The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes on a global level. In fact, this is probably the most significant historical event of our generation, one that has already altered our everyday lives. Since the beginning of 2020, governments from all around the world have been asked to face this public health crisis. In recent months, hope has started to emerge since a big portion of the population has already got at least the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19.
Greece is a small country with an economy based on tourism and services. The pandemic has had a grave effect on the country since the lockdown prevented businesses from working. However, the strict measures are been gradually lifted, and people are hoping for a quick return to normality. Greece is already receiving tourists from all over Europe and the rest of the world, while businesses in the Greek islands have already prepared for their arrival.
Nevertheless, the pandemic and the lockdown have brought significant changes to the Greek’s everyday life. These changes are going to remain even when the health crisis is over.
More People Have Discovered Online Shopping
In recent years, online shopping has developed a lot in Greece. However, since the pandemic and the lockdown, more and more people and businesses are discovering its potential. Up until now, the older generations have been wary of technology and preferred to do their shopping in person. However, been unable to step outside, forced them to go online and search for the items they desired.
One of the first big changes in Greece has been the launch of numerous new e-shops. Retail stores that have been in business for years have decided to expand and open an e-shop. Their success encouraged others to do the same, and right now, the consumer has plenty of available options.
Moreover, most of these businesses are using social media, such as Instagram and Facebook, to promote their products and reach potential customers from all over the country. Online shopping has increased so much that the courier services in Greece faced an overload, resulting in significant delays in the delivery of the packages.
Online Grocery Shopping
The COVID-19 pandemic has also boosted online grocery shopping. Some of the biggest supermarket chains in Greece were already offering online shopping and food delivery options. However, not many citizens chose to do their grocery shopping this way.
The lockdown, the obligatory curfew, and the purpose declaration SMS have all contributed to making each person hesitate to venture out. Indicatively, during the lockdown, citizens were mostly going out for grocery shopping. When they did so, they purchased in bulk so that they wouldn’t need to go out again soon.
However, people soon discovered that they could do their grocery shopping online. The huge demand has also led to an increase in online supermarkets. At the moment, every supermarket chain in Greece offers home delivery, even those that haven’t developed a dedicated online store.
It is interesting to note that more people are now interested in discounted products or deals. Of course, this is the result of the anxiety and uncertainty for the future that the public health crisis has brought.
The Rise of Home Cooking
One more big change that the pandemic has brought in Greece is the rise of home cooking. Up until now, food delivery had been flourishing in the country. Even though many people still choose to have food delivered to their doorstep, there is also a large portion of them that prefer to cook something at home.
Since retail stores were closed for a significant period, all the employees found a lot of free time that they didn’t know what to do with it. Furthermore, since there was no source of income, apart from the government’s allowance, they decided to start cooking their meals more frequently.
Instead of ordering food online for dinner, people are now interested in making their own bread, pizzas, and all sorts of dishes. Still, food delivery managed to remain at a satisfactory level, being one of the highest ones in Europe.
Increased Trust in Electronic Payments
The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the rise of electronic and contactless payments. Until this health crisis, people in Greece, and especially older generations, preferred to pay in cash. However, the coronavirus restrictions pushed more and more people to use their debit and credit cards for their purchases. On top of that, they chose contactless payments that allow even quicker and safer transactions. One regulation that contributed to this is the rise of the limit for contactless transactions without the use of a PIN, from 25 to 50 euros.
In addition to this, in 2020, there was also an increase in contactless payments via smartphones, especially among the younger generation. Many banks have created virtual wallet applications that allow quick and intuitive transactions. Meanwhile, many people have discovered Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Garmin Pay.
Changes in the Work Environment
The lockdown has also forced many employees to work from home. The beginning of the pandemic highlighted the need for the businesses’ digital transformation that would allow the employees to perform their daily tasks at home. At the moment, many businesses have already adopted the best practices to enable their operation to run smoothly.
This has also been a great change for the older generations in Greece since they have been suspicious of technology. The events forced them to try new solutions and find ways to keep their businesses running.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a health crisis that has affected every country in the world. In Greece, in particular, this situation has accelerated the integration of new technologies by more businesses. The digital transformation has contributed to the evolution of the market in Greece, with more retail stores opening e-shops. Moreover, it has helped familiarize citizens with online shopping and contactless payments. All of these changes have altered everyday life in Greece, while they are all expected to become the new normal.