Drive to a grocery store, put items in a cart, walk up to the checkout lane, watch a cashier scan the items and put everything in plastic bags, and pay with paper money. That is pretty much how everyone used to shop for their groceries week after week. But we no longer live in a world where grocery shopping has to be so manual.
In fact, we’ve been shifting away from this setup for years. We now have things like online grocery delivery services, self-checkouts, reusable bags, and credit cards being the most common form of payment. Even with all these advances, as with all technology, there is always room for further improvement, efficiencies, and catering to the consumers.
Here are the top 5 trends that will help shape grocery retail this year:
1. E-commerce. A few years ago a cool feature was introduced that allowed consumers to order groceries from certain stores online and pick them up at select times. That feature has now morphed into a necessary service encompassing virtually all grocery stores and allowing consumers to pick up or get delivery at nearly any time of the day. This service is beloved by many busy people who otherwise wouldn’t have time to shop. Due to its growing popularity, grocery stores must adapt their e-commerce sites to accommodate for the increase in demand. In addition, retailers need to more efficiently manage the large amount of product coming in and going out on a daily basis.
2. Teamwork between grocery retailers and the CPGs (Consumer Packaged Goods). One trend arising from the increase in online grocery shopping is the need for CPGs to be in constant communication with the grocery retailers. Any product images, varieties, sizes, and discounts must be updated on the website immediately in order to provide the best service experience for consumers.
3. Changes to the supply chain. Consumers are becoming more and more interested in locally sourced food and as well as organic options. This trend might lead to an increase in smaller, local stores introducing e-commerce websites that better fit the needs of the local economy. In turn, larger, more traditional retailers might begin carrying more diverse products in order to attempt to stop consumers from going elsewhere.
4. Changes to the type of products offered. Once the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and most of the population is vaccinated, people will begin to enjoy restaurants once again and therefore need less groceries for at-home cooking. That could mean a drop in purchases from the average consumer. Grocery retailers may choose to begin including meal-planning suggestions on their e-commerce platforms or meal kits in the brick and mortar locations in order to lure consumers to keep purchasing more goods.
5. Evolving loyalty programs. Many retailers are competing with Amazon’s Prime program which provides goods at reduced rates and, often, free same day delivery. Some loyalty program perks may include discounts, free delivery, personal shopping services, and special events for members.
How Helios Can Help:
Helios has a suite of products ready to go for grocery stores. Our knowledgeable team can guide and support your organization as it navigates Grocery POS, eCommerce, Delivery, and Supply Chain challenges. To learn more, complete the form below and we will be in touch within 24 hours.