Facebook-BCG report has recommendations for brands to deal with COVID-19

Facebook India in association with Boston Consulting Group has released a report titled ‘Turn the Tide’ that focuses on how COVID-19 has dramatically changed consumer behavior and altered the path-to-purchase. The report also shares actionable guidance for brands.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have caused significant disruption for people, communities, and businesses.
The report delves into key consumer-shifts based on three societal truths that have emerged as a result of the pandemic -- social distancing, increasing focus on health and hygiene and increasing income uncertainty. Within each of these shifts, the report claims that there are three kinds of behavior change movements that are being observed - reversal of past trends, acceleration of existing trends, and formation of new habits.
The report especially calls out for massive acceleration in digital led by social media, the emergence of micro-market opportunities, an increase in value consciousness leading to more utility-led shopping, consumers embracing digital even in historically offline categories such as education, health, and fitness, the increase in spend on e-commerce in the coming months and more.
Recommendations for brands to get used to to the new normal:
* Build social connect in social distancing: Engage with consumers in their context
* Focus on hyper-localization: Connect with consumers where they are
* Bring alive experiences with digital access: Virtual launches and product demos
* Optimise portfolio for value creation: Segmenting consumers to drive differential value
* Relook at media mix models to drive growth: Align to new media landscape
* Build your online presence: Own platforms and influencing marketplaces
* Strengthen CRM solutions: Messaging for post sales communication and other digital CRM tools