Many of the recent global events have created an exploding trend in the markets. It has increased the popularity of e-commerce Development with small and medium businesses as they have taken a plunge following the bigger players.
The acceptance of ecommerce has exploded from the big players to the medium and small-sized players in the industry. It has expanded rapidly in the past few years and the COVID-19 situation has further popularised this trend. The shift towards the internet is being seen as a convenient option for enterprises of every size.
How Ecommerce has been affected in the post-COVID-19 world?
As the pandemic sent most of the world into a lockdown, many businesses had to shut down temporarily. The future has become uncertain for most enterprises and they are looking for new ways to survive. Even the businesses that have reopened have their restrictions in place due to social distancing and limits on the number of customers.
As shopping on the traditional medium is becoming difficult, people are inclined to shop from e-stores. Consumers are embracing online retailers and other online service providers which have hinted towards this transition hugely.
Studies are showing a surge in online revenue. It has grown by up to 68%, as of April 2020 and there’s a huge chance that this trend will continue to escalate in the post-quarantine world. The benefits of e-shopping are not going to fade even when retail trades revive completely. All of these points to why this is the perfect time to either start or double down on your e-commerce efforts.
What Factors that are Driving Ecommerce Growth?
Here we list certain reasons that are driving more and more customers towards e-shopping:
- Changing Shopping Behaviour
– Post the quarantine, people have changed their way of buying items. This has become a persisting situation as the shopping patterns are getting deep-seated in the consumer’s behaviour. As stores open, the customers will venture more but this does not mean that they will suddenly stop the comforting and addictive feeling of e-shopping.
- Fear of COVID-1
– As the pandemic has been damaging lives across the world, there are deep fears in the society that are not going to vanish overnight. Thus, even after coming out of the quarantine time, people would be extra alert and would shop from home avoiding physical shopping.
- Growth in Mobile Devices
– The rapid growth in mobile devices is also making it easier than ever to shop online. All you need to do is place orders from your device and you get everything quickly without any hassle.
- More Options In Online Stores
– It is now becoming a trend to shop online as many items that are becoming scarce in physical stores are still available online. Things that are becoming non-existent in physical stores can be easily ordered online.
- Higher Convenience
– With a wide selection of products and higher savings, e-shopping is spurred. This is going to increase exponentially as e-commerce is going to become more competitive and popular.
The Significance of Omni channel Strategies
When it comes to Omni channel marketing, there are consistent digital touch points across mobile, web, and email. The customers are now appreciating the many available options for transacting with online sellers.
While we talk about e-shopping as separate and competitive models, they are now merging with the other options. Thus, the customers who were earlier loyal to physical stores are not shying away from buying through e-stores.
Many leading retailers like Walmart are quickly expanding their online presence. Shoppers are moving towards placing online orders to avoid waiting in line. Alibaba has also opened up retail outlets throughout China. Shoppers are either choosing in-person shopping or online shopping or they are merging the two formats. This has added to their shopping convenience and is giving them more and more options.
Physical department stores are also finding unique ways to combine online and offline shopping. Macy's, an iconic department store brand has now started an app that allows for online browsing, picking up orders, and accessing shopping history. Sephora is famous for its technology which allows the customers to rapidly see how the beauty and makeup treatments will turn out on them.
Smaller businesses are also offering the convenience of services like e-shopping merged with in-store pickup. If you have a physical business, then combining them with a digital experience will progress the overall experience of both e-shopping and in-store transactions. Small businesses can start with building an easy-to-navigate website that will make it convenient for the customers to check options and anything relevant online.
How to Utilizing Social Media for Online Presence?
Social media gives a wonderful opportunity to connect with their customers. This also helps to bridge the gap between offline and online shopping. Below are some great ways to create an internet presence through social media:
- Building Social Media Ads
- Advertising through Instagram, Facebook, and other social sites will drive huge traffic towards your e-store.
- Promote Products through Picture-Based Apps
– To sell physical items, Instagram and Pinterest are the best options as many of the users visit this site to find inspiration. You will be able to build traffic with pins, boards, and likes.
- Engage with the Followers
– To stay connected with the followers, you should monitor your channels. You can also engage with them by promptly answering comments and questions.
Which Things to keep in Mind for the Ecommerce Revolution?
As the COVID-19 quarantine ends at some point, many economic changes that have occurred due to the pandemic will remain. If you are an owner of an offline store who is looking for ways to survive in these times, then you will have to make some efforts. You can keep the below-mentioned tips in mind to ensure you make the most of this time:
- Connect with Customers
- You should connect with the customers in an Omni or multichannel way. This is based on the understanding that a customer will shop from an e-store apart from shopping from your physical store in person.
- Ensure Transparency
- If there are some difficulties that your physical store is facing due to shortages or rising costs, or delays then it is best to be open with your customers.
- Stay Flexible
- After the restrictions due to COVID-19 are lifted, customers will appreciate having many choices in terms of customer service. They will also appreciate more options in terms of shipping, payment options, and other transaction aspects.
- Study your Data
– Users must know which channels and platforms will bring the best results. You can collect crucial information from the customers through customer service interactions, polls, and monitoring social media comments.
Customers will Embrace E Commerce in a Huge Way
More customers are now appreciating the ease of electronic shopping. Although the restrictions are imposed by COVID-19 it has made the online shopping experience even more appealing. This is going to be a long-term trend that will continue post the pandemic. Businesses should make the most of the opportunity and offer flexible policies, transparency, and convenient Omni channel solutions for their customers.
