How WFH Culture Has Changed Commerce Habits

Posted on by Dennis OConnell
BORN Views
How WFH Culture Has Changed Commerce Habits

When the lockdown order came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses scrambled to convert their daily operations to remote workspaces. Luckily, we live in an age that offers enough technology, such as high-speed internet, online payments, and video conferencing, to make work from home (WFH) successful. Although WFH was difficult for some businesses, it proved to be a practical and sustainable business method for eCommerce companies. With the WFH culture in full swing, commerce habits switched heavily to online purchasing and affected consumers’ purchasing. As the Covid-19 public health crisis enters its third year, political leaders and business leaders are in the process of reframing Covid-19 as an endemic disease, one that society must learn to cope with indefinitely. As restrictions lift and case numbers decrease, employers must navigate unfamiliar waters as they attempt to return to normal business operations and embrace changes in the workplace. As companies adapt to fully or hybrid work arrangements, it seems WFH is here to stay. Therefore, the eCommerce industry will need to focus more of its efforts on B2C and D2C. 

What Goods Are Consumers Buying Online?

A 2020 study by J.P.Morgan states that eCommerce made up 16.1% of all U.S. sales in the second quarter, compared to 11.8% in the first quarter.1 This trend continues upward even as the majority of stores have reopened to the public. Remote and hybrid work schedules may result in permanent changes to how Americans work, live, and spend. So, what is the average consumer buying? More time at home has allowed the workforce to create unique spending habits.

Cleaning products

Covid-19 case numbers may be on the decline, but consumers are still spending money on cleaning supplies, including disinfecting wipes and sprays, gloves, masks, soap, and other essentials. Even as demand for cleaning products decreases from our stockpiling days during the height of the pandemic, people are still purchasing these items more than before. Shortages of essential items due to supply chain breakdowns resulted in many customers turning to online shopping to stock up. This forced eCommerce platforms to get creative with the increase in online shopping and logistics of delivery. A study out of IEEE discusses the impact of COVID-19 on digital platforms and how eCommerce is an effective method of buying and selling essential goods. With the help of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, route mapping makes it possible for deliveries to occur quickly and safely.3 Digital platforms have leveraged technology to help everyday consumers purchase essential goods online.

Home Improvement

With employees spending more time at home, it’s no wonder that homeowners are completing projects they have been putting off. WFH flexibility makes getting projects done either by DIY or hiring a contractor easier. A study by Harvard University notes that in 2020 the economy shrank by 3.5%. However, spending on home projects was up 3%, almost $420 billion.2 How are consumers shopping for the materials needed to complete these home projects? Whether it’s a kitchen redo, home office build, or something else around the house, eCommerce provides the perfect B2C and D2C solutions to get the job done. However, the materials used in home improvement typically have a higher cost ratio. So, with more shopping done through eCommerce, businesses need to ensure consumers feel safe completing transactions online. The study out of IEEE also states how eCommerce businesses have adapted the use of secure digital wallets and blockchain technology. Blockchain technology allows eCommerce businesses to cut out intermediaries and distribute directly to the consumer.3

What Lessons Can Businesses Learn From WFH Culture

It seems WFH is here to stay as many employers continue to offer hybrid work schedules. Recent studies suggest 25% of all professional jobs in the U.S. will be remote by 2022, and opportunities to work remotely will continue to increase through 2023.4 It’s safe to say that some form of WFH will stick around for years to come, and with the continued flexibility of being home more often, eCommerce will only become more popular as an option for consumers. So what can businesses learn from pandemic era consumer habits? More consumers feel safe making purchases online because of improved digital wallets and blockchain and enhanced delivery with help from ML and AI. However, there are more lessons to be learned, including the importance of website optimization. With the influx of online shoppers, a business’ website is its most important asset. If the site cannot handle a large number of transactions each day, companies will lose sales. So, updating performance through user experience, omnichannel options, and bandwidth is a must. Business owners will need to start spending less on their real estate and more on the online marketplace.

It is undeniable that COVID-19 and WFH culture have changed the commerce landscape. Even businesses that have traditionally done well as solely brick and mortar need to prepare for an increased number of online consumer shopping. When businesses learn to embrace the recent changes in commerce habits rather than try to ignore them, they will be better suited not only to adapt to a new reality but to thrive in it. That’s why now is the perfect time for businesses to develop an effective eCommerce strategy for B2C and D2C.

Footnotes:

  1. https://www.jpmorgan.com/solutions/cib/research/covid-spending-habits
  2. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/improving-americas-housing-2021
  3. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9243379
  4. https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinryan/2022/01/05/2022-career-predictions-you-need-to-know-about/?sh=276d3e5b2f36

6 Tips for the WFH Warrior

Posted on by Antony
BORN Views
6 Tips for the WFH Warrior

We’re nearing one year into the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while in some ways we can begin to look towards an incoming ‘next normal,’ or post-pandemic world, we still must take every precaution we can to stop the spread and reach that finish line. We here at BORN are still committed to protecting our employees by enabling them to work remotely and only return to the office once it’s safe to do so.  

With over a year of remote work, the fatigue of not seeing colleagues and co-workers does take its toll. We’ve connected with BORN Group’s Director of Human Resources, Jamie Weisberg, to review some of the most effective ways to promote mental health and wellbeing while working remotely. Together, we’ve put together six tips to cultivate a better work from home experience.

  1. Remember to recharge.

“One of the best things you can do is step away from the computer and take time for yourself.” 

Working remotely often means working from home, which can create a blurred line between work and home. When coupled with the many lockdown rules and COVID-19 precautions that can create difficulties in finding daily recreation, it’s essential to remember to take time for yourself and recharge when possible. It’s perfectly healthy and expected to schedule breaks throughout the day to eat and check in on yourself. Even if travel is not available to the extent it was prior to the pandemic, it’s still important as well to take advantage of vacation time to reflect, disengage, and come back more revitalized.

  1. Connect face-to-face whenever possible.

“Not being able to see the facial expressions of co-workers can have an effect of isolation. Whenever possible, in team or client meetings, take advantage of the camera to read another’s body language while you communicate.”

The pandemic has had a sweeping effect on society by disconnecting us from one another physically. Those of us who live alone and don’t get the opportunity to see people at the same intervals as prior may especially feel a sense of isolation from work. It’s a great change from the past to be coordinating on projects and working to the degree that we do without the level of communication that body language provides. Thus, it can go a long way to utilize video conferencing wherever possible. Whether it’s a team meeting, client meeting, whenever possible, take advantage of the camera to better communicate, understand another’s tone and intent, and generally ease your conversation.

a collage of photos of a group of people posing for a photo
A snapshot from one of BORN’s virtual Town Halls. Video conferencing can go a long way toward building community!
  1. Dress for success.

“Brightening your appearance even while at home can set you in the mindset of mindful work.”

Another healthy practice that can fall into neglect via remote work is to tend to one’s appearance daily. The rituals of trimming, make-up and skincare, and the regular haircut as well as dressing presentably and geared to work all have noted effects in getting us into a mindset of work and stability. Ruts in life can be magnified by neglecting one’s appearance and it can help make you more inclined to break out of them with the sort of self-care that lets you feel eager to tackle the day and presentable to anyone you might come across. Carve out the time – work will always be there, and taking care of oneself is a key priority.

  1. Exercise throughout the day.

“A lot of real world issues have magnified the effect of the pandemic over the past year, and taking the time to remember to breath and walk can serve as an excellent stress reliever throughout the day.”

With the torrent of difficult news this past year, the effects of isolation are often magnified with malaise and frustration at the world’s problems. It’s important to take the time to avoid burnout by putting aside some time throughout the day to breath mindfully, walk mindfully, and let your mind refresh, to help mollify stress and keep health a priority. Burnout as a whole is huge, especially in the tech industry, and it’s essential for senior leaders to give their team the space to get projects done while in the best state of mind.

  1. Take advantage of office resources for wellbeing.

“Employees at BORN had already set the precedent of working remotely prior to the pandemic, but one of the challenges of building a work from home culture was reminding our team to take advantage of whatever resources they needed for wellbeing and health.”

Coming up with strategies for teams to check-in and avoid burnout has played a key role in the path of building a work from home culture here at BORN. Without the ease of interaction from physical connections, there’s an increased need for all teams to be visible with the array of resources we offer to help support our employees throughout this intensive time of their career. Being accessible and accommodating to our team is what gets us moving forward each time, and on the employee side, it can go a long way to take advantage of the office resources in context to mental health and wellbeing. Here at BORN, one program that we instituted to help decompress was a biweekly virtual yoga session. 

  1. Continue to build team culture.

“Encouraging teams to connect in a remote time can build the camaraderie that makes work so fulfilling. It’s vital to take the time to build and be creative as a unit.”

Much of our fulfillment from work comes from the work we can do together as a team. While conventional events like company-wide happy hours have proven difficult to execute on virtually, we’ve seen team leads come up with innovative and disrupting ways to keep the team culture moving forward. Scheduling one on one meetings wherever possible, going for “walk and talks” as an alternative to the happy hour, or relegating a time for social connection within the team all will yield their own returns in fostering a mindful and productive culture.