Data Cash Register - Grocery

The Time to Adapt Is Now: Why Grocery Stores Must Change In recent months, the grocery industry has entered an entirely new world. The COVID-19 pandemic has creat- ed an environment where independent grocers are fighting to keep their market share. Now more than ever, independent grocers must keep up with changing customer expectations and compete with large national chains that are using self-checkouts, e-commerce, and mobile technologies to deliver safer, faster, and more convenient customer service. The competitive environment has changed forever. Self-checkouts, grocery pickup, and delivery services are no longer optional; convenient shopping experiences and superior customer service are absolutely essential. Customers need stores to adapt to their changing needs and buying habits, or they’ll take their dollars and their loyalty to the next store. The key to adapting and thriving in this new world is technology. Independent grocers must embrace change and adopt new technologies and service models to improve shopping convenience and efficiency for their customers, and they must prioritize their staff and technology budgets accordingly. However, it’s also critical to maintain a human touch while serving customer needs and demands. That’s where having the right technology strategy will be the key to providing a better overall customer experience than large national chains. Independent grocers are in the unique position of being able to be more attentive to shoppers while using technology to enhance service quality as well as meet customer needs and expectations. It’s that human touch that often sets independent grocers apart, and in this e-book, we take a look at some of the ways grocery stores can use both technology and people factors to improve their customer service, optimize their store operations, and grow their business in a time of rapid change. It starts by examining the latest trends and success stories in the grocery industry, and exploring the most ef- fective technology strategies and solutions that work for today’s and tomorrow’s customers. Let’s take a look at some of the trends and consider why they should be in your plans for the immediate future.