COVID-19 impact on purchasing India 2022, by purchasing behavior

In a survey conducted in March 2022 on the impact of COVID-19, nearly 91 percent of the participants intended to continue using new social-commerce methods they acquired during the pandemic. Some of the main behavior changes included trying out different retailers, methods, and brands. Overall, the majority of consumers tried new purchasing habits and intended to continue with them beyond the pandemic.

Digitalization of shopping due to COVID-19

There were about 289 million digital buyers in 2021, and this number is likely to increase over the years. The pandemic has accelerated the integration of technology into various aspects of our society. The consumers’ inclination towards e-commerce increased as a result of the pandemic, causing a paradigm shift in purchase behavior. Due to the risk of contracting the virus, many consumers opted for digital payments. Therefore, the online retail market witnessed a significant growth since 2020.

Transition towards e-grocery shopping

Consumers’ perceptions about grocery e-commerce changed during the pandemic, and they began to consider it the most convenient and safe method to obtain essential groceries. As a result, online grocery purchases increased during the coronavirus pandemic. Grofers and Big basket, two major online food retailers, reported an increase in demand for necessities and groceries.