Between July and October 2020 the number of people in Panama looking for apartments to rent grew 34%, while the number of Honduran consumers looking to buy apartments for sale fell 5%.
CentralAmericaData's interactive platform, Consumer Insights, monitors in real time changes in consumer habits in all markets in the region and in other Latin American countries, with key data to understand their behavior, new trends and anticipate eventual changes in their buying patterns.
In the new normal, interest in e-commerce in the region's markets continues to rise, with Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama being the countries that recorded the greatest increases in interactions associated with the topic.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
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, more than 17 million people are looking to purchase educational services online, and 9% of these consumers are exploring options to purchase language courses.
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.
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.
At a regional level, nearly 16 million people are looking to purchase financial services online. Of this group of consumers, approximately 11% are exploring options for acquiring a credit card.
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.
In the new context of accelerated growth of e-commerce, most consumers claim to have had problems buying online, with delivery time failures and lack of service for their area being the most frequent complaints.
From June 8-12, a survey was conducted in Guatemala to measure people's perception of e-commerce, which has gained ground since Central American countries decided to decree severe household quarantines because of the covid-19 outbreak.
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.
Personal care items, vehicle accessories, food and beverages are some of the products most demanded by consumers, who have migrated to digital platforms to make their purchases.
In the current scenario of confinement due to the health crisis in the region, consumers have disappeared from physical stores and have migrated to digital platforms to buy their products.
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.
In contrast to the measures taken by some neighboring countries, the government reported that at the local level, charges for water, electricity, Internet and telephone services will not be suspended.
Authorities argued that at the moment it is not possible to postpone payments, as few basic services are provided by the government in the country.
Ebal Diaz, Secretary of State, told Laprensa.hn that "...
The Central Bank of Honduras tenders the service of Internet links and private data links between the buildings of the institution, for a three-year term.
Honduras Government Purchase LPublica-No.26-2019:
"Contract for the service of internet links and private data links between the buildings of the Central Bank of Honduras, located on the Boulevard Fuerzas Armadas in the capital of the Republic, the Training Center in Comayagüela, MDC, and branches of the BCH located in San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Choluteca, for the period from December 8, 2019 to January 26, 2022.
The lack of proper infrastructure and the lack of allocation of radio spectrum are some of the reasons why it is difficult for telecommunications companies to improve Internet connection or lower prices for services.
Internet operators in Costa Rica face adversities to improve service and provide better prices to consumers, including the deficit of appropriate infrastructure.
The Central Bank of Honduras will contract the Internet and private data link service to connect the institution's buildings in different regions of the country.
Honduras Government Purchase LPública No.06-2019:
"Lots contracting of the Internet link service and private data link between the buildings of the Central Bank of Honduras, located on the Boulevard Fuerzas Armadas in the capital of the Republic, Training Center in Comayagüela, MDC, and branches of the BCH located in San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Choluteca.