Published on the 22/05/2013 | Written by Newsdesk

According to the results of the latest annual MasterCard online shopping survey*, 88 percent of Kiwis cite security as their key consideration when it comes to shopping online, followed by the convenience of the payment method (85 percent), and the monetary value of the item (84 percent).

Albert Naffah, MasterCard New Zealand Country Manager, said that as online becomes an increasingly important sales channel for many New Zealand retailers, ensuring the integrity of their payment systems should be a key priority.
“Rather than being just ‘tick the box’ functionality, the ability to provide consumers with a secure and convenient payment facility actually becomes a key component for retailers looking to drive purchases via the online channel. Without the capability to demonstrate to consumers that their payments are secure, retailers can offer the best products at the best prices and still not reach optimal sales,” said Naffah.

“At the end of the day, it’s really all about trust and ensuring that customers feel comfortable with providing their confidential information online. With Cyber Security Awareness Week coming up later this month, it’s a great time for businesses to review their online payment facilities and ensure that they have right security measures in place in order to protect their customers’ data.

“The great thing locally is that most New Zealand retailers have worked hard to create secure payment facilities. Reputable sites such as Trade Me and The Warehouse have helped make Kiwis extremely comfortable with making online purchases.”

For retailers looking to improve their customers’ online shopping experience, the top recommendation from Kiwis is for sites to provide either free or minimal delivery charges (78 percent), followed by ensuring that there are no additional service charges added to a purchase (57 percent).

*MasterCard’s Online Shopping Behaviour Study surveyed 500 New Zealanders, aged 18-64 years in December through to January.