With wide-spread vaccination on the horizon, relative relief from the global pandemic is close at hand. But even with a new layer of safety added to the retail shopping experience, one factor remains irrevocably changed — the consumer.

2020 was the best and worst of years for retailers. 

The pandemic has revolutionized consumer behavior, and there is no going back to the way things were.

Entering 2021 brought with it the hope of many retailers and business owners nationwide that COVID-19 vaccines and plans for their expedited distribution would soon allow the retail world to “return to normal.” That has not proven to be the case.

Since the onset of the national COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. around this time last year, businesses have been struggling to survive, and more than a few have tried to use “force majeure” provisions in contracts to escape or mitigate what would have been their ordinary contractual obligations. 

One of the many ways life has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is how people shop. 

Facing macro-competitive pressures coupled with the pandemic’s impact, retailers are forced to develop cloud-centric IT capabilities to improve customer experience and scale.

With COVID-19 immunizations underway, businesses in every industry are grappling with drafting and implementing vaccination policies.

In determining company strategy and marketing tactics during times of economic turmoil, political tension, or social unrest, the most important thing is to know your customer base.

In today’s challenging economic environment, fuel and convenience retailers face a critical inflection point.