Officials at retail institutions confirmed that the repercussions of the emerging “Corona” virus have entrenched shopping patterns and habits broadly for consumers through e-commerce platforms, noting that despite the resumption of economic activities and shoppers ’appetite for sales outlets, it was monitored the continuation of expanded orders on the platforms with rates exceeding 50 % For periods before the virus appeared.
They pointed out to "Emirates Today" that the "pandemic" positively affected consumers' awareness of electronic shopping, which reflected on their expansion in the purchase of food commodities through electronic platforms, and also contributed to the acceleration of the development of retail institutions for its electronic commerce sites and ways to deliver orders.
Shopping habits
In detail, Abdul Hameed Al-Khashabi, “The Corona pandemic” has established large proportions of patterns and habits of shopping extensively for consumers from e-commerce platforms, and this was a remarkable appearance recently from During the continued demand from a large number of consumers for these platforms, despite the resumption of economic activities, and the rates of demand are still higher, ranging between 30 and 50% compared to the rates of demand for platforms in the period before the pandemic appears.
He added that «it is also noticeable that a large number of consumers depend on shopping for food commodities through the electronic platform, while the largest percentage of shopping operations through electronic commerce platforms before the emergence of the corona’s effects focused on electronic devices or clothing products or accessories only», pointing out that « The development processes in the electronic platforms in the retail sector, and the acceleration of ways to deliver orders, were among the factors supporting the consolidation of shopping habits through the platforms now ».
Resume activities
In turn, the general manager of the Emirates Cooperative Society, Mohammed Youssef Al Khaja, said that, despite the resumption of economic activities and the freedom of movement for individuals, with the end of the national sterilization program, and with the increase in the demand for outlets, a remarkable persistence in the demand for purchases from the e-commerce platform Cooperative ».
He considered that the “Corona” pandemic has entrenched the habits of shopping through e-commerce platforms, which has become a permanent pattern for consumers, especially since one of the positive prints of the pandemic in the retail trade sector is the increased awareness of consumers about the means of shopping through electronic platforms, as it reflected on accelerating plans to develop institutions The retail trade of its electronic platforms and means of delivery for orders, as there were previously plans by some to develop these platforms during the coming years, but the conditions of the pandemic crisis and high competition contributed to the acceleration of the implementation of the development plans of the platforms.
Positive reflections
For his part, Nanda Kumar, Director of Corporate Communications Department at Lulu Commercial Centers Group, explained that “One of the positive repercussions of the Corona pandemic in the retail sector is the consolidation of the continued shopping habits and patterns through e-commerce platforms, which are still witnessing demand, despite the end of Restriction of movement and the national sterilization program, exceeding sales rates for the period before the emergence of the effects of (Corona) by rates exceeding 50% ».
He added that «the pandemic has continuously established e-shopping habits for consumers, which was recently demonstrated by the remarkable demand on the e-commerce platform and the acquisition of demand for food commodities through large proportions, which is a fundamental change in the habits and behavior of shoppers today compared to the period before (Corona). ), Where the largest shares of electronic shopping were concentrated in luxury goods and electronic devices.
The repercussions of the virus
In turn, the general manager of the Ajman Cooperative Markets Association, Sami Muhammad Shaaban, considered that "the repercussions of the (Corona) virus have largely entrenched the habits of shopping through e-commerce platforms, where a remarkable rise has been recently monitored and by rates exceeding 50% compared to the periods before the emergence of the virus."
He pointed out that «the changing behavior of consumers in relying on different levels on e-commerce platforms has clearly emerged during the recent period, with the opportunity to freedom of shopping from sales outlets and the continued number of shoppers relying on part of their purchases on electronic platforms, especially with regard to goods Essential food and consumer compared to the pre-pandemic period, which most shoppers preferred to purchase these products from outlets rather than through platforms. ”
He explained that «what helped consolidate the buying habits of electronic commerce platforms is that the corona’s repercussions had great effects on developing work standards in those platforms, and speeding up and diversifying the means of delivery of requests», pointing out that «the cooperative with those variables has additional plans during the coming period to develop Its bigger e-commerce platform. ”
Electronic trade
"The implications of the Corona virus have entrenched the patterns of demand for e-commerce in expanded proportions for companies as well, which have relied more on obtaining their requirements through electronic platforms, which is a good indication of the growth of the e-commerce sector," said Mohamed Shabib, CEO of Tradeling. . And the volume of sales already achieved last June reached the levels that were intended to be achieved in the month of January next, that is, the volume doubled at least four times from what was planned for the month of June this year ».
"We are confident that this high rate of use of e-commerce platforms will be permanent in the long run," he added.
The implications of the virus have increased consumer awareness of the means to shop through technical platforms.