Ecommerce vs. Bricknmortar – reminds one of the old Gomorrah vs. Godzilla battle. Consequently, one always prevails after a lengthy battle.
The battle is pretty much over.
Prior to the pandemic, retailers were losing their shirts to online sales and the migration of our species to shop online.
During the pandemic, online eCommerce stores received an unprecedented shot in the arm of sales. Many online stores experienced growing pains learning to navigate the welcome burden of record visitors and dwindling stock inventories. Big box retailers did everything to enhance the customer shopping experience, while navigating Covid restrictions.
Consequently, the eCommerce process was undergoing a massive change. Growing pains, one could say.
Who could have imagined ordering and paying for a car and having it dropped off at your doorstep?
This is just the beginning. Ecommerce continues to adapt and change and become a stronger and stronger virus, swallowing up whole industries. Or, at least forever changing them. Think, cabs vs. Uber, and theaters vs. Netflix.
Andy Grove once said, “There are two options: adapt or die”.
Are the traditional retail stores changing rapidly enough to survive?
Or, are they a dinosaur that eCommerce is consuming for lunch – a buffet of opportunity?