The Corona crisis is impacting nearly every sector of the economy. However, retailers and the like that were previously exclusively offline are currently particularly affected. This shows how the entire income can be lost from one day to the next, since the company was only operating on this one pillar.

Anyone who has so far failed to position themselves properly in e-commerce can and should use the crisis to create a second foothold for themselves. In many cases, the most sensible approach to this is to intelligently dovetail the worlds of online and offline – retailers who have already made such a transition can be much more relaxed in the current crisis.

POS – always and everywhere

In this context, the permanent availability of the POS (Point of Sales) is particularly important. A POS is the place where the customer comes into contact with goods. Those who have completely digitized their retail business in parallel and also offer their entire inventory via a JTL store, for example, have a clear advantage. Here, the customer can not only buy during store hours, but order around the clock. In addition, there is often the following situation: the customer is interested in a particular product on site in the store, but is still hesitant to buy it. However, by having a simultaneous presence of a retailer, both offline and online, you leave the customer the option of accessing it later (when they are no longer physically in the store at all).

Social media, apps and more

But it’s not just about the issue of a provider’s “constant availability.” The question of whether and how to stay in touch and communicate with the customer is also of considerable importance. This is where social media strategies and communication concepts are needed. Positive examples in customer communication would include:

• Keeping the customer up to date via Facebook
  Example: a local food truck that tells its followers about its presence at a certain location.
• Show products and inspirations on Instagram
  Example: An art dealer who makes his novelties in the gallery so accessible to the general public.
• Develop your own app
  Example: A fitness trainer who enables his customers to make appointments via app (thus saving a lot of time on the phone).

Certainly only some excerpts for various possibilities to step with its (regular) customers into regular connection. Everywhere here is then again potential to direct consumers directly to their own website. Especially for the retail sector.

Take the right steps now

The crisis and Covid19 in particular offer a unique option for many who have not yet established a solid online foothold: Since business operations have to remain dormant to a certain extent, it is now possible to take the necessary steps (undisturbed) to approach digitization on a large scale. We at eBakery are happy to help, for example with the setup of templates, ERP consulting, configuration of merchandise management systems or even social media optimization.