COVID-19 has changed the way the world works, literally. From offices transitioning to remote work to a change in the way traditional businesses function, we’ve had to rethink everything we thought we knew about taking business risks and adapting to change. The onset of a global pandemic has changed the landscape for businesses all over the world. Brick and mortar businesses that always relied on walk-in customers had to drastically shift their attention to attracting customers digitally while also dealing with competition in the digital market.
E-commerce businesses all over the world have been growing at an unprecedented rate since 2015. Nepali consumers, however, have just started to get a taste of e-commerce and all the conveniences. Nepal has witnessed a slow but steady rise in internet users and more and more entrepreneurs are coming forth using the internet as a tool to model a business around it. But the challenge we face today is perhaps more complicated than trying to move consumers across an online sales funnel.
What we are dealing with today is government regulations preventing seamless movement of goods from seller to customer in fear of COVID-19; Enter contactless commerce.
We define contactless commerce as a method of conducting business of any nature while eliminating any form of contact. We stand for contactless commerce across businesses even those that are not e-commerce.
If a business can go contactless, it should go contactless.
Here are a few reasons we believe why contactless commerce is the need of the hour:
1. Supports local community
Many local businesses have had to temporarily shut down due to restrictions on movement set by the government bodies. But if given the right tools to implement safety protocols in every aspect of the business, local businesses can open up shop and continue to support their families and communities in times of need.
2. No loss of employment or new opportunities for work
Many people lost their jobs due to COVID-19 in the country. However, by tweaking the business model around contactless – product discovery, payments, pick up, delivery, businesses can ensure the safety of their consumers and workforce. It also allows people to continue working without losing an income stream.
We were able to offer work opportunities to individuals who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. By joining our delivery fleet, they were able to provide for their family with a steady income stream.
Image by katemangostar on Freepik
3. Businesses can adapt to a new normal sooner than later
There is no denying that COVID-19 is here to stay. As health experts have stated earlier, we have to learn to live in the current situation we are in today. For businesses today, the choice is between adapting or dying. In a situation where businesses are not allowed to operate and thereby adapt, they will die.
E-payments, e-commerce, e-learning, etc all have one thing in common – they are all contactless. The sooner businesses figure out how they can implement contactless methods of doing business, the better for them, and the economy in the long run.
4. Transmission risk tremendously decreased
Contactless modes of doing business tremendously decrease transmission risk due to little to no human contact. With almost every activity in the business cycle taking place in a contactless manner, it reduces exposure to the virus immensely.
5. Boosts in digital payments
Digital payments have been on the rise around the world. Moreover, COVID-19 has made contactless payment the need of the hour. The fintech industry in Nepal is in a position to bring about a change in consumer behavior driven by safety and convenience for all. Advocating for contactless payment methods can prove to be beneficial to consumers and the economy alike.
