Pandemics have had significant, long-lasting effects on how people navigate the world, and the world of business, from the bubonic plague of the 14th century to the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918. COVID-19 is no different. It has struck at the heart of global societies, wreaking havoc on the economy and society in ways that are difficult to quantify. Pandemics not only put a strain on health systems, but they also put a strain on many other aspects of society. School closures, the devastation of industries, and the loss of millions of jobs are just a few of the pandemic's many consequences. Consumer behavior and business, however, have been hit the hardest.

Retail, which was knocked off its feet at the start of COVID-19, is a sector closely linked to those areas. The retail industry was severely impacted by non-essential business closures, stay-at-home orders, and job losses. Consumers were forced to adapt and re-prioritize their spending almost immediately, with small businesses bearing the brunt of the impact. COVID-19 had impacted 9 out of 10 shoppers' weekly shopping behaviors and experiences by April 2020, and that trend was certainly reflected at the retail level. After a year, despite recent progress in vaccine distribution, consumers still have high levels of anxiety, which will continue to influence their purchasing decisions in the future.

By late 2020, however, this trend had shifted dramatically, as businesses, particularly retail brands, began to find their footing. Consumer spending was positively impacted by various levels of income assistance. Businesses that used SAP Commerce Cloud to develop and manage digital commerce platforms saw a resurgence. In fact, companies that went digital early in the pandemic had a distinct advantage, and for some, this transformation accelerated their activities despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.

This leads us to the "next to normal," and how a BPO (business process outsourcing) firm can help you with your digital transformation. Many businesses have already made the transition to digital; some are planning to do so, while others are halfway there. Whatever stage your business is in, outsourcing both core and non-core activities to a BPO firm is a cost-effective way to improve data access, move away from expensive on-premises solutions, achieve high-speed recovery, standardize mobility across various infrastructures, and platforms, and meet security and quality standards.

You get a carefully selected, experienced pool of human resources to support your digital transformation when you choose IGS BPO as your outsourcing partner. Our agents are well-versed in both the technical and customer-centric aspects of digital development, which are crucial in meeting today's consumer expectations. If you're not reaching customers through their preferred channels, we believe you're not reaching them at all. We're here to help you think bigger and better by supporting those processes. Consumers now expect highly personalized, intelligent engagements and seamless problem-solving more than ever before. You can trust that all of your business processes are being managed with the utmost skill and discretion, leaving you to lead the way and supercharge your company's growth, with IGS BPO managing a wide range of your organization's activities like customer service, tech support, data entry, collections, marketing, and promotion campaigns.