and offline retail stores are cautiously optimistic about people venturing to shop like in precovid times even as they have accelerated omnichannel models fasttracking their digital route to reach consumers retailers are hopeful of achieving about 85 per cent of precovid levels of business in the first six months of the year 2021 he said however he also said that although globally covid19 vaccinations have started the pandemic situation may take some more time to completely settle and thus retailers should move ahead with cautious optimism in 2021 spencers natures basket managing director and ceo devendra chawla said we are very optimistic about the coming year with demand picking and supply constraints getting eliminated we are looking forward for a good 2021 lots wholesale solutions managing director tanit chearavanont said the retail sector underwent a rapid transformation in 2020 and as a result next year will see a positive impact with the market returning to its form and making an upward curve even though there is optimism over rebound of the retail industry next year rajagopalan said we believe that recovery will not be possible without unconventional solutions and government support at this juncture all efforts are required to boost the local economy to help the survival of the retail and restaurant sectors thus saving millions of jobs with lockdowns heavily restricting physical store sales and consumers flocking to online mode of shopping accentuated by health and safety concerns 2020 saw a dramatic shift in consumption behaviour and adoption of the digital medium which is expected in the new year as well metro cash carry india md ceo arvind mediratta said that in 2021 technology will continue to play a vital role in transforming the retail experience with a big play on omnichannel retailers will have to devise different ways of wowing customers through a right mix of innovation and technology the focus will also be on building business resiliency to operate smoothly during any future crises he said the pandemic has revolutionised the way consumers think about their health and has forced them to reorient their actions as well as their purchasing behaviour with a special focus on the channels they are using to shop chearavanont added we are seeing the basket size of our customers attain precovid levels moreover our customers are buying across all categories and are not limited to just essential commodities he said according to adarsh menon senior vicepresident and head of flipkart wholesale and walmart india the pandemic will fundamentally change some consumer habits consumers will restrict physical movement to essential trips and prefer to stay indoors as a result more customers will continue to order online and for delivery than precovid times he said deloitte india partner rajat wahi said ecommerce which accounted for less than 3 per cent of total indian retail in value terms leading up to march 2020 has almost doubled share across most categories and may end the year at 67 per cent of total retail