Computer & Software Retailing in Australia: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Computer and Software Retailing industry in Australia comprises store-based and online businesses primarily engaged in the sale of computers, peripheral devices, software packages, and video game consoles. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade data, overall Australian monthly retail turnover reached a seasonally adjusted $37,906.6 million in June 2025 (Australian Bureau of Statistics), driven by a mix of brick-and-mortar storefront upgrades and e-commerce growth. The sector operates within a highly sophisticated retail ecosystem where consumer adoption of advanced hardware and a shifting landscape toward digital software delivery influence ongoing sales volu

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What does the Computer & Software Retailing in Australia industry cover?

This industry encompasses businesses that focus on the storefront or online retail distribution of computer equipment, hardware components, and pre-packaged or digital software. Operations are defined by the direct sale of these products to end-consumers, small businesses, and educational users. It excludes enterprise-level custom software development or wholesale commercial IT distribution infrastructure.

• •Classified under the official Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) system as Class 4222, Computer and Computer Peripheral Retailing.
• •Primary activities include retailing computer equipment, compact disc burners, computer game consoles, and pre-packaged computer software.
• •The scope excludes units primarily engaged in software publishing, internet service provision, or professional computer system design services.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The Australian market features a blend of massive multichannel corporate entities, specialized franchise networks, and independent boutique retailers. Large-format electronics retailers capture a significant portion of consumer traffic by offering extensive product varieties across physical showrooms and digital storefronts. Micro and small businesses continue to occupy niche technical roles, offering localized custom system assembly and paired repair services.

• •A few prominent corporate entities dominate the national brick-and-mortar footprint through multi-brand portfolios.
• •Franchise networks allow localized owner-operators to utilize centralized marketing and supply chain logistics managed by national corporate parents.
• •Micro-retailers (employing 0 to 4 people) represent a vast portion of corporate registrations by count, though they command lower total revenue share.

What drives demand in the industry?

Retail consumer demand is heavily influenced by technological replacement cycles, remote working patterns, and digital entertainment trends. The ongoing necessity for high-performance home office configurations sustains consistent upgrades of laptops and personal computers. Furthermore, the commercial release of new generations of gaming consoles and software titles accelerates seasonal consumer discretionary spend.

• •According to the ABS Characteristics of Australian Business data, 12% of all Australian businesses reported utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 2024-25 financial year, reflecting a broader macro shift toward AI-capable hardware architectures.
• •Growth in digital-only delivery models for gaming and office software places a structural premium on high-speed internet adoption and upgraded local storage devices.
• •Fluctuations in household disposable income and consumer sentiment directly impact the frequency of premium computer hardware replacements.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

Competition within the Australian marketplace is fierce and primarily waged on price, product exclusivity, and immediate stock availability. Prominent ASX-listed entities and global electronics giants operate parallel distribution networks to capture both standard consumer and commercial small-business segments. Pure-play e-commerce merchants push margin compression, forcing traditional storefront operators to expand their omnichannel capabilities.

• •JB Hi-Fi Limited (operating JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys) serves as a primary national retail distributor of computers and consumer peripherals.
• •Harvey Norman Holdings Limited operates an extensive aggregated franchisee network across Australia, generating significant revenue through consumer electronics and computer sales.
• •Officeworks Ltd (a subsidiary of Wesfarmers Limited) maintains a substantial market position by targeting student and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) technology hardware needs.
• •Kogan.com Ltd operates as a key pure-play online retail competitor, leveraging direct-to-consumer digital channels to distribute private-label and third-party IT hardware.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry is adapting to a post-pandemic leveling of hardware demand, following historic spikes associated with remote work mandates. Retailers are leaning heavily into unified omnichannel platforms, integrating real-time point-of-sale data with online stock allocation to optimize supply chains. Moving forward, the integration of on-device AI processors is anticipated to spark a fresh hardware refresh cycle.

• •Total Australian retail turnover demonstrated a through-the-year increase of 4.9% in June 2025 compared to June 2024, signaling steady underlying retail activity.
• •Physical storefronts are increasingly transformed into experiential service hubs to counter the commoditization of online software distribution.
• •Supply chain resilience remains a focal point, as 59% of Australian businesses reported experiencing general supply chain disruptions during the 2024-25 fiscal period.

How is the industry regulated?

Operators within this sector must strictly adhere to national consumer protection frameworks and electronic waste guidelines. Retailers face rigorous compliance standards regarding product representations, processing warranties, and handling consumer returns for faulty technical goods. Additionally, the growing volume of e-commerce transactions places emphasis on stringent digital payment security architectures.

• •All retailers are legally bound by the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), governing mandatory consumer guarantees.
• •Operators must align with the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) to support the environmentally responsible disposal of obsolete IT hardware.
• •Merchant transactions are subject to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to mitigate escalating cybersecurity and data breach risks.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Australian Bureau of Statistics Retail Trade June 2025 ·
• Australian Bureau of Statistics Characteristics of Australian Business 2024-25 ·
• Australian Bureau of Statistics ANZSIC 2006 (Revision 2.0) ·
• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Compliance Guidelines ·
• Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NTCRS Portfolio)