How will eCommerce change after the coronavirus crisis? Main challenges (1)

The impact this crisis is having in the world goes beyond health and economics. As the incidence of the virus is minimized, we will also see a series of very deep social changes. 

When this occurs, consumption patterns and consumers relationship with trade will also change. 

The main implication of COVID-19 for commerce is that retail has stopped suddenly for too long in most parts of the world. 

This has opened a window of opportunity for the growth of some sectors and niches within eCommerce that have grown remarkably during confinement. 

At the same time to that closure and the restrictions applied by governments to physical stores, we find population that is confined to their homes. For customers, during coronavirus the opportunity for consumption is reduced to electronic commerce. 

As government control and intervention measures start to be relaxed, we are seeing the outlook that will come. 

Physical businesses are opening, adapting to much stricter regulations; and people go out again. However, they do so conditioned by fear and by the habits they have acquired during the long period of confinement.

Fear is a new purchase motivation that will turn eCommerce around after COVID-19, and it will do so at several levels: 

Let's see some concrete examples of the challenges that are going to arise from now on so that you can adapt from now on, if you have not already done so. V

I already know that you are going to say “of course” without thinking twice, but it is worth making this reflection because one is not always ready to sell more. 

From a technical point of view, you need to have an eCommerce platform that is capable of handling the increase in traffic and purchases. 

It is especially important to know that the hosting you have contracted guarantees you it takes up those connections without suffering drops, and that you have enough bandwidth to provide service without surprises on the bill at the end of the month. 

What seems like good news for online stores, can be a real headache in logistics too. We are talking about a strong increase in sales and, consequently, orders to generate and deliver. 

If you do not want to die of success, it is important that you have impeccable inventory management and a supplier that is capable of managing deliveries with the greatest efficiency. 

It can be a good time to bet on the use of software that helps you automate processes and manage inventory, especially when your logistics is external or 3PL. 

You can take a look at options such as Mecalux 3PL or Exact, which offer a complete multi-warehouse management system, traceability of products and processes. 

We have much more to tell you about how eCommerce will change after the Coronavirus crisis. Therefore, we invite you to read the next issue of this series of posts in which we will talk about more challenges that we must overcome.