The year 2020 witnessed the global pandemic COVID-19, which caused rapid changes in the fabric of the economic and social world. Every day of the year 2020 is marked with uncertainty pertaining to health, business, education, and life. Nothing is spared by the hit of the global pandemic, with every day it’s getting uncontrollable and worsening that ever before. With almost a year passed surviving and living with the COVID-19 threat, people across the world have adapted to changing patterns of life. They are continually adopting new ways of living like celebrating indoors, maintaining social-distancing in public places, etc. etc.
Because of the imposed lockdown throughout the world at different times, and then moving to unlock phase with restrictions and guidelines, people have incorporated in their daily life online shopping and virtual celebrations. As a result of the increase in the number of online buyers because of COVID-19, the E-commerce industry has flourished and tasted success. Not to mention, the overall impact of COVID-19 has been depressing and hard to believe in health care sectors, education, travel and tourism, but when it comes to online business, the effect has been beyond satisfactory and very positive. It is all because of the comfort and convenience online business provides. Lockdown period and even the unlock phase was characterized by staying indoors as much as possible. During such challenging times, online deliveries made survival possible by facilitating you with essential goods, daily utilities, and other products at the comfort of your home. Second, the measure that contributed to the success of the online business is the implementation of contactless delivery. Contactless delivery minimizes to a greater extent, the risk of spreading the infections.
According to researchers and data, the pandemic has accelerated the consumer’s shift towards e-commerce by five years. The top categories the consumers have gravitated toward are groceries, home improvement materials, alcohol with apparels seeing a significant decline. Online nurseries or portals offering gift plants online have also benefited in sales because Tulsi plant helps in boosting immunity and is widely used for making herbal concoctions, then other air-purifying plants are well-known to purify the air from pollutants, thus reducing the risk of getting attacked by viruses.
Also, online business in the niche of fitness and beauty products have seen a splurge in growth and sales because more and more people are spending time in self-isolation and are more attracted to beauty and hair care products. Then, the pandemic made us all realize the importance of active and fit life and one best way to keep the self-protected from the virus; hence these websites have also seen an increase in the number of customers. Undoubtedly, the food sector was heavily impacted by COVID-19 for all good reasons. The fear of getting infected by the virus is the main reason behind people switching from offline shopping to online shopping; thereby it is growing by leaps and bounds.
Not all is good in the hood. The E-commerce industry has and is experiencing unimaginable profits and rise in the number of costumes day by day, but these businesses have to face troubles in running businesses. Because of low man-power, delay in deliveries, shipping process being badly affected because of the restrictions on vehicles on the road, and most importantly ensuring safe delivery.
COVID-19 is more likely to stay, and we have to live with it while taking all the precautions, adhering to social-distancing norms. In such a situation, online business is expected to grow and bloom.
Stay Safe! Stay Indoors! Enjoy Online Shopping!