Changes in Grocery Shopping Because of Digital Technology

Posted by Ashish Jain on March 1st, 2022

We have faced the scenario of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the entire country being put under lockdown.

This was the new difficulty facing food and grocery stores. People started stocking up on essentials, and retailers faced disruptions in their supply chains.

As a result, the shelves were empty. However, as the COVID-19 crisis broke out, the grocery shopping culture changed. Customers turned to contactless shopping for online ordering and delivery options to ensure social distancing while meeting their needs.

Grocery stores, eCommerce companies and delivery companies began to adjust quickly to meet the needs of consumers and control the undisclosed location by keeping shoppers and employees safe from the virus.

STATS RELATED TO ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING

According to the data gathered by Rakuten Intelligence, the online orders from grocery stores was up significantly between March 12 and March 15 in comparison to the previous year. The value of the charges (brilliant delivery and BOPIS) in the four days was 210.1 per cent, and the total number of orders grew up to 151.1 %.

• Between January 1 to March 15, online sales increased to 57.6 per cent, and sales rose to 61.3 per cent. Amazon Fresh, the Walmart To Go service, Kroger Co., Grocery Delivery Company Instacart Inc. and others. These were the significant retailers who saw the subsequent expansion.

• From March 12 through March 15, the volume of BOPIC orders for grocery items and non-grocery products jumped by 111%, and the total number of orders increased by 82.8 per cent. January 1 between January 1 and March 15, these figures were 38.9 per cent for dollar volume and 39percent for the total number of online purchases.

• For March 12 and 13, online purchases for grocery stores with complete assortments grew by 219%. Online sales increased by 325.9 per cent.

• For BOPIS orders, orders increased 126.3 per cent, while sales rose to 183.7 per cent for March 12, 13 and 12.

The above data illustrates how online grocery shopping and overall BOPIC purchases have increased from the onset of the epidemic. If we consider changes in the behavior of consumers in this NRF survey:

• 6 out of 10 consumers are concerned about going to the grocery store due to fear of contracting the virus.

• 9/10 customers have shifted to online shopping.

• Most customers began ordering online products that they usually purchase from stores. 

The changes will be permanent and will impact the future retailing industry. The most important way to prepare as the owner of a grocery store is to bring your business\'s grocery operations online before it\'s time.

If you\'re looking to grow to compete in the post-COVID-19 age and you are looking for strategies to do so, the following provided by SWIL ERP will help you with this:

ENTERPRISE ORDER MANAGEMENT

It\'s an Order Management System technology used by brands and retailers to provide multichannel services. When you implement an enterprise-wide order management software, you will get:

• Real-time Inventory Visibility,

• Returns Management,

• Enhanced Functions,

• Workflow and Order Management,

• Smart Order Routing, etc.

Instead of logging into separate POS platforms or channels for sales, it is possible to handle everything from one central location.

It is easy to track the fulfillment of orders, sales and inventory, all in streamlining the process to ensure that the products are delivered to the customers who purchased them.

TAKE CONTROL OVER ORDER DELIVERY

If you\'re using a third-party delivery provider, you could be increasing the cost of your order more than you thought. In some instances, it may also impact the customer experience when there are issues regarding delivery.

As soon as possible, it is best to change to complete the orders on your own. You can make use of SWIL\'s delivery boy app and the SWIL Mart app to receive online orders and make home delivery smooth.

COLLABORATING ONLINE SALES PLATFORMS & MOBILE APPLICATIONS WITH ERP SOFTWARE

When you run your online grocery store, you require a single source to manage sales platforms online and mobile applications all in the same place.

With SWIL\'s ERP solution for grocery store software, it is possible to integrate your online sales and e-commerce channels to process and accept online orders from customers. You can also plan an online transaction process to accept online payment.

Conclusion

In the initial phase of the pandemic\'s global spread, supermarkets responded rapidly and played a significant role in meeting consumer needs. It\'s now your turn to ensure to maintain this pattern as a store owner by adjusting your strategies for business to match the changing needs of the industry.

As an owner of a grocery, you must be mindful of your customers\' safety and experience in the store, with SWIL\'s solution for grocery stores and mobile apps that let you efficiently run your store at any time and from any location.

For more detailed information, you can contact our team. The team will assist you with the best possible solution that meets your usability criteria. Moreover, SWIL offers a  customization facility to users.

Visit us- https://www.swindia.com/product/supermarket-software/