Jean-Marc Dumont, Country Manager of Carrefour Pakistan, has said that since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Pakistan, online orders received through mobile apps spiked sharply with a 70 percent increase per week in Lahore and Karachi.
"This reflects a major change in shopper preferences whereby a large number of customers preferred to use such a service to avoid the risk of stepping out of their homes. Online shopping can help reduce the spread of coronavirus," he said while talking to Business Recorder here on Wednesday.
According to him, Carrefour, operated in Pakistan by Majid Al Futtaim, recently introduced a mobile app to better serve its Pakistani customers. The new app brought shoppers across Lahore and Karachi a simple, digitized, and convenient mobile experience to shop for more than 5000 products offered through the newly launched Carrefour delivery app from the comfort of their homes.
Carrefour's delivery team considered all precautions while delivering online orders, such as wearing face masks, disposable gloves, disinfecting their clothes and vehicles after every order delivery to protect themselves and the customers from spreading this virus.
"However, most recently the service had to be suspended in Karachi due to imposition of curfew and because of the delivery vehicles were not allowed to commute within the city by local law enforcement agencies, since they were not listed under exceptions in the lockdown notification circulated by the Sindh Home Department," he said.
Talking about online shopping in Pakistan, he observed that it has evolved at a rapid pace but has become critically important during this ongoing crisis. "It appears to be an effective weapon to fight against the spread of this virus by averting public panic related to access and shortage of food supplies and other items of daily use," he added.
According to him, under the prevailing situation, the public at large is most concerned about surviving through this difficult time while being isolated in their homes. A convenient e-commerce delivery system ensuring a safe and hygienic supply of food products and basic items of daily use at the customer's doorstep can be the most ideal solution during this crisis, helping to reduce all forms of non-essential outside travel and averting any form of public panic or outcry.
"Unfortunately, supply chain logistics required to operate such an e-commerce delivery system for retail products has not yet been recognized under exceptions by the Sindh government and concern persists that other provinces might also plan accordingly, in case a strict curfew is declared by them too."
"Major multinational retailers, such as Carrefour Pakistan, who enjoy a wide public trust in following strict safety, hygiene and quality control protocols of international standards should be supported and encouraged by the government in all possible ways to maintain an efficient and consistent supply of daily use items directly to the customer's doorstep. This will help implement the social distancing policy as advised by public health authorities, ensuring that shoppers are served with essential items of daily use right at their doorstep without having to step outside of their homes," he said.