The COVID-19 outbreak has changed how all of us view the world. Every part of people’s lives has been affected, as well as the economy, culture, and society. A lot has been said and written about the economic effects of COVID-19 and its impact on each of these areas. While we have been attentive enough about paying domestic workers, security guards, gardeners and other house helps, what about other small businesses and self-employed workers?

It is important to understand how the owners of small businesses, and the self-employed (service providers) are facing this impact. Most of these economic ventures navigate the boundaries of the informal sectors which is about 400 million people i.e. 90% of India’s workforce. The people working in these sectors face massive job insecurity and certainly need help sustain their business post pandemic.

• How aresmall businesses that sell essential items managing their operations?
• How is the neighbourhood fruit seller doing?
• What about the person who sells flower in the footpath?
• What about the make-up artists and people working in beauty parlours?

LOCAL MARKET NEARBY

Another sector that has been adversely affected is beauty parlours and salons. People working in parlours and salons are also fearful that their business will not recover even if the restrictions are lifted because they are engaged in occupations that involve contact. People are apprehensive of availing these services. As such, a large sector of self-employed people are facing a gloomy future.

These are some of the questions to which we still seek answers.

The COVID-19 global pandemic is having a profound impact on consumers’ lives too on how they shop, work, and live. New global consumer research shows how consumers are radically changing their lives in response to the pandemic. Consumers are shopping with greater awareness of the environment, health, and cost, favouring locally-sourced products and neighbourhood stores.

With previous lock-downs and many stores shuttered, e-commerce has surged with users, especially in under-penetrated categories such as grocery and other daily needs. Consumers have also increased their use of Omni channel services like contactless payment, social commerce, home delivery, and in-store pickup. There is a huge rise in digital commerce, especially among new or regular consumers with stay-at-home orders.

Ohhpro Junction provide you with an integrated platform for all the small scale business, service providers etc.to revive their business amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic. Ohhpro Merchant gives new dimension to local shops where they can navigate their business within the boundaries of digital space while sustaining their economy.
It’s a unique integrated platform curated for business holders to manage inventories, share inventory with the buyers, and take their small-scale business to an online store presence.

• A specialised platform to provide grocery stores, local shops, fruits and other vendors a digital presence.
• Connect with endless customers with unique branding and special offer promotion with the help of Ohhpro Junction.
• Manage customer demands of particular goods at fingertip.
• Unlimited Addition of goods & other items on Ohhpro Merchant App.

As digital platforms advances the requirements of the users also grow; with products and businesses in the market take a different dimension too. Ohhpro Merchant is the biggest step towards the future of your small scale business. We are committed to build your presence in the digital community which is growing every day to give you an opportunity to reach the kind of customers you are looking for.

LOCAL STORES ONLINE

Understand why you must get your offline business online;
Moving your offline business to an online setting is the best thing you can do to ensure the future success of your retail business. And for that, it’s important to understand the benefits, so you have a clear goal as you move through the O2O process. This will improve the decisions you take to bring these benefits to your business.

Let's take a look at some of the good reasons for making the switch to an online retail business:-

1. The role of the internet in the growth of the business:
   The internet influences all aspects of your business. It's a prevailing source of information on products, prices, and reviews. People/regular buyers who are already fond of your products are likely talking about your business online.
   
2. Potential customers can find you quickly:
   Build your digital presence and market to a new audience. With the entire internet at your fingertips, you can reach new customers that you wouldn't be able to target by any other means.
   
3. Get your information out to the public:
   Moving your retail business online is an excellent way to let the public know who you are and what you’re offering. You'll have the perfect platform to present your products and services; explaining why a potential customer should choose you as the solution to their problem.
   
4. Save money:
   Shifting to an online retail business can reduce operational and administrative costs. You can operate with reduced hours, no longer having to wait for foot traffic to bring in new business. Your web presence does the work for you.
   
5. Find new leads and make new sales in a global market:
   Bringing your retail business online allows you to target the global market with your products. It expands your business reach and provides an endless supply of potential new customers.
   
6. Stay open around the clock:
   Online shopping can be done anytime or anywhere without being held back by standard store hours. Having an online store allows people to shop when it’s convenient for them, so you can sell products 24/7/365.
   
7. Branding and marketing:
   Online marketing extends your advertising, reaching more people more effectively than traditional marketing methods. It's a better way to optimize your marketing and eliminate the uncertain results of offline marketing.
   
8. Mobile functionality & Security:
   Most people use their smartphones for everything and that includes online shopping. Your traditional business earned the trust of your loyal customers over a while and now your online business needs to earn the trust as well. This is even more important when you start to accept payments online. But with smartphones having all sorts of payment gateway features, makes this whole process a lot easier.
   
9. Order management systems:
   Online shopping applications allow you to upload your products, map delivery options, and even handle orders. With an order management system, you can smoothly manage your inventory so your orders can be processed on time. Order management systems even can help you manage and track return orders if you need them.
   
10. Improve customer support:
    Having a website allows you to solve customer issues more promptly. You can post answers to common questions of your customers in the FAQ section or use a chatbot that will engage with your customers to record issues that require personal follow-up during business hours.
    

Picking your e-commerce platform is a simple yet important step in moving your retail business online. Today's digital community has everything to offer, you just need a right partner for your growth and strategy to get the best out of it.