Crisis management and the effect of the crisis on distribution channels and logistics activities: A case study during the pandemic period

Businesses need to implement different distribution strategies in order to continue their activities in markets where competition is increasing and consumption habits are changing constantly. Each business needs to use different distribution channels according to the characteristics of the products and the market they serve. Therefore, the business needs a strong distribution channel to deliver its goods or services to its customers. The research, which is designed as a case study under qualitative research methods, aims to reveal the reflections of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on the logistics activities of two enterprises operating in the national and international industrial market: the reflections on the distribution channel decisions, the problems encountered during the crisis and the ways to cope with these problems. It is stated by these enterprises that there is no standard crisis management procedure followed, and that each action is taken on a situational basis. However, significant problems have occurred during pandemic in terms of time and delivery conditions, new distribution channels, the air and maritime transport in main,were used alternatively to the existing highway transport. In addition, it is also stated that businesses might create advantages such as new market opportunities as an outcome of the negative attitude developed towards China globally. The necessity and advantages of digital integration during pandemic have also been noted.