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If you're ready to incorporate new technologies into your business, you're certainly not alone. The explosion of online shopping has left many food retailers hungry for change. The more time passes, the more apparent it is that online convenience is here to stay, and emerging technology in food retail is being used strategically to grow customer bases, spur more sales, and even make everyday tasks easier for employees.
It's no surprise that most food retailers are unsure where to start in making their stores more tech–friendly, but they're eager to start finding solutions. If you're ready to bag the traditional approach of grocery shopping–and click into the world of grocery store technology—here's a few resources we've created for you.
Read on, or jump to the section that interests you most:
Discussing future trends in grocery stores and retail has always excited us, so this was the perfect place to start in uncovering more on the topic of food retail technology. Here's a few exciting technological trends taking over the industry:
Read below on some of the most commonly asked questions other food retailers have on the topic of emerging technology in food retail and how it's being used.
What technologies are used in a grocery store?
Most food retailers use technologies to offer customers with the convenience of online grocery shopping. And, taking this one step further, technologies and hand-held scanners that can report stock quantities for items on the store floor. Besides this, it's becoming more popular (especially during a labor shortage) to implement self check-out monitors for shoppers.
How can I improve my store experience?
This is one of our specialties! We've created lots of different thought-starters for how food retailers can enhance their in-store experience. Here's a few interesting articles and infographics to help:
What is online grocery shopping?
Buying food, household items, and even clothing through an online platform. For a deeper dive on this topic, check this out.
While there's certainly more than one way to begin implementing grocery store technology into your business, we've found that the cutting-edge grocers seem to have a few similar steps in common to creating their own program. They start by taking these first three steps:
Step 1: Pinpoint the best technology for your business
Taking the plunge into investing in new food retail technology is certainly the hardest. While there's many different avenues to go down, the most popular types of technology we've seen from food retailers are: launching a mobile app for customers to shop online, in-store technology for self-checkout, and building a platform for secure payments for click and collect orders.
Step 2: Create a team and/or hire an expert
Technology changes on a dime. That means it's essential to build a team devoted to these new technologies, and, if that's not feasible—it's worth the investment to hire an expert to spearhead your tech initiatives.
Step 3: Rely on your existing data, and keep going back to it
There're thousands of daily events that go on in just one day at a grocery store. If you're able to capture this shopper data, you can keep close tabs on what your customers want–and just as important–what to expect next. Once you've chosen the specific type of technology, app, platform, etc. to implement in your store, this data should be your blue print for how navigate forward with your customers.
We've created four essential steps to starting your own online shopping program. Check out the table below to learn more about each step.
What Is It?
In this first phase, employees grab products off the shelves and transport them to designated storage and holding areas. To do this quickly and efficiently, your employees need carts, bags, racks, and more.
Steps for In Store Gathering
What Is It?
After in-store gathering, products make their way to storage and holding areas. Although space in your store may be limited, the proper holding products can be used to maximize your space.
Steps for Storage and Holding
What Is It?
This is the last phase where completed orders are hand delivered to shopper vehicles. Proper transportation and operational items are needed to successfully complete this curbside pickup method.
Steps for Curbside Pickup and Delivery to Vehicle
For 75 years we've helped foodservice providers overcome unique challenges with our industry expertise and line of products, including food storage, displayware, décor, signage, bar & beverage, food prep equipment, large commercial equipment, ice machines, merchandisers, and so much more.
If you want to create a better food experience, implement new food programs, and drive more sales, Hubert can help.
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