Curbside Pick-Up

• Adobe Analytics recently found that buy online, pickup in-store orders surged 208% in April from the year-ago period.
•  44% of retailers now offer curbside pick-up as an option.
• A CommerceHub report also found that 59% of consumers are more likely to use curbside pickup following the coronavirus outbreak. And even when the pandemic subsides, 75% of consumers that subscribed to multiple delivery services, like Amazon Prime, said they would likely continue to opt for curbside delivery.
•  Neil Saunders, Managing Director, GlobalData: This is undoubtedly one of the trends that will stick post-virus. It is a win-win for consumers and retailers. From the shopper point of view, it is convenient and quick; from the retailer point of view, it is more cost-effective than delivering to home.

Curbside Pain Points

• Retailers indicate that managing volume at peak times can be challenging.
• The potential for loss of "impulse buys" is a concern amongst retailers.
•  Customers are reporting long wait times, sporadic availability of associates, and unclear instructions at stores large and small.

Factors Affecting the Choice to Continue Curbside Pickup After the Pandemic

•  77% of consumers saying they will be more cautious about cleanliness, health and safety in the post-pandemic era.

Returning to the In-Store Shopping Experience

• Nearly three quarters (71%) of consumers say that they feel comfortable shopping in-store at non-essential retail locations following the coronavirus pandemic.
• Females are more hesitant to return to stores than men. The majority of women (28%) will wait 2 weeks after the stores reopen to shop again. The majority of men (36%) will return in-store immediately after stores reopen.
• The majority (49%) of consumers say they will feel most comfortable shopping at small, local retailers following the pandemic:
• 35% of consumers say they will be most comfortable shopping at department stores following the pandemic.
• Only 16% of consumers say they will feel most comfortable shopping at standalone specialty retail stores.
•  49% are uncomfortable to shop for apparel now.
•  33% of shoppers are uncomfortable to shop for cosmetics now.
•  18% of shoppers say they are uncomfortable to shop for shoes now.

Retail Technology Trends- Post Covid-19

• E-commerce friendly POS systems to make shopping a more fluid experience between online and brick and mortar.
•  Machine learning for demand forecasting.
•  Augmented shopping like virtual fitting rooms.
•  Staff-free and cashierless stores.
• Using voice assistants to shop for items.
•  Robotics to improve in-store operations.