An investigation into how Online business has been boosted by the changing of customer behaviour during the Pandemic

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and social distancing have forced people to change their daily behaviours radically. Consumers began to buy differently, reconsidering what was essential and swapping checkout lines for online shopping (JP Morgan, 2020). The research will focus on the end consumer's point of view towards adopting online business, which includes not only e-commerce but, in a broader sense, also other areas such as smart working, e-learning, food delivery and home streaming. It will analyse how customer behaviour has changed since the pre-COVID period and how the pandemic has boosted online businesses and "In-home" services. This work is a qualitative research study that aims to analyse data obtained from semi-structured interviews to better understand the long-term impacts of the pandemic. Initially, consumers moved online out of necessity. However, this trend has been maintained and strengthened thanks to a greater awareness of digital platforms' potential, flexibility, and convenience. Because of their regular usage, consumers have acquired new skills and confidence in online shopping, which has normalised and integrated into daily life. While some sectors have seen a decline in online commerce since the end of pandemic related restrictions, overall online activity continues to be significantly more robust than before the pandemic. Today, the trend traces a possible hybrid future, where new preferences merge with pre-pandemic habits.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

mba

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Ferrigno, Arcangelo

• HF Masnach

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:3053