The retail technology space during the coronavirus pandemic
Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounds up the key Covid-19 developments from last week.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past year, you’ll know that the coronavirus pandemic has hit bricks and mortar sales hard, pushing retailers to embrace digital platforms to connect with their customers.
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Asda has increased its online delivery capacity by 90% since last March to 850,000 weekly slots and is on course to fulfil one million orders per week by the end of the year.
Primark has estimated that non-essential retail closures across its global store estate cost it £1.1 billion in lost sales in the first half of its financial year.
It does, however, expect the post-coronavirus lockdown period to be “highly cash generative”.
23% of UK shoppers are using social media to discover new products, according to research from Bazaarvoice.
A third, meanwhile, are purchasing directly through Facebook et al, making it more popular compared to other European countries.
73% of UK shoppers have left retail stores feeling frustrated about their experience, according to research from VoCoVo.
Home improvement retailer Wickes has signed a three year, “multi-million pound” contract with same day delivery company CitySprint.
Asos, boohoo, Gymshark, The Hut Group, Ocado Group and AO World have launched a new trade body called the UK Digital Business Association (UKDBA).
This comes amid heated debate around tax and business rates and the acceleration of e-commerce across all demographics during the coronavirus outbreak.
Target and Home Depot are the only bricks and mortar retailers whose online stores rank among the 10 e-commerce sites with the biggest gains in Google search performance during the coronavirus pandemic.
That’s according to research by Searchmetrics.
Urban Outfitters has been using JRNI Appointments across its Anthropologie and BHLDN brands to deliver new ways of connecting with customers during the coronavirus pandemic.
European consumers are more open to new ways of online shopping during the coronavirus outbreak, and shoppertainment is high on their agendas.
That’s according to Forrester Consulting research commissioned by Alibaba Group’s AliExpress offshoot.
Digital retailer The Very Group has donated 300 new laptops for 30 primary schools across Liverpool, Bolton and the East Midlands, with the help of its charity partner, Coram Beanstalk.
The experience of numerous coronavirus lockdowns has prompted 78% of Brits to change the way they think about and consume their food, according to research by ThoughtWorks.
This ranges from the amount they throw away to where and how they buy it.
Warren Richmond, CEO and Founder, Situ Live, has criticised John Lewis for considering further store closures.
Last year, the retailer took an axe to eight stores as it looked to address the impact of Covid-19.
Up to eight more of its 42 remaining outlets could now be shuttered, the Sunday Times reports.
The British Retail Consortium has called on the UK government to be more flexible on the reopening of non-essential retail as it plots a way out of a third coronavirus lockdown.
Two-thirds of high-end shoppers are more comfortable making expensive purchases online since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
However, 90% believe luxury brands and retailers fall behind their high street counterparts for online experiences, according to research by Norstat on behalf of AR firm London Dynamics.
Online furniture retailer Made’s Charing Cross Road, London showroom is closed to physical customers amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The pureplay has therefore been offering virtual appointments and interior style advice.
And it has now launched a shop window that showcases its Spring creative scheme, with customers able to check it out via Zoom.
