Post-pandemic landscape: What happens with e-commerce?
Nowadays, the e-commerce landscape is far from what was predicted during the pandemic. Even as the health crisis hastened the digitalization of commerce, prompting consumers into new channels and reconsidering their habits, in-person interaction is still required for some things, including wholesale trade and the retail sector.
Recently, a study carried out by Capgemini, What matters to today’s consumer1, found that before the pandemic, 60% of consumers2 preferred buying in physical stores. However, this figure increased to 72% in 2022 after the confinements.
In-store sales process
The study, conducted with 10,000 respondents2 from different countries, dismissed any fear regarding an eventual permanent closure of shopping malls and small physical stores.
The truth is that e-commerce will remain playing a pivotal role in companies’ expansion and customer experience, meaning that shoppers will not abandon e-commerce. The change lies in the fact that consumers will start looking for harmonious experiences between digital and physical stores.
This is why shopping malls are evolving towards having recreational experiences with more sensory stimulation, such as the opportunity to use or explore different products. Through this, there will be more consistency in the customer journey between the expectation about the product in the digital world and its actual physical appearance or usability.
The value of having an optimal distribution center
Amid this adaptation, e-commerce growth is expected to account for 24% of total sales of the retail sector3 in Mexico by 2025, as stated by a recent study by Euromonitor.
The in-store sales process has created new needs, including personnel training to face logistics chain processes and workforce shortages.
Additionally, over time, even more automation-compatible facilities will be required, as well as the use of portable or wearable devices.
The Material Handling Institute carried out an automation research survey which showed the most important logistic center trends3:
- 51% of the analyzed companies are planning to implement automated systems.
- More than 70% want to implement automated meter readings, data collection, and monitoring through AMR4 (Automated Meter Reading) systems.
- Around 80% are considering implementing robotic picking processes.
Therefore, automation and new sales processes tied to e-commerce are essential for the future of companies.
Concerning this, a distribution center must provide a suitable space and infrastructure to install machinery like the one mentioned above.
To fulfill such needs, logistics companies find reliable solutions when settling in an industrial park that offers all the required features to run their operations.
At Advance Real Estate, we provide leasing services for industrial buildings located strategically according to each industry’s needs and activities.
Information source
- www.capgemini.com/wp-content/…/CRI_What-matters-to-todays-consumer_Final-Web.pdf
- www.forbes.com.mx/los-consumidores-vuelven-a-las-tiendas-fisicas-pero-no-dejan-el-ecommerce
- blog.solistica.com/tendencias-top-de-los-centros-de-distribucion-en-el-2022
- www.badgermeter.com/es-es/…/amr-vs-ami-cual-es-la-diferencia
- www.capgemini.com/mx-es/…/lo-que-importa-al-consumidor-de-hoy
- www.mhi.org/publications/report
- www.ssi-schaefer.com/es-es/…/-qu%C3%A9-es-y-para-qu%C3%A9-sirve-un-asrs–861910
