Executive Summary

The coronavirus pandemic changed media behaviors in 2020, driving up consumption of TV and digital video. Quarantines also changed the retail landscape, boosting ecommerce and digital food service significantly. Amid a wave of changing consumer patterns, brand marketers should keep on top of what changed last year and what it means for 2021.

How has the pandemic impacted digital purchasing?

In a big way and across a variety of sectors. Ecommerce’s share of total retail reached new heights in 2020, driven by closures of physical retail locations in almost every category of goods. Similarly, in food service, the share of digital ordering and third-party delivery apps increased significantly. We expect more of the same this year.

Which media format gained the most from lockdowns?

Digital video. Increased demand for at-home entertainment propelled video viewing higher than we previously expected. TV viewing time was up, too, but that trend won’t last. Living room viewing has gravitated to video options, which will lead to even more cord-cutting in the future

What ad formats will take the longest to rebound?

Most traditional advertising vehicles saw declines last year, as budgets across most brands were paused for a period or canceled altogether. But out-of-home (OOH) advertising declined the most, and we expect the contraction to last as social distancing remains in effect until the pandemic is put in the rearview.

What can brand marketing teams do to adjust?

Many have taken a greater load of functions in-house during the pandemic. This is made possible by the increased digital skillsets being developed internally and the preponderance of self-serve ad tools from publishers.

WHAT’S IN THIS REPORT? This report covers five key developments in Canada’s digital economy in 2020 that will have lasting impacts on the market in 2021.

KEY STAT: Retail ecommerce jumped ahead in 2020, growing CA$1.58 billion ($1.19 billion) more than we previously expected.