Special Issue : COVID-19 and mobility
Since the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the whole world paid attention to Korea quarantine methods based on quick screening speed and systematic operation. The system served as an undeniable benchmarking case in numerous countries. The screening centers implementing the drive-thru method attracted the greatest attention. Worldwide press praised it because of its ability to minimize the infection route during the examination process and to considerably shorten the examination time. In the past, the method was used in coffee shops or fast food restaurants. It started to spread to every corner of the society bringing changes to the quarantine system in the COVID-19 era. Many areas are actively adopting drive-thru systems, and diverse products emerged as drive-thru items in the first half of 2020.
Since the drive-thru system was adopted in McDonald's of Busan in 1992 for the first time in our country, the drive-thru market came into being mainly in fast food restaurants and coffee shops. In the initial stage, the stores formed in the downtown or outskirts, winning popularity from full-time workers or people going for an outing. Later, the simple order system using a Smartphone was added and the number of stores increased, displaying the uptrend in the T map data as well.
The movement volume visiting the drive-thru stores during 2019 grew by about 1.5 times and it steadily escalated until January of 2020. However, in February when the confirmed cases of COVID-19 had an explosive increase, the drive-thru stores were not able to avoid the reduction in usage trend. Nevertheless, from March when strict social distancing was implemented, the movement volume rose again, starting to outdistance the highest record of 2019. The drive-thru system, which manifested its advantages of a non-face-to-face method when the movement was restricted, contributed to reviving stagnant industries that were going through difficulties with diminished sales. The drive-thru system was adopted by some brands to provide consumers' convenience, but it expanded to many other businesses with the appearance of COVID-19 and is expected to become solid, new consumer trends.
* 2019. 1. ~ 2020. 6. | Number of start navigation
According to the directives of social distancing, in March and April of 2020, people began to avoid going out as much as possible. This weakened consumption as a result, leading to difficult moments for many people. Even though the distribution industry was no exception, online delivery and non-face-to-face consumption started to slowly increase, bringing recovery and liveliness. Drive-thru services played an important role in non-face-to-face consumption and spread to various areas. They started to adopt the drive-thru system in not only coffee and fast food but also agro and livestock products. Even there were changes in the way of borrowing toys and books. Some banks made an effort to accept the changing trends of the era by offering the currency exchange service in the drive-thru system. The local governments were no different. They were deeply concerned about ways in relieving hardship the local residents so they created successful cases of trying to seek solutions for the community.
Route direction data of T map stirred a booming move up from Pohang City. To help the fishing villages in recessionby due of COVID-19, Pohang City organized a sales event of sliced raw fish from March 14 to 15 and installed temporary stalls at Guryongpo Beach. Despite operating for a short period, they ran short of all prepared items. Encouraged by fervent support of citizens, they held the same event on March 21 and 22 again. This time, they expanded the event stage covering Guryongpo Beach and Chilpo Beach, selling not only sliced raw fish but also Maeuntang (spicy fish stew) sets. It brought about great success. Only in a couple of hours, they recorded "sold out." Inspired by this success, many other local governments began to hold the drive-thru sales events one by one.
Following the good example of Pohang City, Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market sold all assorted sliced raw fish (Modumhoe) using the drive-thru method, from March 26 to April 12.
They recorded sales equivalent to 123.69 million KRW for 18 days, and 2,619 cars gathered to buy the products. Thus, the event earned a huge response from the people. The event was held in the form of an on-site sale from 11 am to 5 pm, and they sold about 26.9 million KRW on the first weekend after the event started, March 28 and 29. Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market separately installed a drive-thru pick-up place during April and considered a way to facilitate pick-up for customers after receiving their order by smartphone application.
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