GITNUXREPORT 2025

Digital Transformation In The Merchant Industry Statistics

Most merchants view digital transformation as essential for growth and competitiveness.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

55% of merchants use AI-powered tools for inventory management

Statistic 2

48% of merchants use machine learning algorithms to forecast demand

Statistic 3

79% of merchants plan to adopt more AI-driven tools in the next two years

Statistic 4

69% of merchant businesses heavily rely on customer data analytics for decision making

Statistic 5

80% of merchant businesses improved customer experience through digital transformation

Statistic 6

58% of merchants utilizing digital solutions report faster checkout processes

Statistic 7

77% of consumers have abandoned a purchase because of a poor digital experience

Statistic 8

78% of merchants have seen an increase in customer loyalty due to digital engagement

Statistic 9

52% of merchants reported a decrease in cart abandonment rates after digital improvements

Statistic 10

40% of merchants use augmented reality (AR) for product visualization

Statistic 11

69% of merchants leverage digital insights to personalize customer experiences

Statistic 12

59% of merchant businesses use chatbots to improve customer service

Statistic 13

45% of merchants plan to use virtual reality (VR) to enhance customer engagement

Statistic 14

65% of merchants believe digital transformation increases customer retention

Statistic 15

57% of merchants have seen an increase in customer satisfaction after digital upgrades

Statistic 16

62% of merchants report improved customer engagement through digital channels

Statistic 17

67% of merchants have adopted personalized marketing strategies enabled by digital data

Statistic 18

85% of merchant businesses have adopted some form of digital transformation by 2023

Statistic 19

60% of retailers see digital transformation as a key to competitive advantage

Statistic 20

70% of merchants report increased sales due to digital tools

Statistic 21

65% of merchant businesses have integrated mobile payment solutions

Statistic 22

75% of consumers prefer digital payment options over cash

Statistic 23

90% of merchants see data analytics as essential to their digital transformation efforts

Statistic 24

50% of small merchant businesses increased their online presence significantly in 2023

Statistic 25

40% of merchants have adopted blockchain technology for payment security

Statistic 26

72% of retail merchants plan to enhance their e-commerce platforms in 2023

Statistic 27

67% of merchants believe that digital transformation is critical for survival in the current market

Statistic 28

82% of merchants increased their use of social media tools for marketing via digital transformation

Statistic 29

51% of merchant businesses have implemented IoT devices to monitor and manage assets

Statistic 30

70% of retailers will prioritize omnichannel strategies using digital tools by 2024

Statistic 31

63% of merchants have adopted cloud-based POS systems

Statistic 32

55% of small merchants reported increased sales after implementing digital marketing tactics

Statistic 33

43% of merchants say that digital transformation has helped them reach new geographical markets

Statistic 34

66% of merchant companies plan to expand their digital workforce in 2024

Statistic 35

74% of merchants improved their supply chain visibility through digital tools

Statistic 36

52% of merchants experienced a rise in online sales after moving to digital channels

Statistic 37

86% of retail merchants see digital transformation as a key to meeting changing consumer expectations

Statistic 38

47% of merchants have integrated sustainability practices into their digital transformation efforts

Statistic 39

72% of merchants have improved data security with digital systems

Statistic 40

61% of merchant businesses report increased agility through digital transformation initiatives

Statistic 41

58% of merchants have adopted digital payment alternatives to cash

Statistic 42

64% of merchants see digital transformation as a way to better manage inventory and stock levels

Statistic 43

71% of smaller merchants report challenges in implementing digital transformation, primarily due to cost and expertise

Statistic 44

55% of merchants are investing in next-generation e-commerce platforms to stay competitive

Statistic 45

49% of merchants employ data-driven marketing strategies through digital channels

Statistic 46

78% of retail merchant businesses increased their digital advertising spend in 2023

Statistic 47

61% of merchants have adopted contactless payments to improve safety and convenience

Statistic 48

73% of merchant companies consider digital transformation a necessity for future growth

Statistic 49

55% of merchant organizations employ automated marketing tools

Statistic 50

86% of merchants agree that digital transformation is essential for scaling operations

Statistic 51

58% of small merchants increased their digital marketing budgets in 2023

Statistic 52

63% of merchants see digital transformation helping to reduce risk and fraud

Statistic 53

45% of merchants plan to invest over $100,000 in digital transformation initiatives in 2023

Statistic 54

74% of merchant businesses see a positive ROI within the first year of digital transformation

Statistic 55

44% of merchant businesses report high ROI from digital technology investments

Statistic 56

65% of merchants reported improved operational efficiency with digital systems

Statistic 57

68% of merchants report reduced costs through digital automation

Statistic 58

48% of merchants utilize automated inventory replenishment systems

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Key Highlights

85% of merchant businesses have adopted some form of digital transformation by 2023
60% of retailers see digital transformation as a key to competitive advantage
70% of merchants report increased sales due to digital tools
65% of merchant businesses have integrated mobile payment solutions
45% of merchants plan to invest over $100,000 in digital transformation initiatives in 2023
75% of consumers prefer digital payment options over cash
80% of merchant businesses improved customer experience through digital transformation
55% of merchants use AI-powered tools for inventory management
90% of merchants see data analytics as essential to their digital transformation efforts
50% of small merchant businesses increased their online presence significantly in 2023
65% of merchants reported improved operational efficiency with digital systems
40% of merchants have adopted blockchain technology for payment security
72% of retail merchants plan to enhance their e-commerce platforms in 2023

In 2023, the merchant industry is undergoing a digital revolution, with 85% of businesses embracing transformative technologies that boost sales, enhance customer experience, and secure a competitive edge in an increasingly digital world.

AI, Data Analytics, and Emerging Technologies

55% of merchants use AI-powered tools for inventory management
48% of merchants use machine learning algorithms to forecast demand
79% of merchants plan to adopt more AI-driven tools in the next two years
69% of merchant businesses heavily rely on customer data analytics for decision making

AI, Data Analytics, and Emerging Technologies Interpretation

With a growing reliance on AI and data analytics, the merchant industry is clearly shifting from intuition to innovation, but those who fail to embrace this digital evolution risk being left behind in the dust of their more technologically savvy competitors.

Customer Engagement and Experience Enhancement

80% of merchant businesses improved customer experience through digital transformation
58% of merchants utilizing digital solutions report faster checkout processes
77% of consumers have abandoned a purchase because of a poor digital experience
78% of merchants have seen an increase in customer loyalty due to digital engagement
52% of merchants reported a decrease in cart abandonment rates after digital improvements
40% of merchants use augmented reality (AR) for product visualization
69% of merchants leverage digital insights to personalize customer experiences
59% of merchant businesses use chatbots to improve customer service
45% of merchants plan to use virtual reality (VR) to enhance customer engagement
65% of merchants believe digital transformation increases customer retention
57% of merchants have seen an increase in customer satisfaction after digital upgrades
62% of merchants report improved customer engagement through digital channels
67% of merchants have adopted personalized marketing strategies enabled by digital data

Customer Engagement and Experience Enhancement Interpretation

In an era where nearly two-thirds of merchants credit digital transformation with boosting customer engagement and satisfaction, ignoring the digital wave risks not just lost sales—today's consumers expect seamless, personalized experiences that only technology can deliver; after all, a poor digital journey can mean lost customers faster than you can say 'cart abandonment.'

Digital Transformation and Technology Adoption

85% of merchant businesses have adopted some form of digital transformation by 2023
60% of retailers see digital transformation as a key to competitive advantage
70% of merchants report increased sales due to digital tools
65% of merchant businesses have integrated mobile payment solutions
75% of consumers prefer digital payment options over cash
90% of merchants see data analytics as essential to their digital transformation efforts
50% of small merchant businesses increased their online presence significantly in 2023
40% of merchants have adopted blockchain technology for payment security
72% of retail merchants plan to enhance their e-commerce platforms in 2023
67% of merchants believe that digital transformation is critical for survival in the current market
82% of merchants increased their use of social media tools for marketing via digital transformation
51% of merchant businesses have implemented IoT devices to monitor and manage assets
70% of retailers will prioritize omnichannel strategies using digital tools by 2024
63% of merchants have adopted cloud-based POS systems
55% of small merchants reported increased sales after implementing digital marketing tactics
43% of merchants say that digital transformation has helped them reach new geographical markets
66% of merchant companies plan to expand their digital workforce in 2024
74% of merchants improved their supply chain visibility through digital tools
52% of merchants experienced a rise in online sales after moving to digital channels
86% of retail merchants see digital transformation as a key to meeting changing consumer expectations
47% of merchants have integrated sustainability practices into their digital transformation efforts
72% of merchants have improved data security with digital systems
61% of merchant businesses report increased agility through digital transformation initiatives
58% of merchants have adopted digital payment alternatives to cash
64% of merchants see digital transformation as a way to better manage inventory and stock levels
71% of smaller merchants report challenges in implementing digital transformation, primarily due to cost and expertise
55% of merchants are investing in next-generation e-commerce platforms to stay competitive
49% of merchants employ data-driven marketing strategies through digital channels
78% of retail merchant businesses increased their digital advertising spend in 2023
61% of merchants have adopted contactless payments to improve safety and convenience
73% of merchant companies consider digital transformation a necessity for future growth
55% of merchant organizations employ automated marketing tools
86% of merchants agree that digital transformation is essential for scaling operations
58% of small merchants increased their digital marketing budgets in 2023
63% of merchants see digital transformation helping to reduce risk and fraud

Digital Transformation and Technology Adoption Interpretation

As the merchant industry accelerates into the digital age—where 85% have adopted new tech, 70% credit digital tools for increased sales, and 86% see transformation as essential for growth—it's clear that embracing digital strategies isn't just a trend but a critical survival skill in today's fast-paced, data-driven retail landscape.

Financial Investment and ROI

45% of merchants plan to invest over $100,000 in digital transformation initiatives in 2023
74% of merchant businesses see a positive ROI within the first year of digital transformation
44% of merchant businesses report high ROI from digital technology investments

Financial Investment and ROI Interpretation

With nearly half of merchants ready to invest six figures and three-quarters reaping swift returns, it's clear that digital transformation has become less of a gamble and more of a strategic necessity for thriving in today's market.

Operational Efficiency and Cost Reduction

65% of merchants reported improved operational efficiency with digital systems
68% of merchants report reduced costs through digital automation
48% of merchants utilize automated inventory replenishment systems

Operational Efficiency and Cost Reduction Interpretation

Despite their reliance on digital automation, merchants seem to be striking a delicate balance between boosting efficiency and trimming costs, with nearly half automating inventory to keep their supply chains as nimble as their operations are streamlined.