country-report-italy.html\">DOWNLOAD NOW<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Italian marketplace: general characteristics<\/h2>\n<p>Italy is <strong>the second largest ecommerce market in Southern Europe<\/strong>, with a turnover of almost \u20ac17 billion (2015). Forbes lists Italy as the No. 42 Best Country for Business and No.28 in terms of Ease of Doing Business.<\/p>\n<p>Even in the face of the financial crises that have affected Southern European countries, ecommerce in Italy has been experiencing a steady growth in the last few years and the positive trend is expected to continue.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22932\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22932\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22932 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-shopping-basket.jpg\" alt=\"global-ecommerce-italy-shopping-basket\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-shopping-basket.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-shopping-basket-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-shopping-basket-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22932\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even in the face of the financial crises that have affected Southern European countries, ecommerce in Italy has been experiencing a steady growth in the last few years and the positive trend is expected to continue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Currently, Internet penetration in Italy is much lower compared to European leaders. However, the Italian government has decided to invest in modernizing the country\u2019s digital structures. This means that Internet penetration will go up, which will have a positive knock-on effect on the ecommerce sector. Thus, the percentage of online shoppers is set to increase in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p>A word of advice for online sellers who want to trade in Italy?<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Or rather: when in Italy, sell as Italians sell.<\/p>\n<p>Over 90% of the population speaks Italian (also spoken in a few other countries, such as Switzerland and Malta). Thus, speak the Italian language, as opposed to English, and <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/solutions\/localisation\">provide local online shoppers with a localized buying experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Italian ecommerce in numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Population: 59.80 million<\/li>\n<li>Active internet users: 37.67 million<\/li>\n<li>Active social media users: 28 million<\/li>\n<li>Active mobile social media users: 24 million<\/li>\n<li>Population shopping online: 58%<\/li>\n<li>Population shopping online from abroad: 45%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22867 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-revenue-italy.png\" alt=\"global-ecommerce-revenue-italy\" width=\"1836\" height=\"1353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-revenue-italy.png 1836w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-revenue-italy-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-revenue-italy-768x566.png 768w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-revenue-italy-1024x755.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1836px) 100vw, 1836px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Online buyer behaviour<\/h2>\n<p>Due to the challenging economic climate and an \u201canti-recession\u201d reflex, Italians are interested in online purchases and attractive prices. Typically for less mature markets, there\u2019s a preference for services over the purchasing of physical products online. However, the trend is beginning to reverse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">The average Italian consumer is refined and values outstanding customer service.<\/p>\n<p>Italian online shoppers are relatively patient. In general, they\u2019re ok to wait 3-5 days for their orders to arrive, but expect free shipping or low shipping rates.<\/p>\n<p>According to a study by ContentSquare, Italian Internet users can be indecisive. Before placing an order, they may want to visit a website at least five times. They also like wishlists and often use the add to basket function to add items to their wishlists to review at a later date. Thus, it\u2019s recommended that your site has a wishlist function.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22939\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22939\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22939 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-report.jpg\" alt=\"global-ecommerce-italy-report\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-report.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-report-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-report-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22939\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Interested in more ecommerce facts, figures and trends for the Italian ecommerce market? <a href=\"https:\/\/pages.webinterpret.com\/global-ecommerce-country-report-italy.html\">Download our ecommerce report!<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to the Ecommerce Foundation, the average order value in Italy is \u20ac75 and an Italian ecommerce buyer spends \u20ac938 annually. The average shopping basket value is relatively low and consists of less than 4 items.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of return rates for ecommerce sales in Italy, it\u2019s 5% for general goods, 15% for electronics and over 40% for fashion. It\u2019s crucial to offer easy returns solutions.<\/p>\n<h3>Popular product categories<\/h3>\n<p>Among top products purchased by Italian online buyers are <em>home electronics, clothing\/footwear<\/em> and <em>books<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22888\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-ecommerce-products-bought.png\" alt=\"Italy-ecommerce-products-bought\" width=\"1836\" height=\"2451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-ecommerce-products-bought.png 1836w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-ecommerce-products-bought-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-ecommerce-products-bought-768x1025.png 768w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-ecommerce-products-bought-767x1024.png 767w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1836px) 100vw, 1836px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Logistics, delivery &amp; shipping<\/h2>\n<p>According to DPD, the top delivery method in Italy is home\/office delivery, followed by delivery to an alternative address.<\/p>\n<p>The main parcel carriers include Poste Italiane Group, GLS Italy, DHL, UPS, TNT Express and Fedex. The B2C delivery is dominated by Poste Italiane and BRT (formerly Bartolini).<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to larger-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload (TL) carriers, the main companies are K&amp;N, XPO, DHL, DB Schenker, LKW Walter, Dachser and Emmons.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s strong growth potential for distribution in Northern Italy, especially due to the increase in freight traffic via its Northern Adriatic ports. Milan plays an important role in the area and is listed as one of Europe\u2019s top 20 distribution markets. It\u2019s also highly ranked with regard to infrastructure, accessibility and market access.<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">The North of Italy is the main region where intra-Italian <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/fulfilment-centres-global-ecommerce\">fulfillment<\/a> occurs.<\/p>\n<p>Delivery to the South, on the other hand, is usually more challenging, especially to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In general, the geography of Italy (the country is relatively long and narrow) makes the local logistics fairly challenging.<\/p>\n<p>Bear in mind that Italian shoppers don\u2019t like being surprised by unexpected costs. They like transparency and want to see delivery rates early on in the online buying experience. They also appreciate <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-optimize-shipping-costs-when-selling-online\">multiple delivery options<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To meet the demands of Italian online buyers in terms of delivery, offer competitive shipping rates\/free delivery and ensure easy returns solutions. Italian consumers are also happy to be able to choose the delivery location and know the delivery day and time at the time of purchase.<\/p>\n<h3>Advice from our shipping expert<\/h3>\n<div class=\"quote-container\">\n<div class=\"quote-expert-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quote-expert-image\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/ecommerce-expert-adrien-04.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"quote-box\">\n<div class=\"quote-txt\">According to Adrien Salvat, expert in international shipping, the local postal network Poste Italiane lags behind its peers and some delays can be expected. Thus, Adrien recommends using parcel services, such as Bartolini or DHL, to minimize the risk of bad shipping experience.<\/div>\n<div class=\"expert-info\">Adrien Salvat, international shipping expert at Webinterpret<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Further, the delivery network and infrastructure is not homogeneous throughout Italy, as already implied. There\u2019s a difference in delivery times and shipping experience between the North, the South and the islands.<\/p>\n<p>If the cart system doesn\u2019t allow the creation of delivery zones, e.g. mainland Italy vs. Sicily, Adrien recommends adding 1-2 days to the promised delivery time at check-out in the case of relevant regions. This way sellers can set the right delivery expectations. They can also minimize frustrating experiences caused by potential delays typical for specific locations in Italy.<\/p>\n<h2>Payment methods preferred by ecommerce buyers in Italy<\/h2>\n<p>Italians\u2019 favourite payment methods are Paypal, followed by prepaid and credit cards and cash on delivery. MasterCard, Visa and CartaSi are the most frequently used credit cards for online purchases.<\/p>\n<p>Italian buyers like having the possibility of direct bank or post transfer (bonifico bancario). If sellers fail to provide this payment method, they run the risk of many abandoned shopping carts.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike other European countries, Italy seems to be relatively cash-reliant. Security is an issue for many Italians when making online payments, which may be a bit challenging for online sellers.<\/p>\n<h2>Mobile commerce in Italy<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/681490\/mcommerce-retail-share-country\/\">mobile share of retail ecommerce sales<\/a> in Italy amounts to 30%, which is behind the mcommerce leaders in Europe, such as the UK (52%) or the Netherlands (39%).\u00a0Internet penetration is expected to increase and reach 70.9% by 2022. Smartphone penetration is also projected to grow, which is a general trend worldwide.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22898 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-mobile-ecommerce-sales.png\" alt=\"Italy-mobile-ecommerce-sales\" width=\"591\" height=\"421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-mobile-ecommerce-sales.png 591w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Italy-mobile-ecommerce-sales-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Cross-border shopping<\/h2>\n<p>Ecommerce consumers in Italy like to buy products cross-border due to the relatively limited availability of Italian products. There\u2019s a high demand for products not really offered on the domestic marketplace, e.g. clothes from foreign brands or vehicle parts for cars imported from abroad. The favourite online shopping destinations of Italians include <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-uk-definitive-guide\">the UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-us-definitive-guide\">the US<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/e-commerce-in-china-the-future-power-of-cross-border-trading\">China<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/?p=374108\">Cross-border ecommerce<\/a> is gaining more and more significance in Italy. Over a quarter of <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-france-definitive-guide\">French online retailers<\/a> sell in Italy and a third of Italian consumers have made a purchase from a foreign website. Online buyers are eager to buy products overseas, but also many online shops can boast an international sales strategy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22954\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22954\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22954 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-canal.jpg\" alt=\"global-ecommerce-italy-canal\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-canal.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-canal-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/global-ecommerce-italy-canal-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22954\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.webinterpret.com\/global-ecommerce-country-report-italy.html\">Cross-border ecommerce is gaining more and more significance in Italy<\/a>. Ecommerce consumers in Italy like to buy products cross-border due to the relatively limited availability of Italian products.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Benefits of selling your products online in Italy<\/h2>\n<p>First, Italy belongs to leading ecommerce markets in Southern Europe and some sources quote Italy as one of the fastest growing markets in Western Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Second, you can expect less competition in Italy than in top ecommerce marketplaces, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-germany-definitive-guide\">Germany<\/a> or the UK. It\u2019s estimated that 20% of online shops generate 70% of Italy\u2019s ecommerce sales revenue. In top ecommerce countries it\u2019s usually difficult to stand out from the competition, but in less mature markets, buyers are hungry to see more product offerings and more choice.<\/p>\n<p>Third, Italy is going digital and smartphone shopping is on the increase. This shift in the mindset of the Italian consumer has a positive impact on ecommerce sales volume.<\/p>\n<p>Fourth, Italy is full of bargain-driven online shoppers. However, due to the difficult economic situation, there\u2019s been a lack of dynamism in the local offering and the availability of some products is limited on the domestic market.<\/p>\n<p>Italians are keen on online shopping, but domestic brands tend to struggle to keep up with the pace of demand. This is where online sellers from abroad can come to the rescue of Italian shoppers, making some good sales deals for themselves, too.<\/p>\n<h2>Challenges for Italian ecommerce<\/h2>\n<p>First, economic instability has given Italy some hard times and bad PR. Ecommerce has also lagged behind, mainly due to the high level of credit card fraud, lack of trust in the postal system and the less favourable return policy of Italian sellers.<\/p>\n<p>Second, a marked contrast between the more prosperous northern and the less developed southern regions of Italy makes it necessary to adjust selling strategies accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>Third, Italians are open for cross-border purchases, but they\u2019re still rather hesitant about having to pay extra costs, such as delivery fees. As it can be a serious barrier to purchase, you should try to reduce such costs as much as you can. Using parcel forwarding services will allow you to offer competitive shipping rates.<\/p>\n<p>Fourth, since Italian is spoken by over 90% of the local population, some sellers can see the language barrier as an obstacle. Luckily, there\u2019s a good solution for international online sellers:<\/p>\n<p class=\"highlight\">Offering a localized buying experience.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s key to winning Italian buyers. Offering a localized buying experience includes using the buyer\u2019s language and payment methods but also displaying prices in the local currency and accounting for many other aspects of ecommerce localization.<\/p>\n<p>There are <a href=\"https:\/\/resources.webinterpret.com\/accelerate-now\/?_ga=2.228200861.1855625154.1735285853-730805577.1724063285&amp;_gac=1.67185443.1732090101.CI3tjNrggrACFQgJRQodfSvtEQ%2525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525&amp;_gl=1*nnf402*_gcl_au*MTc0ODEwNTAzMi4xNzMyMTEzODkz#ebay\">affordable ecommerce solutions<\/a> that do exactly that, which saves retailers a lot of time and hassle.<\/p>\n<h2>In a nutshell<\/h2>\n<p>International development is one of the trends driving ecommerce in Italy. Despite a few problems related to economic growth, the ecommerce market in Italy is thriving and there are gaps to be exploited by international online sellers.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a high demand for products purchased online, especially those barely offered by local sellers or not offered at all, e.g. clothes from foreign brands or vehicle parts for cars imported from abroad.<\/p>\n<p>According to Marco Tana, specializing in Italian and international ecommerce,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Not enough local online sellers in Italy are market and buyer oriented. Too many of them sell what they like to sell and not what buyers want to buy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This is good news for growth-minded international online merchants: they can help to satisfy that demand in Italy. It\u2019s also a good time to translate and localize your online store for the Italian market.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, do some research and once you\u2019ve identified opportunities for your online store on the Italian marketplace, win the local buyer by offering them a localized buying experience!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOWNLOAD NOW Italian marketplace: general characteristics Italy is the second largest ecommerce market in Southern Europe, with a turnover of almost \u20ac17 billion (2015). Forbes lists Italy as the No. 42 Best Country for Business and No.28 in terms of Ease of Doing Business. Even in the face of the financial crises that have affected Southern European countries, ecommerce in Italy has been experiencing a steady growth in the last few years and the positive trend is expected to continue. Currently, Internet penetration in Italy is much lower compared to European leaders. However, the Italian government has decided to invest in modernizing the country\u2019s digital structures. This means that Internet penetration will go up, which will have a positive knock-on effect on the ecommerce sector. Thus, the percentage of online shoppers is set to increase in the coming years. A word of advice for online sellers who want to trade in Italy? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Or rather: when in Italy, sell as Italians sell. Over 90% of the population speaks Italian (also spoken in a few other countries, such as Switzerland and Malta). Thus, speak the Italian language, as opposed to English, and provide local online shoppers with a localized buying experience. Italian ecommerce in numbers Population: 59.80 million Active internet users: 37.67 million Active social media users: 28 million Active mobile social media users: 24 million Population shopping online: 58% Population shopping online from abroad: 45% Online buyer behaviour Due to the challenging economic climate and an \u201canti-recession\u201d reflex, Italians are interested in online purchases and attractive prices. Typically for less mature markets, there\u2019s a preference for services over the purchasing of physical products online. However, the trend is beginning to reverse. The average Italian consumer is refined and values outstanding customer service. Italian online shoppers are relatively patient. In general, they\u2019re ok to wait 3-5 days for their orders to arrive, but expect free shipping or low shipping rates. According to a study by ContentSquare, Italian Internet users can be indecisive. Before placing an order, they may want to visit a website at least five times. They also like wishlists and often use the add to basket function to add items to their wishlists to review at a later date. Thus, it\u2019s recommended that your site has a wishlist function. According to the Ecommerce Foundation, the average order value in Italy is \u20ac75 and an Italian ecommerce buyer spends \u20ac938 annually. The average shopping basket value is relatively low and consists of less than 4 items. In terms of return rates for ecommerce sales in Italy, it\u2019s 5% for general goods, 15% for electronics and over 40% for fashion. It\u2019s crucial to offer easy returns solutions. Popular product categories Among top products purchased by Italian online buyers are home electronics, clothing\/footwear and books. Logistics, delivery &amp; shipping According to DPD, the top delivery method in Italy is home\/office delivery, followed by delivery to an alternative address. The main parcel carriers include Poste Italiane Group, GLS Italy, DHL, UPS, TNT Express and Fedex. The B2C delivery is dominated by Poste Italiane and BRT (formerly Bartolini). When it comes to larger-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload (TL) carriers, the main companies are K&amp;N, XPO, DHL, DB Schenker, LKW Walter, Dachser and Emmons. There\u2019s strong growth potential for distribution in Northern Italy, especially due to the increase in freight traffic via its Northern Adriatic ports. Milan plays an important role in the area and is listed as one of Europe\u2019s top 20 distribution markets. It\u2019s also highly ranked with regard to infrastructure, accessibility and market access. The North of Italy is the main region where intra-Italian fulfillment occurs. Delivery to the South, on the other hand, is usually more challenging, especially to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In general, the geography of Italy (the country is relatively long and narrow) makes the local logistics fairly challenging. Bear in mind that Italian shoppers don\u2019t like being surprised by unexpected costs. They like transparency and want to see delivery rates early on in the online buying experience. They also appreciate multiple delivery options. To meet the demands of Italian online buyers in terms of delivery, offer competitive shipping rates\/free delivery and ensure easy returns solutions. Italian consumers are also happy to be able to choose the delivery location and know the delivery day and time at the time of purchase. Advice from our shipping expert According to Adrien Salvat, expert in international shipping, the local postal network Poste Italiane lags behind its peers and some delays can be expected. Thus, Adrien recommends using parcel services, such as Bartolini or DHL, to minimize the risk of bad shipping experience. Adrien Salvat, international shipping expert at Webinterpret Further, the delivery network and infrastructure is not homogeneous throughout Italy, as already implied. There\u2019s a difference in delivery times and shipping experience between the North, the South and the islands. If the cart system doesn\u2019t allow the creation of delivery zones, e.g. mainland Italy vs. Sicily, Adrien recommends adding 1-2 days to the promised delivery time at check-out in the case of relevant regions. This way sellers can set the right delivery expectations. They can also minimize frustrating experiences caused by potential delays typical for specific locations in Italy. Payment methods preferred by ecommerce buyers in Italy Italians\u2019 favourite payment methods are Paypal, followed by prepaid and credit cards and cash on delivery. MasterCard, Visa and CartaSi are the most frequently used credit cards for online purchases. Italian buyers like having the possibility of direct bank or post transfer (bonifico bancario). If sellers fail to provide this payment method, they run the risk of many abandoned shopping carts. Unlike other European countries, Italy seems to be relatively cash-reliant. Security is an issue for many Italians when making online payments, which may be a bit challenging for online sellers. Mobile commerce in Italy The mobile share of retail ecommerce sales in Italy amounts to 30%, which is behind the mcommerce leaders in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":374003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9691,9672,9673],"tags":[9707,9708,9690],"class_list":["post-374001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecommerce-localization","category-expanding-to-new-markets","category-international-selling","tag-ecommerce-free-ebook-uk-en","tag-ecommerce-study-uk-en","tag-international-marketplaces-uk-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.1 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The definitive guide to ecommerce in Italy<\/title>\n<meta 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