Five years ago, in early 2020, the world faced a global pandemic with unknown consequences.
The effects of Covid-19 disastrous for many companies, which at the time of registration were to circumvent the challenges related to the lack of goods, raw materials and the absence of customers.
According to IBGE data, more than 700,000 small companies have closed their doors between March and June 2020.
But in addition to the sequences that this period left, the epidemic was driving his car for many business models that flourished from technology adoption, diversity of the distribution channel, customer service, products and new services that give priority to the excellent consumer experience. Several companies also migrated to the environment online, and they adopted a remote work as an official model.
Some sectors have benefited in particular from these changes, which led to a space for small and medium companies with value -related proposals such as self -services, self -service, delivery and do not communicate.
This is the condition of business like self -service laundries, self -rule mini -market applications and delivery applications, which have had significant growth, driven by searching for comfort and efficiency.
Lightness of movement and technology
Packed at the good moment of digital retail, Airlocker is an example of the company that has witnessed its operations in this period. The company was founded in 2019, the company put the business model for the test a few months after its launch, but soon it was forced to re -invent itself.
The initial idea was to present smart cabinets in partnership with laundries and residential units, where residents can take and remove their household clothes after washing. The longest time at home and changing local habits, however, the obstacles that the company hunted to win.
Elleon Matos, the founding partner and CEO of Airlocker, explains that the solution that was found is to expand partnerships with different retailers, and take advantage of the appropriate time for e -commerce and healthy and far -social restrictions.
“There was no commercial model focused on concession or integration with daily services such as laundries or e -commerce, which greatly limits technology circulation. This was the exactly explorer scenario that prompted us to bring the idea to Brazil and adapt it to local needs,” he says.
Since then, the company has been working through a market formed by two different suppliers ready to provide orders to tanks throughout the country, such as laundries, pet stores and logistical services companies. Airlocker Brokens 3000 births per day.
The great bet of Airlocker is at the internet and material intersection, allowing buyers to access the products placed on their digital vehicles shortly, in Airlocker storage sites, which can be managed digitally and opened through the exclusive QR code.
With a positive growth rate, the company decided to expand its business and deportation in 2022 to the concession model. There are currently 340 cabinets distributed in 21 states of Brazil, as well as a unit in Angola – a 1033 % growth, according to the company.
According to the founder, the epidemic was the great catalyst for network growth, but the search for the consumer link and its experience even after the resumption of material retail resumption in determining the company’s strategic performance.
“During that time, we learned to see beyond the physical cabinet. We focus on user experience and in solving real pain, such as safety, comfort and independence. This mentality remains today,” he says.
To keep the expansion rhythm, the network is now focusing on hitting the number of privileges while maintaining the essence of business: the program. By 2025, expectations reach 792 wardrobes and revenues of $ 8 million.
Focus on autonomy
Founded in 2020, Market4u, a market network for their own account, benefited from a group of people who were forced to stay at home during the Covid-19s.
When linking residential housing units that lead small markets that dispense with buyers to move to the markets, the company helped generalize self -service in Brazil.
Independent markets do not have the attendees, and promised a more flexible shopping experience and affordable prices.
“At the beginning of the epidemic, we have installed the number of units we expected for three years, and meet the increasing demand for safe and comfortable purchase solutions,” says Eduardo Cordova, the founding partner and CEO of Market4u.
“Initially, the descriptions had some resistance, but with the arrival of the epidemic, the solution became a comfortable and safe alternative, especially in a scenario where comfort became increasingly necessary.”
Currently, the series includes more than 2000 stores across the country, with units in housing and commercial units.
According to Cordova, the future of independent markets is not exposed to the threat by resuming facial purchases, as the search for comfort and independence in service is still irreversible trends, especially in retail sale.
Maintaining importance in this scenario depends on the diversification of the network’s performance. Market4u expands its presence in companies’ buildings, as well as expanding partnerships to new sectors, such as hotels.
“We are also aware of the new opportunities that arise with the development of consumer behavior, in fact, the effect of this initial expansion is still perceived today, because it has created the foundations for the company’s sustainable growth and the increasing consumer confidence in our service,” and concludes.
How to maintain importance
In the postpandeia postpartum scenario, continuous innovation will be very important to prevent saturation of market and ensure businesses from digitization perspective, Vinícius Barreto evaluation, vice president of the vertical domain of the ecological system 300.
For the expert, the cooperative economy and smart use of digital platforms will be very important for companies that want to expand their arrival and remain relevant in an increasingly dynamic and technological market.
In addition, he is increasingly considering adopting mixed business models, which mixes material and digital performance resources and automation.
“This shift was not just a response to emergency situations, but a final change in consumer behavior. Today, automation and digitization are essential columns to sustain these models, allowing more cost players, increasing cost, and increasing business prediction.”
(Text by Maria Clara Dias)
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