The coronavirus pandemic has forced society to adapt in order to function and endure. In my opinion, the world is going to look and function very differently post-pandemic. Social isolation measures meant to curb the spread of coronavirus have unearthed more efficient ways of doing things.
Here are some of the changes that could last post-pandemic and the ASX shares that could benefit.
Working and learning from home
After initially starting off as an experiment, working from home could become a permanent fixture for many white-collar workers. In addition to improving employee productivity and happiness, companies could also save on occupying large office spaces and the costs that go along with it.
Recently, some companies have made headlines by declaring that some, if not a majority, of their staff will be working from home permanently. As a result, ASX shares like JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) could be great beneficiaries as employees look to stock up on office equipment and technology.
In addition to working from home, online education platforms have also seen a surge in users. 3P Learning Ltd (ASX: 3PL) is an online education platform that offers a range of resources that cover core subjects such as mathematics, spelling, literacy and science. The company's platforms have seen a surge in demand and could become a permanent fixture to complement traditional learning.
Health and hygiene
The coronavirus pandemic has also resulted in a surge in demand for immunity products in Australia and abroad. Supplements such as vitamin C have been flying off shelves as consumers look to strengthen their immune systems. As a result, shares like Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) could be well poised to benefit from increased demand in vitamins and supplements.
The coronavirus pandemic could also renew the way people think about hygiene and infection control. Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN) is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and distributing health and safety protection solutions. The company could be well poised to benefit in the post-COVID world as the population becomes more aware of safety and hygiene protocols.
Convenience and online shopping
With dine-in restaurants closed and people forced to stay at home, there has been a surge in demand for home deliveries during the pandemic. This demand has extended to Marley Spoon AG (ASX: MMM) which is a subscription-based meal-kit provider. Services like Marley Spoon that deliver fresh ingredients directly could increase in popularity as consumers opt to home-cooked meals rather than going out.
In addition, the pandemic has also changed the way people shop, with e-commerce stocks like Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) and Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) reporting a surge in online sales. This could become a permanent fixture in a post-COVID world as consumers adapt to more convenient and competitive platforms.
Should you buy?
In my opinion, it would be a good exercise for investors to think of themes that could emerge and prosper post COVID-19. A prudent strategy would be to keep shares that show promise on a watchlist and wait for positive price action before making an investment decision.
