According to the Visa Back to Business study, which assesses the shift towards digital commerce in response to the pandemic, 8 out of 10 consumers in the world transformed their way of paying to reduce contact.

The study also notes that more than two-thirds of micro and small businesses globally have tried a new methodology - be it launching an e-commerce site or changing their virtual payment (POS) technology - to continue operating.

Consumers are prioritizing security measures for Covid-19 before buying and are rewarding businesses that also do so, said Xiko da Rocha Campos, senior vice president of Acquisition and Commerce for Visa Latin America and the Caribbean .

Annie Muñoz, director of Category Management for Latin America at the market measurement company Nielsen, maintains that in Panama, more people are willing to buy grocery products (coffee, oil, packaged bread and sauce) through digital channels; cleaning articles, personal hygiene, as well as local or origin products.

However, she acknowledges that the great challenge will be to develop a consistent strategy to meet the needs of buyers, making electronic commerce a valid and common purchase option.