While online grocery shopping initially surged due to the COVID-19 pandemic , these habits are likely to continue post-pandemic. Customers have become accustomed to using digital tools during their shopping. Most customers are showing interest in high-tech services such as cashierless shopping, which we covered in detail in our first article in this series.
Despite the hype surrounding some retail technology trends, SMB owners should consider their customer base and current infrastructure before introducing new services. To provide the necessary context for these decisions, Capterra conducted a survey of more than 1000 German grocery shoppers in urban or suburban areas to examine current retail trends (the full methodology is at the end of the article).
Overview of important trends in retail
1. Cashierless shopping
As explained in our previous article , customers need to download a smartphone app to enter the store, where they can do their shopping and complete it by simply leaving the store. Tegut and Rewe are already implementing the new concept in Germany. 64% of consumers have already heard of cashierless stores, while 9% have already seen such a store in their area. At least 5% have already used a cashierless store to shop.
Consumers are very interested in the technology, with 78% of survey respondents living in urban or suburban areas showing some level of interest in cashierless shopping. Consumers who are interested in the technology most want to shop for free at grocery stores, followed by drugstores and clothing stores.
cashierless shopping
Before shopping in a cashierless store, an app must be downloaded, which 73% of those who expressed interest in cashierless shopping are comfortable with. However, there are concerns about connecting this app to the bank account: 45% are comfortable with this, 49% say they are uncomfortable and 6% are unsure. We also asked what the hardest thing about learning how to shop in cashierless stores is: 55% are concerned about not having staff available to ask for help and 38% complain about not being able to pay with cash.
Tip for SMEs : Companies should implement cyber security software . This can protect the vietnam telegram data security of customer data and make it safer from hacker attacks.
2. Self-service checkouts
If companies do not want to invest in the high-tech systems of cashless business, they can install so-called self-service checkouts. Here, customers can scan their products themselves and pay at the machine. Customers can also pay with cash at the machine and do not have to link the app to their bank account.
Tip for SMEs : To ensure that all customers can conveniently complete their purchases, retailers should consider implementing payment processing systems that offer a variety of payment options.
3. Text-to-Shop
Text-to-shop technology allows customers to make purchases without looking up from their phone. With text-to-shop services, users create profiles with specific stores or brands and register their phone number, address and billing information. After registering, customers receive offers and deals via text message and can make their purchases by replying to the text message. From there, the products are shipped to the customer's home address.
Fewer respondents are interested in trying text-to-shop than cashierless shopping. 59% of survey respondents who own a smartphone are interested in text-to-shop shopping, while 78% are interested in cashierless shopping.