Since the pandemic hit our nation in early March 2020, things have changed significantly, especially in the way consumers buy. Some of the most notable changes include a shift to online shopping, an increased interest in social media shopping, and a preference for contactless payments. Let's take a closer look at each of these trends and how they're impacting the way consumers shop.

Post Pandemic Ecommerce Trends

The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to a sharp increase in online shopping as consumers look to avoid physical contact with others. This shift in consumer behavior has had a major impact on e-commerce trends, with businesses having to adapt their strategies to meet the needs of customers. Even now, a lot of relaxation is given by the government due to the decrease in COVID cases. A lot of people prefer to buy things online because it saves time and money.

One of the most notable changes is an increase in the number of people shopping on mobile devices. Some companies in Malaysia still allow their employees to work from home, which has alternately led to them spending more time on their mobile phones, and it's no surprise that mobile commerce is on the rise.

Besides that, there has been an increase in the use of contactless delivery methods as consumers seek to minimize contact with others. This includes options like curb side pickup and delivery directly to your door.

These are just some of the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed consumer behaviour and impacted e-commerce trends. With more people shopping online than ever before, businesses need to be prepared to meet the needs of their customers.

Increased online shopping

The most obvious change in consumer behavior is the dramatic increase in online shopping. With stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines in place back then, brick-and-mortar stores have seen a significant decrease in foot traffic. At the same time, ecommerce platforms have seen a surge in traffic and sales.

Even after COVID restrictions have been lifted and most physical shops have been back to business, many of us still prefer to buy online, such as groceries and items that are hard to find in the physical shop or the shop is far from their place, since it saves time and they don’t have to go through traffic jams and find parking.

 New product categories on the rise

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, consumer shopping behavior has changed dramatically in response to the pandemic. One of the most notable changes has been the shift in what product categories are trending.

Previously, popular product categories tended to be things like fashion, beauty, and home decor. However, since the pandemic began, there has been a marked increase in demand for products that serve a more practical purpose. Categories like health and wellness, cleaning and disinfecting supplies, and pantry staples have become much more popular than they were before.

As the pandemic continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how consumer shopping behaviour changes along with it. For now, though, it seems clear that practicality is king when it comes to what product categories are trending.

Lower Loyalty

The COVID outbreaks have caused a significant change in consumer shopping habits as a result of the pandemic. The loss of brand and retailer loyalty is one of the most obvious shifts.

Previously, shoppers tended to be loyal to a few favorite brands or retailers, but since the pandemic began, there has been a shift towards trying new brands and retailers in search of the best deals and the products that they need.

Cashless payment

Even before COVID, we were all aware of the cashless payment transaction. This is because, even though there is an option to pay cashless, many of us prefer to pay cash back then. After COVID came, everything changed. Now most of our daily activities, such as grocery shopping and purchasing an item, can be done online due to the social distancing. Even now, with the many COVID restrictions from the government lifted, people still prefer to use online transactions due to their ease of use, speed, and savings time.

 

Contactless delivery and pickup

In response to the pandemic, we have seen the rise of demand in contactless delivery and pickup such as Grab food, Food panda, J&T rise at that time in order to minimize contact between customers and employees. Now, we're seeing more retailers offer contactless delivery, where orders are left at the door or another designated location. If you are looking for a grocery store in Klang Valley, BELI is the right place for you as they offer grocery delivery to your front door.

Personalization and customization

Another trend we're seeing is an increased focus on personalization and customization. Consumers are looking for products that are tailored to their specific needs and preferences—and they're willing to pay more for them.

 In conclusion, COVID-19 has led to many changes in the way consumers shop and how businesses engage with their customers. While some of these changes are positive, others are more challenging for businesses. When it comes to online shopping, for example, you need to be aware of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your customers and make sure that you're available to meet their needs.

You can't simply expect your website to automatically adjust to the needs of your customers or decide that they should shop only at your brick-and-mortar store. Instead, it's important that you establish a set of standards that you can use to measure how well you're meeting those needs and then make changes as necessary