E-commerce as the engine of economic and social growth in Italy

Netcomm, an e-commerce consortium in Italy, together with Althesys, conducted a study analyzing how the digital retail supply chain can generate wealth and prosperity for the Italian socio-economic system, identifying its main drivers and obstacles. The arrangements are as follows:

• The e-commerce supply chain generated a value of over €133.6 billion in Italy in 2022, representing 7% of GDP; which means an increase of 13.9% compared to the previous year.
• Taking into account the direct and indirect effects induced, the e-commerce supply chain contributes to the creation of 1.6 million jobs (+12.4% compared to 2021), representing 6.4% of employed people in Italy, which gives a total of EUR 35 billion in gross wages (+13.2% compared to 2021).
• The e-commerce supply chain also generated €49.6 billion in tax revenues in 2022 (9.1% of tax revenues), enabling the state to invest in public services and infrastructure, improving community well-being and supporting Italy’s economic development.

“The idea of ​​e-commerce as an ‘enemy to be opposed’ is an unfounded and outdated prejudice. The numbers make it clear that politics cannot ignore this evidence,” he said Roberto Liscia, CEO of Netcomm. “To date, 4.7% of the total revenues of Italian companies are registered through the e-commerce channel. Although this is a growing percentage – almost double from 2.2% in 2014 – the growth potential of this sector is still very wide. The degree of digitalization of our businesses is still insufficient and policies are needed to support them in seizing the opportunities to open up to international markets through digital means, thereby increasing exports. We also hope that the Government will adopt increasingly closer strategies of cooperation with private entities towards a national system in which new technologies and innovations, such as artificial intelligence, are the basic development asset of our companies.”

Amazon’s supply chain support

Our investments in technology, innovation and people support the growth and development of supply chains throughout Italy. Since 2010, we have invested over EUR 16.9 billion in Italy. These investments not only support the development of local supply chains, but also generate stable and well-paid jobs. We created 18,000 permanent jobs in Italy and paid Italian workers an average of almost EUR 50 million per month. Our total tax contribution – including direct and indirect taxes – was over €1.1 billion in 2022 (+53% compared to €751 million in 2021). But our influence is not limited to our direct actions. The indirect effects of our investments extend throughout the economy: over 100,000 jobs have been created in Italy, of which 40,000 in the logistics and construction sectors, and 60,000 thanks to Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that use Amazon to expand their business .

Supporting SMEs

SMEs are the backbone of the Italian economy and we are actively committed to supporting them in their growth and internationalization. Globally, 61% of products sold on Amazon come from third-party retail partners. A few weeks ago, we committed to supporting Italian companies selling on Amazon, helping them achieve €4 billion in foreign sales by 2025 (currently €3 billion). This goal is made possible through various initiatives with institutions, academia and industry. These include a free digital training program Speed ​​up with Amazon; the Made in Italy. Presentation – which is currently present in 11 countries and serves over 2 million products worldwide; AND Made in Italy, enabling Amazon customers in eight countries to purchase Italian products. Finally, the Memorandum of Understanding on “Made in Italy”, signed in April 2024 with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, aims to promote and protect the authenticity of Made in Italy products Italy, fight against counterfeits that harm Italian companies and consumers. These initiatives aim to support the digitalization, internationalization, promotion and improvement of Italian SMEs in global markets.

Development and internationalization

To fully exploit the potential of SMEs, Amazon identifies two key areas: strengthening digital skills and consolidating the European single market. The first area is a fundamental pillar of the evolution of Italian companies in the digital space. Investing in training and professional development will enable all companies, regardless of their size and industry, to fully exploit the opportunities offered by digital transformation. Upgrading skills will support the adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, while increasing the competitiveness and resilience of Italian companies in the global market. The second area, the development of a more integrated and harmonized European single market, is crucial to enable Italian SMEs to successfully expand their activities beyond national borders. By eliminating regulatory barriers and simplifying bureaucracy, businesses will be able to more easily access new markets and growth opportunities. Moreover, a stronger European Single Market will foster the development of cross-border partnerships and the exchange of best practices, driving innovation and competitiveness across the Italian economy.