Covid-19 drives public to opt for delivery apps

CEBU, Philippines — Online shopping has never been so busy until people opted to stay home to shop and order food through their mobile apps trying to stay away from crowded malls due to the Covid-19 scare.

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA-Cebu) president Kenneth Lim, who also owns Dessert Factory, said that his chain of restaurants have experienced rise in online delivery orders, an enormous jump prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Lim noted an increase in online delivery orders by five to 10 percent.

“Off-premise dining has picked up since January,” he noted, thus, his company has started dealing with third party delivery services to accommodate rising online demand for ready-to-eat food.

Likewise, PFA national vice chairperson Alegria Limjoco confirmed the retail industry is in the forefront of bearing the brunt of the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

She said while sales are still moving due to online access, brick and mortar set up stores are experiencing bleak days.

“The Taal volcano eruption and the Covid-19 have opened the eyes of many that they must be able to serve online and they must have somebody to deliver it for them,” Limjoco said adding that these crises are one of the best examples that in every challenge there is an opportunity.

Nationally, Limjoco said the retail industry noted a 50 percent rise on online shopping, particularly food deliveries.

In Metro Manila, Limjoco said shopping malls have already logged 20 to 30 percent drop in sales.