People and businesses making worldwide shipping deliveries through online platforms want to make sure that their customers find their websites as easy as possible to use - which is why Royal Mail has developed a free website analysis tool for them.

The self-serve Delivery Promise Tool helps e-retailers to analyse their website from a shopper's point of view, giving advice on areas like website navigation, parcel delivery options and the buying process.

Additionally, it recommends measures like offering free returns and letting customers buy without registration in order to get more parcel delivery orders through the site.

David Smith, managing director of IMRG, the industry body for e-retailers, said the tool will help to improve consumer confidence in the online sector.

"In many cases the growth of larger multi-channel retailers is outstripping that of smaller pure online retailers and the Delivery Promise Tool is a simple and effective way of helping them to maximise sales," he commented.

According to a study commissioned by Royal Mail, small businesses could generate an extra £15 billion for the UK economy if they adopted a short list of "blueprints for success" outlined by the organisation.