The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of shopping, increasing the demand for eCommerce experiences. McKinsey & Company research shows that to keep up, businesses are quickly moving to online channels, accelerating the digitization timetable by as much as seven years.
Yet moving a brick-and-mortar business online isn’t simple. It requires strategic planning, analysis of your customers’ needs, and a long-term vision for your brand. From optimizing your website to fine-tuning your marketing goals, business owners need a holistic plan to jump into eCommerce.
Assess What Customers Need
According to the PwC Global Consumer Insights Survey, safety is top of mind for 49% of urban consumers. The same survey shows that 86% of consumers are likely to continue shopping online even after pandemic restrictions lift.
Consumers are prioritizing both health and convenience. To remain competitive, more businesses are offering services like click and collect and curbside pickup. In fact, by August 2020, 70% sellers were offering contactless payments and 40% were accepting online payments. A survey shows that:
- 85% of shoppers have increased curbside pickup.
- 79% of shoppers say contactless pickup is important.
- 80% of shoppers expect to use contactless and curbside pickup more in the next six months.
A smart move for business owners is to repurpose part of your premises to make it easier to facilitate these new services. On-demand delivery is popular with 90% of shoppers. Thankfully, there are solutions for expanding your delivery and pickup options.
