The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the merger of retail and warehouse real estate, leading to the emergence of a new hybrid store model of interest to both investors and tenants, according to a study by CBRE.
According to its data, disruptions in commodity supply in 2020 brought the concept of omnichannel to a new level – hybrid store models have emerged that allow shoppers to make purchases both offline in a physical store and online. Thus, retailers need multiple logistics channels to meet demand.
At the same time, transportation costs for direct shipments to consumers are high costs for the retailer, which stimulates the use of physical stores, including as distribution centers and pick-up points, the study notes. According to CBRE Supply Chain Advisory, typical online ordering costs exceed in-store costs by 10-15%.
“In order to meet today’s consumer demands, supply chains have evolved into a network of speed-optimizing facilities that increase capacity and minimize overall costs. Retail chains now have more distribution centers linked to smaller warehouses and distribution points to ensure the best inventory management, delivery and return of customer goods,” the report says.
According to CBRE experts, despite the growth of e-commerce, physical stores remain a sought-after asset, although they require a different development strategy, including the closure of inefficient locations, resizing stores, optimizing rental costs, and reducing delivery costs through the introduction of self-pickup services.
“This approach will allow us to preserve the traditional retail experience, while ensuring the growth of their e-commerce platforms in a single coherent ecosystem,” the study reads.
As of Monday morning, 417 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Ukraine, with 248 people reported as recovered, while 14 people died, the press service of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine said.
“During the day on August 15, 2021, some 417 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease COVID-19 were recorded in Ukraine (of which there are 31 children and 10 health workers). Also, over the past day: 433 people were hospitalized, 14 people died, and 248 people recovered,” said the Ministry of Health of Ukraine on the Telegram channel.
During the day on August 8, some 51,445 people were vaccinated against coronavirus in Ukraine, while 30,988 Ukrainians received the first vaccination, another 20,457 completed the immunization process, having received both doses of the vaccine, the press service of the Ministry of Health reports on the Telegram channel on Monday.
“Some 277 mobile teams, 816 vaccination points, 340 vaccination centers worked during the day,” the message says.
The information says that since the beginning of the vaccination campaign in Ukraine, 4,137,073 people have been vaccinated, of which 4,137,071 people received one dose, 2,401,647 people received two doses and are fully immunized.
“A total of 6,538,718 vaccinations were carried out,” the Ministry of Health said.
The introduction of strict quarantine in Ukraine will depend on the rate and coverage of vaccinations, said Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin.
“Now we use adaptive quarantine, which works according to fixed indicators. We have a general condition: if in two or more regions for a certain time, two or more indicators are exceeded, then Ukraine will move to the next epidemic level – that is, ‘yellow,’ ‘orange’ or even ‘red.’ Therefore, it all depends on how quickly the vaccination of risk groups and the bulk of the population will be completed, and how many cases will be registered,” he said in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda ezine.
Kuzin added that so far there are no signs of an outbreak in Ukraine, and most regions are at the plateau level. However, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions show a threatening trend, where it is necessary to strengthen the system for identifying and isolating contact persons.
At the same time, Kuzin stressed that after the completion of testing of internal COVID-certificates, the Ministry of Health will work on the introduction of certain “privileges” for vaccinated people.
“The main idea that was used in other states, and which Ukraine is most likely to use, is the maximum use of the internal digital certificates. It should become a conditional pass. Now internal certificates are only being tested, while there is no information on how it will work at one or another level of epidemic danger. We will be thinking it over after testing is complete. It will be a QR code that will show that a person is vaccinated or ill, has a negative PCR or antigen test,” the deputy minister said.
Kuzin added that with the introduction of such certificates, it is necessary to “maintain a balance between human rights”, because a certain part of Ukrainians cannot receive a vaccine due to medical contraindications.
The deputy minister stressed that the mask regime in Ukraine would not be canceled yet. This issue will only be considered when the majority of the population is vaccinated and there is no risk of transmitting the infection.
Ukraine is changing the rules for crossing the border, in particular, it will oblige those entering from Russia and India to undergo 14-day self-isolation, Health Minister Viktor Liashko said during a government meeting on Wednesday.
“Unvaccinated foreigners and Ukrainians who arrived from Russia and India will be subject to special control. If they have spent the last seven days in these countries, they will be subject to mandatory self-isolation or observation for 14 days without the possibility of early termination,” he said.
“The new Delta coronavirus strain is actively spreading in Europe. A large outbreak is recorded in Russia. We propose new border crossing rules, which will take effect seven days after the official publication, in order to reduce the possibility of the spread of the virus in Ukraine. Also due to these changes, we we will be able to conduct better epidemiological investigations if a carrier is identified,” the minister said.
Belgium is removing entry restrictions previously imposed on Ukrainian citizens as part of countering the spread of COVID-19, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
“Belgium has opened up to all types of travel for Ukrainians according to the recommendation of the EU Council. The Foreign Ministry is working to increase travel opportunities this summer,” Kuleba wrote on his Twitter on Sunday.
