Coming-up of E-Commerce by Covid-19

WTC Academy - From Disruption to Acceleration - Belgian E-Commerce: "on its way to a more mature market".

About this event
The corona crisis accelerated the rise of e-commerce, transforming the business landscape from one day to the next. Increased investment in online presence, meeting rapidly changing customer expectations, devising creative solutions to survive the crisis: every company had to adapt. So it's only logical that these were difficult times, although most managed to significantly improve the lives of their customers. And that brings them benefits in both the short and long term.

1. An unprecedented challenge
One of the most striking consequences of the crisis was the suspension of public life throughout Europe in the spring. The physical presence of businesses disappeared: some shifted their commercial activities to the web, others ceased to exist. Much of them switched to working from home for a large proportion of their staff. They had to work with new tools, equipment and processes in order to continue to work together smoothly without physical contact.

2. The digital acceleration
The corona crisis is not only disruptive but also accelerating. It has accelerated some of the changes already under way.

3. The best customer experience is 'phygital
If you want to reassure and encourage your customers to return, you need to ensure a seamless, easy and safe shopping experience. Whether physically in the shop or on the internet via the webshop.

4. Trade of the future
The new trading model is indispensible linked to technology. New regulations are a challenge for companies, which are demanding an even more level playing field.

5. Reason for optimism
Although it has been difficult to stay physically at a distance, technology can bring us closer together and our customers.
This is not to be missed: because the retail landscape is in full change, and you absolutely must be aware of these changes if you want to stay on course, either as a retailer/retailer or as an investor in the greatest possible sense.

Programme:
6:30 pm: Reception
19:00: Start WTC Academy
20:30: Network & Drink
9:30 pm: End

There is also a summary syllabus ready for you. After the WTC Academy you can continue networking with the other participants while enjoying a snack and a drink.
Sofie Geeroms has been the Managing Director of BeCommerce since 2018. In 2015, she founded the American startup Jasmo, a platform that connects hobby chefs with customers who want to receive at home. Before that, she worked in the financial sector in New York CIty, in Fortune 100/500 insurance companies.
Before moving to America, she worked in various Belgian ministerial cabinets (Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Audit Minister), either to represent socio-economic interests of companies in Belgium and through commercial diplomacy abroad. She also contributed to the revision of the federal internal audit system. Sofie Geeroms has also worked for the Swiss government in Lausanne, and for the European Agency Eurojust in The Hague.
Sofie Geeroms is a trainee lawyer (NY & Brussels Bar) and studied law at the KULeuven, Harvard Law School and the Sorbonne Panthéon-Assas II. She obtained her doctoral degree in Methodology and Taxonomy at the KULeuven.