The COVID-19 pandemic has touched various sectors and there is hardly any field that isn’t facing the repercussions of this disease. Every segment has moulded itself to accommodate the lurking threat. From education or transport, from IT to tourism, every sector has taken a blow owing to the current times and e-commerce is not something different.
Now talking about the business sector in India, the majority of it is governed by unconventional, and less than 10% is reserved for conventional businesses. The unconventional businesses include the neighbourhood stores, whereas the organized sector encapsulates online shopping and organized brick and mortar stores. The majority of the Indian population relies on neighbourhood brick-and-mortar stores as they love to see and feel the product and haggle about its price over the counter. The trend is seeing a shift by online shopping sites offering lucrative discounts and features. However, the general mindset of Indian buyers is thought to be conservatives who aren’t very influenced by promotions and offers and shop at the spur of the moment. Based on various surveys and studies, we have collated points that signify how Covid-19 has impacted or shall impact the e-commerce sector in India.
There has been a spike in e-commerce in India.
As the safety guidelines to combat this virus is to cut down physical contact and adhere to social distancing norms, India has seen a proliferation in this segment. There has also been an increment in FTUs or first-time-eCommerce-users, who till now had been hesitant to indulge in online shopping. Although the fear about the shortage of essential supplies accentuated using e-commerce supply, nonetheless, this segment has surely seen a surge.
Deepak Gera, co-founder of, Hokosoko said, “Online shopping has not just changed the landscape of shopping, but has become supremely popular among all age groups because of available variety, unmatchable reachability, and of course seasonal discounts now and then. People who have a knack for shopping online always want to play it smart and wait for the right moment to grab that deal.”
Diversification of Customer Base
Gone are the days, when e-commerce in India was reserved for a particular class. It might be true it was only the upper strata of the society who were big players of e-commerce pre-pandemic, but in the current trends, various people have started utilizing e-commerce. The nationwide lockdown plus curfew regulations across India made the operations of the neighbouring stores erratic, and people relying on online stores to fulfil their demands and needs. It is notable to state that people from tier-II and tier-III cities, who till now weren’t very active on the e-commerce front, are becoming a part of online shopping.
Boost of Online or Contactless Payments
People due to paranoia aren’t stepping out of their homes and this has resulted in the dwindling of paper money. People are using contactless payment methods owing to the deficit of currency as well as prevention of the infection, which is contagious.
Inculcation of Tier-II and Tier-III Manufacturers and Sellers
Owing to the ongoing times, when physical shopping has come to a hiatus, tier-II and tier-III manufacturers and sellers are having a rough time. To keep their sales up, they have accepted that e-commerce is the retort. Gone are the days when sellers from metropolitan cities were the main sellers at various e-commerce sites. Now, we can even see sellers from small cities and towns scaling up their e-commerce game.
The Surge of Technology in E-commerce
One trend that is consistent throughout the world is the spread of technology in e-commerce. Various business models are integrating novel technological developments like cloud computing, robotics, and AI, to make their working effective. In India, robotics still has a mark to create, but various e-commerce stalwarts, as well as start-ups, are using the power of technology to intensity their efficiency.
Revamping of the Business Model
The surge in e-commerce has taken a toll on the working of the business model. Now, e-commerce platforms are altering their operation, logistics, IT framework, and other aspects to be attuned to this global threat. Many e-commerce websites have restricted their delivery to the essentials and the lockdown norms have even made transportation a demanding task. So, e-commerce is altering its conventional strategies to make them ready to cater to clients in these difficult times and also, adhere to safety norms.
E-commerce has seen a noticeable transformation with the onset of this virus and in the upcoming times, the business model will see a change in trend.
Hokosoko is an e-commerce platform that abides by the safety norms and tries its best to deliver on a priority basis. They are offering a wide range of products at affordable rates.
