Permanent changes in consumer habits after the crisis

We live in a phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in which the population is gradually returning to some activities and, fortunately, medicine is advancing in the search for a definitive solution. Some must believe that after the arrival of the vaccine, and the eradication of Sars-CoV 2, everything will go back to how it was before in all spheres, or at most there will be a moment of recovery after the economic crisis. Nothing further from the truth. Events with a profound impact on society tend to have permanent consequences on people's way of life, even if their direct effects are transient.

The adversities generated by crises create a series of changes in consumer habits, and these changes bring awareness of opportunities and learning that arise thanks to the needs imposed by the environment. We've talked about it here ILOS Insights of numerous trends driven by the situation created by Covid-19, such as the increase in drone delivery tests, and changes in retail. After the turbulence, however, people do not “unlearn” what they have known out of necessity, and acquire the experience permanently, making use of them to improve their daily lives during and after the crises.

An example of change in this sense concerns the home office. A solution that already existed for a few years, but which was not explored by many companies; it had to be adopted on an emergency basis in many companies, which discovered tools, processes, forms of communication and team coordination to carry out activities. After the forced adaptation phase, some companies intend to adopt remote work permanently. The habits that come from this new work routine, such as more homemade food and online shopping, will continue in the post-Covid reality. On this last point, a survey in the United Kingdom showed that 40% of people intend to continue to purchase products through online platforms that they previously sought in physical stores, even after they are fully open and secure. Another study, this time by Deloitte, says that 38% of consumers have tested a new service or media activity (such as a movie streaming service or video games) and more than two-thirds of this audience intend to maintain the activity after the pandemic.

It is necessary for the supply chain manager to know how to analyze, therefore, the solutions that work during the pandemic, those that will last for a while due to the economic crisis, and those that will be embraced as a new way of living, absorbing the fruits of learning through adversity . These changes and transformations will be discussed in great depth in the ILOS International Supply Chain Forum, which will take place on the 13th, 14th and 15th of October, and will feature specialists from different companies and countries.

References:

Forbes - Coronavirus is conditioning new entertainment habits that may not change post pandemic

Infomoney – XP announces home office until December and studies permanent remote work

BBC - How covid-19 will change our shopping habits