Exploratory analysis of factors affecting levels of home deliveries before, during, and post- COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected shopping behavior and has accelerated the adoption of online shopping and home deliveries. We administered an online survey among the population in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro Metropolitan area on household and demographic characteristics, e-commerce preferences and factors, number of deliveries made before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, and number of deliveries expected to make post-pandemic. In this research, we conduct an exploratory analysis of the factors that affect home delivery levels before, during, and post-COVID-19. There was a significant increase in home deliveries during the COVID-19 lockdown relative to the before COVID-19 period. A high proportion of the households that made less than three deliveries per month before the pandemic stated they would order more online post-pandemic. A majority of the households that ordered more than three deliveries per month before COVID-19 are expected to revert to their original levels post-pandemic. The two variables most positively affecting the likelihood of online shopping were access to delivery subscriptions and income. Tech-savvy individuals are expected to make more home delivery orders post-pandemic compared to before and during COVID-19. Health concerns positively increase the likelihood of ordering online during the pandemic and post-pandemic. Older and retired individuals are less likely to use online deliveries. However, the likelihood of older and retired individuals ordering more home deliveries increased during the pandemic lockdown. Households with disabled members, single workers, and respondents concerned about online experience and health are more likely to be first-time online shoppers during the pandemic.

Price, convenience, the buying experience, and other motivations for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarettes online

“…The survey was conducted one year after COVID-19 restrictions were enacted across the US, and several participants noted this as a reason for purchasing products online. As rates of e-commerce have been shown to have increased during the pandemic 13,14,33 , we expected similar findings here, though the magnitude is unclear due to the nature of this study. Concerns noted among those who had not purchased online related to legality, safety, and quality.…”

Choosing a package carrier during COVID-19 pandemic: An integration of pro-environmental planned behavior (PEPB) theory and service quality (SERVQUAL)

“…Package carriers, also known as parcel, courier, or express delivery, are best utilized to distribute small and time-sensitive shipments and are ideally used for online businesses due to the tracking feature and other value-added services they offer to shippers ( Chopra and Meindl, 2013 ). The shift from traditional buying to online shopping and home deliveries, being one of the significant influences of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide ( Unnikrishnan and Figliozzi, 2021 ), made package-carrying or delivery service a viable option for individual consumers and retailers.…”

“…The habits changed due to the new normal lifestyle, changing traditional business patterns and activities into digital-minded based. These habits made home deliveries for food, beverages, and the grocery market a viable solution to the pandemic challenges ( Figliozzi and Unnikrishnan, 2021 ) while such change led businesses to shift towards e-commerce as a significant adaptation due to the COVID-19 pandemic ( Unnikrishnan and Figliozzi, 2021 ). The business shift has contributed to the growth of the goods delivery industry ( METI and MLIT, 2018 ) as consumers prefer delivery of goods instead of visiting the actual stores ( Wang and Xiao, 2015 ; Nakayama and Yan, 2019 ).…”

Exploring Online and In-Store Purchase Willingness: Associations With the Big Five Personality Traits, Trust, and Need for Touch

“…First, notwithstanding the current rise of e-commerce by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely that some of these online-purchasing habits may to some degree be reversed back to in-store shopping in a post-pandemic world ( Sheth, 2020 ; Unnikrishnan and Figliozzi, 2021 ). Consequently, research on the drivers of purchase-channel decisions is becoming increasingly important.…”