Pandemic forces firms into digital transformation: Expert

Companies that have not yet invested in digital were incapacitated during lockdowns and the pandemic showed many firms they had to make a digital transformation, a digital communications expert told Anadolu Agency.

Now, companies are trying to quickly adapt to digitalization and firms that have not studied e-commerce should hurry, said Nabat Garakhanova, the head of the MEZO Digital consultancy firm.

She said e-commerce volume rose 39 percent in 2018 in Turkey and during the pandemic, the number of firms that wanted e-commerce increased 50 percent.

"E-commerce is an important area in this system. Companies need to proceed with correct and cautious steps in many areas such as business follow-up, warehouse control, customer satisfaction and feedback, inventory control and cargo processes," she said.

When choosing e-commerce infrastructures, companies must research options according to their needs and goals and firms with existing e-commerce systems should analyze problems and should reconsider and plan for issues if they are not satisfied with the performance, Garakhanova said.

E-commerce rival

E-commerce was previously an alternative method but it became the main method, she reminded.

She had a warning to companies about competition in e-commerce. "Firms should pay attention to market analysis, target audience, accurate and logical price reductions."

"Long-lasting cargo processes, bad customer relations, and weak product packaging will frustrate all campaigns," she said.
In short, companies can reach new customers if they offer quality products, good customer service and cargo supply processes.

Online channels are inevitable for all people and they will bring many innovations,...