The financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on selected companies from the e‑commerce sector: A case study of Amazon, Alibaba, and Asos

Abstrakt

Since 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted the functioning of various sectors and companies worldwide. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, reshaped global consumer behaviour and triggered an unprecedented growth in online shopping. The aim of the article is to assess the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on the e‑commerce sector by examining the financial standing, position, and performance of three e‑commerce platforms from different regions such as Amazon, Alibaba, and Asos, both before and during the pandemic. The hypothesis of the article is that the coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted the financial situation and operations of e‑commerce platforms across various regions. The analysis focuses on the years 2017–2020 to provide a comparative perspective on financial conditions before and during the initial phases of the pandemic, highlighting the most disruptive period in 2020 while intentionally excluding the later stages of the coronavirus pandemic and the recovery period. While the final phase of the selected period reflects immediate disruptions, it also includes early regulatory and market adjustments, making this timeframe a combination of sudden impacts and initial responses. This approach captures the contrast between pre‑pandemic stability and early‑pandemic disruptions, avoiding complexities from prolonged pandemic phases and recovery. The article adopts a quantitative method using ratio analysis to analyse  liquidity, debt, efficiency, and profitability by examining financial statements such as balance sheets and profit and loss statements. The findings demonstrate that the pandemic has indeed impacted the e‑commerce sector. However, the extent of this impact varied across platforms and regions. The article provides a deeper understanding of the sector’s financial performance during a pandemic crisis and identifies key indicators driving this growth. The results provide valuable implications for businesses and policymakers, emphasizing sector’s evolving role in global economy.