As disruptions caused by the coronavirus are now being acknowledged by retailers and brands, industry observers and analysts expect shoppers to spend less time in stores and more time buying items online — which will further strain an inefficient retail supply chain, especially the critical last mile.
But technology providers said there are solutions and strategies that can help brands and retailers iron out the problems plaguing last-mile delivery. And it might just include higher delivery densities to make the last leg of the supply chain more efficient.
Regarding the impact of the coronavirus, Phillips Nizer partner Alan Behr, a fashion industry attorney, told WWD that airborne viruses “typically spread fastest in places where human contact is greatest, and that could mean that online shopping, which already has had such a profound impact on retailing, will increase at the expense of in-store shopping.”
The attorney expects delays and disruptions to be a factor for many sectors beyond retail. “If people become nervous about being in crowds, sporting events will suffer, as will all the sales of merchandise made during them,” he explained. “Fewer attendees at charitable events mean lower donations and lower sales of party clothes and accessories. And it goes without saying

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