In a snapshot of IT use and innovation in Australian business, the ABS has found that $189 billion of online orders were placed in the 12 months to June 30, 2011.

It was a huge rise from the previous 12 months, when $143 billion worth of orders were placed in the 2009-10 financial year.

The online orders came from Australian households as well as overseas customers and businesses and government.

Associate director of the Innovation and Technology Statistics branch of the ABS, Andrew Puljic, said the rise of online orders continued.

''The general trend in the data indicates that more businesses are using the internet and more than half are placing orders via the internet,'' he said.

''And 28 per cent are receiving orders on the internet, with half or more of businesses in the wholesale trade and manufacturing receiving orders online.''

Mr Puljic said Australian companies were actively putting themselves out there into the online space.

''The [number of] businesses that have a web presence has increased from 40 per cent to 43 per cent of all businesses,'' he said.

''With large businesses that's 97 per cent compared to 33 per cent of micro businesses which employ four people or less.''

Australian retailers are also working to make money over the net, with 35 per cent reporting they had received orders for goods online.