Grocery Shoppers Are Expecting Three Things. Are You Delivering Them?

Price, convenience, and speed are key trademarks when it comes to current customer expectations. However, positive customer experiences have also become a driving factor in securing customer loyalty and profitability. Studies show that shoppers can spend up to 140%¹ more after engaging in a positive shopping experience. On the flipside, negative experiences are more likely to be shared between current and prospective shoppers, impacting brand identity and decreasing sales. While expectations can vary from brand to brand, today’s customers generally anticipate…

1. Omnichannel options – Online shopping is most certainly here to stay. It is expected that as much as 70%² of shoppers in the US will be purchasing groceries online since it serves as both a convenient and safe way to shop.
2. Contactless pickup – Similar to online shopping, BOPIS and curbside pickup have also grown in popularity due to their convenience and safety.
3. Personalized experiences – Studies show that 43%³ of customers expect some sort of personalized service from stores in response to their loyalty. 

What would seamless hassle-free grocery shopping look like?

To surpass these three common expectations, Barcodes, Inc. recommends targeting the following areas within the supply chain.

• Faster shelf replenishment – Simply put, if products aren’t visible on shelves, customers can’t buy them. That’s why quick cycle counting and fast replenishment are crucial to avoid out-of-stocks. Mobile technologies such as Zebra’s touch computers and hands-free scanners can enable real-time inventory updates as associates scan products immediately during stock counts.
• Intelligent point-of-sale – The longer customers wait in line, the less likely they are to return. Faster data capture through devices like Zebra’s enterprise scanners and MP7000 scanner can help accelerate checkout while empowering self-checkout lanes and loyalty scanning.
• Quicker order picking – As associates adapt to accommodate BOPIS transactions, they must move faster and more efficiently to assemble orders within stipulated time frames. Real-time inventory locationing can help reduce pick paths, accelerating order assembly.

Download our solutions brief for more areas of optimization.

While these are optimum areas to start enhancing the grocery storefronts, there are many other ways to deliver seamless shopping experiences. Leverage Barcodes, Inc.’s expertise in developing a smoother shopping experience, equipped with user-friendly technologies that put the customer experience first. Contact us today for a free consultation.

¹ The true value of customer experiences. Deloitte. 2018.

² Djordjevic, Milos. 20 Incredible Online Grocery Shopping Statistics for 2021. Save My Cent. Feb 6, 2021

³ Wollan, Robert et. al. Put Your Trust in Hyper-Relevance. Accenture Strategy. 2017.