Online companies are growing more than 50 times faster than the wider UK economy, but many are yet to take advantage of the mobile opportunity, according to this years Barclays Online Business Outlook.

Although 64 per cent of the CFOs surveyed said they believe a mobile strategy will be important to their success in 2013, 60 per cent have not devised and implemented one. 89 per cent have not created a mobile website, the survey of  found, while those that have generated 27.8 per cent of their revenues from this channel last year, an average of £2.4m.

Asked specifically about their views on the impact of 4G, 53 per cent believe the new network will further increase mobile traffic, with 45 per cent saying they are unsure that their website will be able to cope with this.

Nearly all the companies surveyed said their business had grown over the last three years, with half of those questioned producing double digit growth. In contrast, the UK economy grew just 0.2 per cent.

“Online businesses have bucked the trend over the last three years and experienced success in spite of the stagnant economic conditions,” said Sean Duffy, MD and head of technology, media and telecoms at Barclays. “The next challenge for companies operating online is sustaining this level of growth and ensuring that they take advantage of new and rising trends.”

“We are advising our online clients to become mobile-ready, as it’s a significant opportunity, particularly with the imminent roll out of 4G networks across the UK due to make mobile browsing easier for more and more consumers,” he said. “Businesses that fail to move with the times risk losing out on valuable ecommerce opportunities.”