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How has ecommerce tech held up to the coronavirus so far?

Mobile is now key to connecting local shops with local people

A number of tech providers and analysts have understandably started analysing how shopping habits are changing because of Covid-19 and have found, unsurprisingly, that it has been a catalyst for online and mobile commerce.

According to ContentSquare in a review of over 1,400 websites, shoppers are spending 26% more time on grocery websites and are spending 20% more on grocery products online than they did at the end of February. Groceries aren’t the only retail vertical being affected by the virus. Understandably, travel and tourism websites have seen a drop (-20%) in traffic and sales, as well as the sale of sports goods (-28%).

Meanwhile, home furnishings and lingerie have seen a spike in sales. App company Poq has seen revenue for health and nutrition shopping apps grow by 22% since February.

British online supermarket Ocado, has struggled to keep up with the increased online demand as its website and app experienced difficulties on the 12th March and it has advised customers to place orders further in advance because more people than normal seem to be placing large orders.

Almost half (49%) of consumers are making more purchases online in order to avoid visiting physical store locations according to research from the law firm, Squire Patton Boggs. Logistics specialists, ParcelHero claim that overall ecommerce sales are likely to double from 20% of all sales to 40% as consumers choose to buy more products online.

And, as more shoppers buy online for the first time, McKinsey & Company claims that; “Customers’ changing preferences are not likely to go back to pre-outbreak norms.” McKinsey & Company.

It predicts that many shoppers who buy online for the first time because of the coronavirus outbreak will better be able to appreciate and understand the broader advantages of shopping online and will be more likely to maintain this behaviour beyond the pandemic peak.

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