The move will take the Internet adverse retailer up against arch rival JB Hi Fi who also plan to offer an online office service which will allow small medium business, SOHO home operators and large enterprise to order online.

JB Hi Fi who last year aquired the DigitalHome portal from 4Square Media are already set up to deliver the service which will be supplied with reviews and content from SmartOffice.

But the online store has been delayed after once Web-wary Gerry Harvey instructed staff to take their time and get the operation right from opening day.

The Web site is to handle business-to-business operations as well as business-to-consumer sales.

After investigating what competitors had on offer, and its ability to deliver, Ofis found most web sites had poor user experience and it did not want to fall into the same trap, the Oz reports.

Said Ofis GM Paul English: "In the past Harvey Norman hasn't been great at online, so we want to make sure we get this right. Gerry, who isn't the greatest fan of online, has said this had to be done properly."