Restrictions on the movement of people test the ability of companies to survive, since in the new business reality it is not enough to have a website to market products, as customers demand effective sales and delivery systems.
In early April, when Guatemala was just beginning its quarantine due to the covid-19 outbreak and the government began banning the movement of people after 4 p.m., some customers reported that the online sales systems of the country's large fast food restaurant chains collapsed in the face of increased demand.
Changes in consumer preferences, which increasingly value ease, convenience and time savings in their purchases, are forcing companies to strengthen their online marketing channels to stay in competition.
Several companies that have not developed their digital marketing channels in time have gone bankrupt because of the growing competition represented by online sales.
The preference for electronic financial transactions increases everyday, but the trend is to migrate to contactless payments, which will allow consumers to make their purchases 10 times faster than the traditional way.
Specialists in the subject explain that unlike the payment methods that until now are the most used in the region, contactless payments simply consist of holding a card in a payment reader to proceed with the transaction.
Starting in August, Correos de Costa Rica will implement a web portal called "Marketplace", which will be focused on marketing products of micro, small and medium enterprises.
The new portal will offer the functionalities of online payments, delivery logistics through the Pymexpress service, in addition to allowing companies to implement marketing campaigns, as well as the generation and use of QR codes.
With the aim of strengthening the legal framework for electronic commerce and facilitating the management of certifications, the Electronic Commerce Association was created in Guatemala.
The new chamber will be able to affiliate all types of companies, and its main purposes are strengthening entrepreneurship, specialized training through certifications, and the promotion of rules and legal regulations for the sector.