Demand for e-commerce sites is increasing due to the impact of the new coronavirus, and the number of orders for products and services is increasing.
E-commerce sites can be accessed at any time over the Internet without having to visit a store, allowing customers to complete their consumption activities online from the comfort of their own home.
The demand for e-commerce sites is likely to increase in the future as people are restricted from going out to places where people gather due to the effects of the coronavirus, and consumers are becoming more aware of the convenience of e-commerce sites.
In this article, we will focus on the fact that the number of orders on e-commerce sites has increased due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and explain the necessity of e-commerce sites and the future under the influence of the coronavirus.
Utilization of EC sites accelerates due to the influence of the new coronavirus
According to a consumer behavior report released by Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd. in May 2020, it was revealed that the use of e-commerce sites has accelerated due to the impact of the new coronavirus.
With restrictions on non-essential outings, the usage rate of e-commerce sites has increased significantly, especially among the elderly.
Since the increase is larger than that of younger generations in their 20s and 30s, it can be assumed that they are taking action to protect themselves by using e-commerce sites that allow them to purchase what they need without going out.
Reference: Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd.
“Report on consumption behavior under the influence of the coronavirus – Accelerating use of EC sites among the elderly and changing consumption while staying at home”
Furthermore, in addition to the closure of commercial facilities, large events such as sports and live concerts have been refrained from, and tourist facilities and hotels have been closed, resulting in a significant increase in the amount of time consumers are spending at home. The increase in the amount of time that consumers are free to use at their own discretion, so-called disposable time, is also thought to be a factor in the increase in the number of orders on e-commerce sites.
This means that more and more consumers are using their disposable time to browse online shops and shop around.
What is the necessity of an EC site under the influence of coronavirus?
The EC site’s EC is an acronym for “Electronic Commerce,” which literally translates to “electronic commerce.” In other words, an e-commerce site is a website where you buy and sell products on the Internet.
With people being asked to refrain from going out as a measure to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, demand for e-commerce sites that allow people to shop from the comfort of their own homes has rapidly increased.
This is thought to be due to the fact that in addition to consumers who were using e-commerce sites before the coronavirus, consumers who previously made purchases at stores are now using e-commerce sites as well.
Furthermore, when a state of emergency was declared due to the coronavirus pandemic, stores in various industries were forced to temporarily close.
It can be said that it is a natural progression for consumers who are no longer able to purchase products in stores to shift to e-commerce sites.
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The necessity of an EC site from a business perspective
With in-store sales declining due to the effects of the new coronavirus, it is only natural for businesses to find a way out through e-commerce sites. In particular, there is no doubt that the new coronavirus has served as an opportunity to advance the use of e-commerce, especially for industries that have not made much progress in e-commerce.
What will happen to EC sites in the future?
Although the new coronavirus is coming to an end, it is said that it will not end all at once.
Demand for e-commerce sites is high among consumers who want to refrain from going out to places where people gather, and they will continue to actively use e-commerce sites.
On the other hand, the number of consumers visiting stores is expected to temporarily increase as the closure of commercial facilities is lifted and normal business operations resume.
However, considering the convenience of e-commerce sites that can be completed online, we should assume that the demand for e-commerce sites is not temporary and will continue into the future.
Additionally, as demand for online services increases, it is likely that more companies will enter the e-commerce market.
In order to survive in this environment, it will be necessary to pursue convenience in services such as inventory adjustment and delivery speed so that the e-commerce site is easier for customers to use.
Furthermore, as EC usage among the elderly has increased under the influence of the coronavirus, there is a need to build EC sites that can accommodate a wide range of generations.
In the future, there will be a need for easy-to-understand operability and screen configurations that can be used by all generations, including the elderly.
summary
◆With an increasing number of consumers refraining from going out as a measure to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, demand for e-commerce sites that allow consumers to complete their consumption activities from home is increasing.
◆By using e-commerce sites, you can purchase products anytime and anywhere without having to visit a store. Furthermore, under the influence of the coronavirus, browsing products on e-commerce sites has become a kind of “entertainment.”
◆With in-store sales declining due to the effects of the new coronavirus, it is only natural that all businesses will find a way to survive on e-commerce sites.
◆The demand for e-commerce sites is not a temporary phenomenon and is expected to continue into the future. In the future, it will be necessary to build e-commerce sites that are easy to use for all generations, including the elderly, and improve customer service.