E-Commerce Become Threat to Retailers, Op-ed

Director and Chairman of Stylish Eve Trading Group LLC Engineer Ahmed Helmy said that the demand for e-commerce has witnessed during these months a booming record, especially since the Egyptian government started implementing anti-coronavirus measures.

Helmy pointed out that the biggest challenge for retail company owners is keeping pace with the current changes and rapidly perting their course to e-commerce because it is more accessible, convenient, and available around the clock.

In the latest months, e-commerce has become the hub for world trade during the corona pandemic and it has been the only savior for retailers around the world who tended to pert their businesses into e-commerce channels after the world governments have called for the "Stay Home- Stay Safe" slogan, which called on all people to stay home to protect themselves and their families from Covid-19.

Within this scope, some global agencies have made huge investments in e-commerce reducing retail stores, as did the infamous 'Zara' company, which shut down about 1,200 stores worldwide and invested about one billion dollars to support e-commerce for the coming period.

[caption id="attachment_148012" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Stylish Eve Trading Group LLC Director Engineer Ahmed Helmy[/caption]

Not only that but also the well-known chain of coffeehouses 'Starbucks' has closed about 400 branches and decided to put most of its investment in-home delivery service.

Amazon also increased its sales in the coronavirus period by 40% compared to the last year, with revenues of about $88.9 billion only in the second quarter of 2020.

Helmy confirmed that this is a red flag to all owners of retail companies and consumers as well that the world is strongly moving towards the world of e-commerce, and that the consumer's need is now can only be met through his smartphone, mobile applications, and websites that meet all his needs without even leaving the house.

Certainly, the spread of coronavirus and the attempts to control it have caused a watershed moment in the history of e-commerce, especially with the fast interest of all consumers in the Middle East and around the world in online shopping, as it has become the only shopping outlet in the last couple of months, which predicts a huge rise in e-commerce sales during the coming period.

It is worth noting that before the pandemic, the consumer used to rely on e-commerce websites only at times of discounts and big offers.

But, currently, the purchases have included more than one product, regardless of the seasons of sales and offers, which led to an increase in the website visits by 1000% and also purchase orders have risen by 500%, which made most companies and businesses owners start hiring more delivery employees.