FY028 Inquiry Project: Analyzing Asda's Retail Trends Post-COVID-19

This report, submitted as part of the FY028 Inquiry Based Learning module, analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the retail industry, focusing specifically on Asda. The report begins with an introduction, research questions, and objectives, followed by a literature review examining changing trends in the retail sector, including online shopping, e-commerce growth, and personal shopping services. A research methodology section outlines the use of quantitative methods, including primary data collection through questionnaires and secondary data analysis using textbooks, journals, and online articles. The results section presents findings from both primary and secondary data analysis, highlighting customer awareness of new shopping facilities, preferred shopping behaviors, online shopping considerations, customer service issues, and responses to advertising. The report then provides recommendations for Asda to adapt to the changing retail environment, emphasizing technological advancements, digital marketing, smart technologies, personalized product offerings, and new retailing formats to improve customer experience and ensure long-term sustainability. The report concludes with a summary of the findings and recommendations.

FY028 Inquiry Based
Learning

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Aim of the research....................................................................................................................3
Research Question......................................................................................................................3
Research Objective.....................................................................................................................3
Literature Review.......................................................................................................................3
Research Methodology...............................................................................................................5
Result or discussion....................................................................................................................5
Primary data analysis.............................................................................................................5
Secondary data analysis.........................................................................................................9
Recommendation........................................................................................................................9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................11
Appendix 1...............................................................................................................................12
Questionnaire.......................................................................................................................12

Introduction
The effect of covid-19 make an impact on the individual and their shopping behaviours
too. Due to the lockdown system and social distancing many of the customer are shifted
towards the trend and make online shopping (Covid-19: How retailers are using technology
to respond to changing shopping habits, 2021). This report include about the basic trend of
retail sector, their research analysis and its analysis to conclude the result. In last
recommendation are provided to the company. The chosen company is Asda, started its
operation in 1949, and headquartered in Leeds, UK.
Aim of the research
“To investigate about how the shopping style has changes after Covid-19 and improved the
working style in Tesco.”
Research Question
 How has shopping style change due to covid-19 and effect the team performance of
the Asda?
 What is the relationship between shopping style in Covid-19 and its effect and
performance at Asda?
Research Objective
 To know more about the changing trends in retail sectors.
 To assess how has shopping style of customer in covid-19 effect and contributed to
the team members of Asda.
Literature Review
To know more about the changing trends in retail sectors
As per the view point of Martins, A., (2020); the pandemic change in the management to
work and analysis as per the growth and work culture of the company. The most recent trend
for the retail industry of the UK are change and affect due to various reason;
 Online shopping: After facing the large impact on the covid-19 many of the
companies are facing challenges and issue in managing different sectors. Which are
highly related to online shopping industry and able to work and manage the data at
online platform (5 RETAIL TRENDS THAT ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE SHOP,
2020). This will create the online access and platform view on the success and major

performance on the company to earn and more appropriate way in changing trend in
retail sector.
 E-commerce Grow: Since the online shopping are increasing, the trend of E-
commerce website are also increasing and it will be helpful for the company to work
and manage branching and make surrounding areas.
 In-person shopping is on hold: As per the view point of Pustetto, (2021); changing
contagious nature for the growth of covid-19, due to the public health expert company
are not able to serve in-person technique they needed to be work and manage the
sources on time (The Future of Retail: Trends for 2021, 2021). In-person shopping
make a hold and no one can visit to the store for purchase their needed items.
 Personal shopping service increase: To solve the issue, companies are using
personal shopping platform and try to decline the foot print. As employees will shop
for the customer and serve to the door of the customer with the help of different
effective technologies and their up gradation within society. This trend has been seem
before covid-19 and its impact are seems after the lockdown in UK.
To assess how has shopping style of customer in covid-19 effect and contributed to the team
members of Asda
With the changing nature of shopping style of UK customer are related to Covid-19
effect the major growth and contribution of the team members in Asda. They are using
different services and technique which are related to different action that may be related to
different strategies. Company’s employee are working and measuring the success and make
sure to work with the changing nature and growth. Asda employee are using new technique
which are related to scan and go, where few people are come and go which are highly related
to adaptive growth and adaptability in management techniques (Steps we have taken in
response to the Coronavirus outbreak, 2021). Maintain adequate social distancing and make
a systematic approach for working in a more organised way and measure the success within
the company. All the employee are given their best and cover their faces and make some
major changes as per the growth and need of the company. Asda try to open their shop 24
hours and for this the manager make two shift and deliver their products at online store
(Sharma and Jhamb, 2020). Their main priority are work with the right manner and manage
the activities as per the different community and open pharmacy and many essential services
for the growth of the company in a retail industry.

Research Methodology
In this inquiry based learning, quantitative method are used for defining and
understanding the need of the method which are highly related to the result and possible
outcome for the growth of the company. Here two main method are used primary and
secondary, for primary method, questionnaire method is used and chosen sample size is 30
(Ritch and McColl, 2021). For the secondary data, Textbook, Journals and online articles are
used for conducting Literature review. This analysis will help the company to work and
manage the source of data to work and collect the data in an organised way. As it could be
associated to effective result and make appropriate major changes in the growth of the
market.
Result or discussion
Primary data analysis
Questionnaire Frequency
Q.1 Are you aware with the new shopping facilities provided by Asda to
their customer?
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q.2 where do you prefer for retail shopping on monthly basis?
a) Supermarket 5
b) Local shops 10
c) Online 15
Q.3 What are the first consideration you are used to make online
shopping?
a) Price 5
b) Fashion 10
c) Brand 8
d) Rating 7
Q.4 Do you face any issue with the services of Asda?
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q.5 Do you buy products once it’s been advertised?
a) Yes 25

b) No 5
Theme 1: Awareness in new shopping facilities
Q.1 Are you aware with
the new shopping
facilities provided by
Asda to their customer?
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
Interpretation: from the above graph it is interpreted that 25 out of 30 customer of Asda are
well aware with the latest use and facilities provided by them. But 5 out of 30 are still not
aware with the latest service and facilities about Asda. So company has to follow some major
strategy to work and promote high as possible.
Theme 2: Shopping behaviour

Q.2 where do you
prefer for retail
shopping on
monthly basis?
a) Supermarket b) Local shops c) Online
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Interpretation: This graph show that many of the customer are aware with the online and
supermarket companies. 5 out of 30 are going super market, 10 out of 30 are purchase form
local shops whereas 15 out of 30 said they are used to purchase online shopping from the
major pandemic crises. So it would be a great opportunity to Asda for making more market
share and capture more and more customer’s strength.
Theme 3: consideration in online marketing
Q.3 What are
the first
consideration
you are used to
make online
shopping?
a) Price b) Fashion c) Brand d) Rating
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Interpretation: This graph shown that fashion is the highest consideration which are used by
the customer when they are going to the market. After that branding is one the second
position. Whereas high rating and price are the second last thing which are related to the

major consideration point within society. Customer use the online platform and purchase with
different consideration points.
Theme 4: Issues with Asda
Q.4 Do you face any issue
with the services of
Asda?
a) Yes b) No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Interpretation: This graph show that, 20 out of 30 people are not facing any issue with the
changing nature of company and their new trending factors. 10 out of 30 customer said, that
they are facing major issue which are highly related to different sector and make a growth in
the market to work and manage their basic growth in market analysis. Asda need to work on
their quality and make sure to satisfy their customer for the growth of the market.
Theme 5: Advertised products
Q.5 Do you buy products
once it’s been
advertised?
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25

Interpretation: From the above graph it has been considered that 25 out of 30 customer are
used that product which make high advertisement by the companies. Whereas, 5 out of 30,
said they use that product which they like without any advertisement. This will show that
company needed to be promote their products which are highly associated with the products
and make sure to manage data in an organised way and promote sustainable activities in an
organised way.
Secondary data analysis
It has been analysis from the above Literature review that retail industry are working
in the major trends, further they are working with the changes. It has been related to different
sources and techniques which are used for working high and make effective success in the
company. Further this show that the changing trend of shopping due to covid-19 are shifted
and make change in the relationship and growth of the performance of their employees. As
they are giving their best to perform and help their customer in an organised way (Radic and
et.al., 2021). With the changing nature of the customer and their trend are highly associated
with the managing and changing nature which are associated to the growth and performance
of their employees. All could be associated to work and manage the data in an authorised way
and make sure to analysis in different sector to work and manage the activities. With the help
of secondary analysis, company are able to work and manage the data and work as per the
associated to the individual life and make some major systematic view point and work for the
growth of the company.
Recommendation
There is great influence has been seen in the industry of retailing due to pandemic. So
Asda has to develop their technology at greater level in order to maintain their sustainability
for long period of time.
 They has to develop their technological advancement in online presence with
effective marketing campaign in social media (McGuir and et.al., 2020). Asda
company must put more efforts to digital marketing by regular active post on Website
or Social media because in the outbreak of pandemic people prefer to buy from online
platform.
 Company must adopted the technology in its business operation like Smart Mirror,
Auto checkout etc. The Asda Company need to work upon their digital payment

system through this no consumer has to face cash related problem and they can
convenient made payment through digital payments app directly.
 This will improve their target audience purchasing habit and shopping experience.
Along with the online platform Asda Company need to modify their shopping style
layout of their store. As not each consumer will prefer online channel (Iwuoha and
Aniche, 2020). Company has to develop high level of technology software which
provide more customized or personalized product. As with the effect of technology
consumer can modify product as per their requirement.
 This will ensure more engagement in their physical store and enhance consumer
satisfaction. Asda Company must deliver more focus upon adopting New Retailing
format that is most suitable to deal with the situation of pandemic outbreak. The
aspect of new retailing format combine of online and offline channel. These strategy
aids improving the level of sale and strengthen position for long period of
sustainability.
 Asda can use different way to work online and perform work form facilities to their
customer so, that customer can get what they needed in this pandemic at their home.
Further they should use appropriate mobile application which are used and manage
the sources to work and manage the data in an organized way to work in a systematic
way.
 Asda should use two shift system to provide 24*7 facilities for their customer and
make sure that each and every employee of the company are safe and healthy
physically and mentally too (Bandyopadhyaya and Bandyopadhyaya, 2021). Further
due to the negligence of the technology company can face major issue and working
deficiency in the regulatory bodies.
 They should provide high quality services and small acre facilities which are highly
associated to online delivery system that must be essential for the change and
management of the growth of company and work to assign and manage different
sources in the company.
Conclusion
From the above report, it is concluded that many of the companies are changing their
shopping and selling style due to major pandemic face by the company. In UK, many of the
industry but retail industry are able to work and manage the growth for working in the

company and able to work for companies policy. All are essential for the relationship and
improving performance for the growth of the company in market.

References
Books and Journals
Bandyopadhyaya, V. and Bandyopadhyaya, R., 2021. Understanding the Impact of COVID-
19 Pandemic Outbreak on Grocery Stocking Behaviour in India: A Pattern Mining
Approach. Global Business Review, p.0972150921988955.
Iwuoha, V.C. and Aniche, E.T., 2020. Covid-19 lockdown and physical distancing policies
are elitist: towards an indigenous (Afro-centred) approach to containing the
pandemic in sub-urban slums in Nigeria. Local Environment, 25(8), pp.631-640.
McGuire, D and et.al., 2020. Beating the virus: an examination of the crisis communication
approach taken by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the Covid-19
pandemic. Human resource development international, 23(4), pp.361-379.
Radic, A. and et.al., 2021. Cruise ship dining experiencescape: The perspective of female
cruise travelers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of
Hospitality Management, 95, p.102923.
Ritch, E.L. and McColl, J., 2021. Concluding Comments and Future Directions Post Covid-
19. In New Perspectives on Critical Marketing and Consumer Society. Emerald
Publishing Limited.
Sharma, A. and Jhamb, D., 2020. Changing Consumer Behaviours Towards Online
Shopping-An Impact Of Covid 19. Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, 24(3),
pp.1-10.
Online
5 RETAIL TRENDS THAT ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE SHOP, 2020. [Online].
Available through: < https://www.thetrendspotter.net/5-retail-trends-that-are-
changing-the-way-we-shop/>.
Covid-19: How retailers are using technology to respond to changing shopping habits, 2021.
[Online]. Available through: < computerweekly.com/feature/Covid-19-How-
retailers-are-using-technology-to-respond-to-changing-shopping-habits>.
Steps we have taken in response to the Coronavirus outbreak, 2021. [Online]. Available
through: < https://corporate.asda.com/20200309/steps-we-have-taken-in-response-
to-the-coronavirus-outbreak>.
The Future of Retail: Trends for 2021, 2021. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9836-future-of-retail.html>.