New data shows Australian consumers rely heavily on reviews to choose local businesses. The result is even more pressure on small operators trying to keep pace.

(PRUnderground) July 28th, 2026

Nine in ten Australian consumers say online reviews influence which local business they choose, according to new data from customer experience platform Podium, piling on further pressure on small business owners trying to keep their online reputation current.

The shift matters most in local search. Businesses with a steady run of recent, positive reviews tend to appear higher when customers search nearby, while those with thin or outdated review profiles can slip down the page, even when the underlying service is just as good. For an owner already juggling day to day operations, chasing reviews by hand is one more job that rarely gets done consistently.

A growing number of businesses are turning to automated tools to close that gap. This clever software sends review requests straight after a job or purchase and pulls responses from Google and Facebook into a single inbox. That means nobody has to remember to ask, and nothing is missed.

Speed Parts is one example of what that shift can look like in practice. The business collected 80 Google reviews across ten years, then added more than 1,000 new reviews within twelve months of switching to an automated system through Podium.

Podium Reviews is one of the platforms behind this trend, automating invitations, replies and reporting for businesses across retail, automotive and home services. More detail on how the technology works is available on the Podium website.

Discover how automated review tools are helping Australian businesses build trust, stay visible, and transform customer feedback into real-world growth opportunities.