Back in early 2020, TrendWatching launched ‘Covid Innovations’ to inspire entrepreneurs and marketers to serve their customers better in dire covid times.
With Covid thankfully no longer impacting daily life, we’re fully focused again on all innovations that make the world a little bit better - check out Daily, our free publication to stay on top of the latest trends, insights and innovations.
Customers in Ireland can now send a message to Lidl through the messaging app telling the chatbot the day and time they intend to visit, the chatbot will then inform them if this is generally a quiet, average or busy time to visit using real-time and customer transaction data.
Read MoreWith this platform, small shops can open an online shop within 5 minutes, then advise customers personally just like in the shop thanks to a video chat. Customers like shop tenants only need a smartphone, Lokaler.kaufen is non-profit and free of charge for customers and retailers .
Read MoreDixons Carphone launched ShopLive, a personal shopping service that connects customers at home with Currys PC World staff via video chat. The company has also upped its focus on content having found an increase in engagement among consumers keen to better understand the tech they may buy or have already bought.
Read MoreThe virtual mall will provide a shopping experience and allow retailers and service providers of the region to move their business online. There are already 50 businesses registered. Each shop's e-commerce website will be linked to the virtual mall with a unique domain name and feel.
Read MoreThe project aims at proving a list of businesses and restaurants in Seattle, hit severely by COVID, and linking to their gift cards site so that customers can easily support them during this time of need.
Read MoreThe North Sydney cafe is one of the coffee places in Sydney getting innovative by selling its remaining stock as groceries. They offer rice, flour, canned goods, coffee beans and alcohol to those who come to get a coffee or some food to go. When cafes will be allowed to re-open, many said that their grocery offerings will remain.
Read MoreTrade Me is working with local suppliers - often hit had by the pandemic - to sell fresh grocery boxes. These boxes include organic meat, produce and baked goods.
Read MoreCustomers that want to shop at Onii can install an application on their phone, enter the store, pick up the products they need and leave, without the need to interact with anyone. The demand for Onii stores grew recently due to social distancing measures.
Read MoreKeep Your City Smiling is an initiative supporting local businesses by selling boxes full of their products (craft coffee, candles, snack...) in city-themed subscription or gift boxes. Cities include amongst others Seattle, SF, LA and Portland.
Read MoreThanks to the e-commerce platform provided by Steward, US farms like Fisheye Farms have been able to meet a surge in consumer demand and are now selling more products direct-to-consumer while restaurants and cafes remain closed.
Read MoreThe app, launched by two Colombian influencers El Gatales and El Camus, aims at helping Colombian day-to-day vendors affected by COVID market and sell their products to local customers.
Read MoreThe 'Maseczkomat ' appeared in the communities of Metropolis over the last week. By using the vending machine, locals get a cashless opportunity to purchase protective masks, gloves and hand sanitiser.
Read MoreSupport Your Locals aims at supporting the local producers building short and hyper-local supply chains, ultimately supporting the Dutch economy. In recent weeks, many initiatives have emerged under the banner of #supportyourlocalsNL and more are added every day.
Read MoreBy rating the busyness of their shopping experience on LineScouts users can help let others know when they should go shopping. This keeps the most vulnerable in Ljubljana out of harms way.
Read MoreThe app gives people in Malaysia an extensive overview of all groceries, restaurants, hawker shops etc. who are offering delivery services during corona.
Read MoreQ informs you about the estimated queue time at your nearest supermarket in order to make a simple action like doing grocieries easier, in such a though time like this one.
Read MoreUsing simple emojis, Yeooo provides information on all restaurants, groceries, farm shops, butchers, bakeries, etc. in Ireland offering delivery services during COVID.
Read MoreTesco launches the #FoodLoveStories campaign and asks people to cook and then dedicate the food they love to the people they love, sharing these heart-warming recipes and stories online to inspire others to do the same.
Read MoreMech Aid, an initiative by creative agency RGA, is matching artists and designers with local businesses to help them get through the economic downturn with exclusive merchandise, with 100% of the sales going directly to the local businesses.
Read MoreThe OurStreet app allows people to see which stores have in-demand health and grocery items in stock. Users contribute by sharing what they have found, letting others know how much of what they were shopping for was available during their trip.
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