The health crisis, quarantines and social distancing measures in Central American countries, forced individuals and companies to accelerate the adoption of new technologies, which caused the digital to become the center of all interactions.
In this scenario of covid-19 propagation, companies have had to migrate to the digital at great speed. The digitalization plans that companies were planning to implement in a period of 1 to 3 years are now being implemented in a few weeks, according to an analysis called "The Digital Agenda: Opportunities for the Service Sector", prepared by the Market Intelligence Unit of the Guatemalan Export Association (Agexport).
In Central America, nearly 3 million people are looking to purchase a beauty service or product online, and 31% of these consumers explore options for buying makeup and cosmetic items.
The interactive information system developed by CentralAmericaData, monitors in real time the changes in consumer habits in all markets of the region, with fundamental information to understand the new commercial environment that has emerged in an accelerated manner.
Considerable investments in the digitalization of operations, the closure of small stores and the expansion of the commercial area of the best located sales points, is part of the strategy that companies are beginning to implement in the new context of business transformation.
Managers of large corporations agree that several companies were already making progress in digitizing sales and operations, but the pandemic ended up persuading decision makers of the need to focus on online sales, and simultaneously accompany it with a plan to transform physical stores.
Less impulsive and more reasoned purchasing decisions and the search for product and supplier information on the Internet and social networks are some of the characteristics of consumers in the new business environment.
Given the spread of covid-19, health authorities in Central American countries have been forced to restrict the mobility of people and have chosen to close most commercial establishments.
The new commercial reality in which online shopping and changes in consumer habits have forced companies to rethink their sales strategies, so it is essential to understand how people behave in the digital environment.
The report "Internet in Central America", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, provides the most updated data on the presence of Internet users in the region, users by gender, educational level and other details. In addition to the behavior of the uses in each country and the channel where they connect.
"Users of the microblogging network do not represent real-world consumers ."
Although the network has now reached 230 million users, experts are warning that they are not a fair sample of the population to which companies want to target their advertising messages.
"Twitter is a place for people addicted to their digital devices, who are terribly worried about missing out on the latest tweet by Edward Snowden and are faithful believers that the world is interested in reading all of their publications.
The first thing to communicate is what we sell. Then, we must make sure our possible client knows who we are.
But it is important to tell this "About Us" in an attractive way for the reader.
Few things are usually as boring as the "About Us" or "About our company" section in a website. However, this is an unforgivable strategic error. Your site is yours, and it costs a lot of work, and must not go to waste, especially if it gives you the opportunity to present your company to potential customers, visitors and staff. Therefore, it is necessary to reassess the institutional section, as it is an important resource for internet advertising.
A Microsoft Advertising White Paper looks at changes in audience behavior regarding print and online media.
Advertisers must ensure the balance between print and online advertising reflects the changing role of public consumption habits, particularly the growing importance of online advertising in various stages of the purchase funnel.
It is estimated that by 2012, the number of Europeans who regularly use the Internet will overtake newspaper readers (in fact, it already has among those under 34 years). Equally rapid is the change in the roles which both channels play in the lives of readers. Europeans who read print and online use the Internet more frequently, allowing them access to more content and information and allows them to enjoy many of the main qualities of traditional newspapers and magazines.
Internet usage in Latin America is rising steeply and consumer purchasing patterns are being ever more influenced by the web.
In an article on Altonivel.com.mx, Google's general manager for Latin America, Alexandre Hohagen, comments that, "it is true that e-commerce in the region has somewhat lagged behind in comparison with more developed countries but the gap is closing and today there is evidence of a multi-channel purchasing dynamic when acquiring products or services".
Companies should be constantly alert to feedback from consumers, since their preferences and needs can change at any time.
There are three keys to current, but ever changing, consumer behvior:
1. Continuing growth in the importance of mobile devices. "Consumers are demanding ever more ability to be everywhere at once, with multiple interacting devices providing ever more convenience".
In this new breed of marketing to the “4Ps” (product, placement, price, promotion) the following been added: flow, functionality, feedback and loyalty (“4Fs” in Spanish).
The Internet, new information management tools and methodologies, combined with globalization, are redefining the way products are marketed.
Cristina Vílchez, writing for Americaeconomia.com, comments that, “new tools are available for companies to use to reach customers.
Web users expect a lot from shopping sites, but their focus is on the fundamentals that facilitate purchasing.
An article in eMarketer.com discussed a recent report called “Revolutionizing Website Design”, which stated that the most important feature of e-commerce sites, according to consumers, is “clearly presented pricing and shipping information” followed by “indications of credibility and trustworthiness”.
In 2010, online advertising spending will grow to $25 billion, and will represent 20% of the entire advertising market by 2014.
The figures of a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers called “Global Entretainment and Media Outlook for 2010 to 2014” match the data from another study by David Hallerman, senior analyst at eMarketer.
“Steady gains in online ad spending will mean an additional $11 billion flowing into the space over the next four years, increasing the Internet’s share of total media ad spending from a bit more than 15% in 2010 to over 20% in 2014”, reported eMarketer.com.
Online media continues to gain ground on traditional media, by combining and offering a single product featuring the best of both.
The television industry understands that audiences are shifting towards the web as their main information source, not only at the expense of print media, but also of television.
Their strategy is also clear: they are joining the enemy, in order to reach their audiences also through the web.
Social media can increase productivity, innovation, collaboration, reputation, and employee commitment with the organization.
On-the-job use of social networks by employees holds the potential to transform the world of work.
Many well-known organizations are leveraging the connective power of social media to enhance productivity, innovation, collaboration, reputation and employee engagement.