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You can’t compare the way people shop for groceries today with the way it was done in a decade or so ago. Technology is changing almost all aspects of life, and grocery shopping hasn’t been left behind. Experts predict that, in less than five years from today, over 70 percent of consumers will shop for their groceries online. Nielsen and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) project that by the year 2024, about $100 billion shall have been spent on online shopping, specifically on beverage and food.
Are Brick-and-Mortar Stores Going Anywhere?
Even if the physical stores were to be eliminated, this is something that may not happen anytime soon. A study conducted by the NPD Group about two years ago found that only seven percent of consumers in the U.S. shopped online. Many people still prefer to pick fresh items by themselves from groceries.
So, many brands are working on streamlining both their offline and online stores, and they are investing in technology to help them operate efficiently to enhance the shoppers’ experience. The long and the short of it is that both offline and online shopping will be used by consumers side by side for as long as we can’t imagine. But technology is changing the way people shop in terrific ways.
Here are three ways tech is making an impact on your groceries
1.Grocery Lists
Whenever a grocery list is mentioned, what may come in your mind is a pen and a paper, right? You probably have to come up with a list before you head to the stores. However, you may end up forgetting the list at home or misplace it even before you reach the grocery. You’ll start wandering at the aisles because you can’t remember what you had on the list. Technology is changing that.
If there’s one thing you rarely forget when leaving home, it is your smartphone. What you may not know is that there are apps you can use to create shopping lists. You can even share the lists with your loved ones and check the nutritional values of the foods you are planning to buy.
According to tech and nutrition experts, the top ten best grocery list apps include:
- AnyList
- Mealime
- Our Groceries
- Bring!
- Cozi Family Organizer
- Opt Up
- Amazon
- Target
- Yummly
- List Ease
2. Digital Coupons
The paper coupons aren’t dead yet, but there’s a growing trend by online stores to use digital coupons. Digital coupons are promotions, offers, and discounts offered by grocery stores for their prospective or current online customers. It functions just like the paper coupon because it is meant to encourage buyers to shop online.
There are four types of digital coupons:
- Downloadable coupons: Just as the name implies, these coupons can be downloaded from the store’s website. You can also download it from a company’s email or social media platform. You can also access downloadable coupons from your phone.
- Mobile coupons: some grocery stores have integrated mobile apps into their operations. Such outlets offer mobile-only coupons.
- Coupon codes: Coupon codes are usually offered to loyal consumers. In this case, you’ll be given a code that you can use to enjoy a discount on your next shopping. You need to use the code at the time of checking out.
- Automatic discounts: these are automatic discounts applied when a customer is checking out. Here, you’ll not be required to do anything because the process is automated.
To benefit from these coupons, you need to be a loyal customer to a single outlet.
3. Artificial Intelligence
So much for online shopping. What about those shopping in brick-and-mortar-stores? If you still want to continue shopping in physical stores, you are not left behind. With AI, some supermarkets have made it easier for shoppers to buy groceries and use grocery lockers.
Final Word
The three technologies discussed above are just tips of the icebergs. Technology has brought tremendous changes in the way people do their shopping. Even the payment methods have really changed. People are moving away from using physical currencies to using online payment methods, including the use of digital currencies. You need to research and find the best shopping and payment methods.