American states have started to reopen part of their economies, catering to the needs of residents who can’t wait to get outdoors. Each state has a different opening calendar, not to mention different rules and regulations. Grocers, pharmacies, and e-commerce marketplaces ensure customer access to essentials such as food, medication, and toiletries. Even if shops are slowly but surely opening again, this will have a very little impact on the e-commerce surge that we’ve witnessed during lockdown. As a reminder, since the beginning of the health crisis, more than 50% of people shopped online, choosing sites that they already know. And consumers are expected to continue stretching their dollars online.
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E-commerce shopping more common due to COVID-19
The global pandemic has affected customers and retailers from a business and personal standpoint. Firms have started to sell online since the coronavirus outbreak in an effort to generate income, support their employees, and, last but not least, deliver quality products and services. Customers too have changed their shopping behaviors. According to Statista, more than 27% of respondents in the United States said they did their shopping online instead of offline because of the health crisis. There has been a considerable increase in e-commerce B2B shipments at local and global levels, which is largely due to the COVID-19 situation. Brick and mortar stores transitioned to online, meaning that people had no choice but to order online.
Brands, as well as customers, have been forced to adapt to a situation they’ve never encountered before. The retail space that we once knew and loved isn’t the same and there’s a very small probability that things will return back to normal in the near future. The deadly virus keeps on spreading, with countless countries and territories affected. A digital-first approach is necessary to win and retain customers. E-commerce, as far as it’s concerned, is expected to double by 2023. Retailers that refuse to adopt a digital-first approach will be missing out on a lot. They need to make strategic business decisions during these difficult times.
Coronavirus-fueled tech trends will continue to dominate the COVID-19 age
The current status of the coronavirus in Charlotte isn’t encouraging. Some of the residents defy basic decency and common sense, completely refusing to wear a face covering. This situation isn’t isolated to North Carolina, though. It seems that people all over the world refuse to take COVID-19 seriously. Given the fact that the novel coronavirus isn’t going away any time soon, tech trends will continue to dominate the scene, including online shopping. The incredible growth of e-commerce that started during the early days of the health crisis doesn’t show signs of reversing. Businesses that implemented digital strategies prior to the global pandemic are now in a position to lead.
Online retailers will see their revenue increasing, with delivery and pickup services in great demand. Mobile devices are the most popular devices for online shopping. People are buying everything from groceries to apparel, forgetting all about store visits. They are more motivated than ever to stay at home and shop online, creating the ideal conditions for innovative e-commerce startups that offer the best-in-class shopping experience. Physical stores are indeed reopening, but not many are willing to venture out due to the fear of contracting COVID-19. Health experts are warning about a virus resurgence and people take their warnings seriously.
The fact of the matter is that consumers don’t feel safe and they’re not thinking about returning to their old shopping behaviors – i.e. the ones they took for granted. In a social-distance-minded economy, businesses have no choice but to innovate and start selling online. Things are changing, but with this change comes opportunity. Businesses must understand the repercussions, as well as the opportunities presented by the health crisis. E-commerce offers easily accessible and lucrative opportunities everywhere. Organizations should be ready.
Getting a business to start selling online during COVID-19
It’s been months now since the novel coronavirus disrupted our lives. From being forced to practice social distancing to getting used without outdoor activities, it’s been something no one expected. It was a hard blow even for businesses. As the global pandemic pushes on, the smart thing to do is to start selling online. You don’t necessarily have to be a retail store to move your business on the Internet. Even the services industry can take advantage of the benefits of selling online. Getting back on topic, setting up an e-commerce store isn’t hard at all. If you’re just starting out on your journey to success, make sure to pick the best e-commerce platform. BigCommerce and Shopify are the most popular solutions.
The big commerce vs shopify is as old as time. Both online platforms can serve the user’s needs remarkably well and the choice between the one or the other depends a lot on personal preference. BigCommerce has the most built-in features, yet it’s not suitable for beginners due to the complex terminology and learning curve. Shopify, on the other hand, has a great inventory system, but makes it impossible to switch templates, as it’s required to reformat the entire site. Many agree with the fact that Shopify is better than BigCommerce because it can be used by anyone, so it’s not necessary to have digital expertise. Plus, there are no selling limits.
It’s important to figure out if you’ll be selling from your own inventory or shipping from your manufacturer. Not too many people will come into the physical store, meaning that it’s not necessary to have a great deal of inventory at hand. If you sell products using the drop shipping model, you’ll have to find a good retail partner. Get a good understanding of your industry’s distribution channels and contact a drop shipping supplier. Most importantly, tell people that you’ll be selling online. Communication is of paramount importance during the global pandemic. Inform customers of any changes taking place in your business.
Promotions quickly attract customers’ attention and encourage them to spend more. Put quality product photos on the website and take the time to write compelling descriptions. Automate as many processes as possible. You’ll want to be much more efficient than you’re right now.