How important is online grocery shopping? It’s estimated that nearly half of all US shoppers engage in online grocery shopping at least some of the time.
Online grocery shopping has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many customers enjoying the convenience and time savings it offers. However, some people are skeptical about whether online grocery shopping costs more than in-store shopping.
This has led many grocery store owners to question whether investing in a point of sale (POS) solution that offers online shopping options makes sense.
This post will cover the ways online grocery shopping can save your customers money. Additionally, we’ll discuss the benefits online grocery shopping can offer to your store.
ANSWERED: Does Online Grocery Shopping Cost More?
You know that online grocery shopping is a convenient way for customers to order groceries from the comfort of their own homes. Still, you’re curious as to whether or not it’s actually cost-effective — for you and your customers.
Does online grocery shopping cost more? In the long run, no.
With the rise of grocery e-commerce platforms and the pandemic-induced shift towards contactless shopping, more and more people are turning to online grocery shopping as their preferred mode of purchasing groceries. This trend will not slow down anytime soon, so if your store isn’t prepared to make the shift, you might just find yourself left in the dust.
Of course, implementing an online grocery shopping system is not without its challenges. A few challenges you may run into during this process include:
- Long delivery wait times
- Technical glitches
- Poor customer service due to growing pains
- Expensive monthly fees (often $300-600 per month)
All of these challenges can leave your customers feeling less than thrilled with their experience. However, partnering with a third-party logistics provider or investing in customer service training for your online order fulfillment staff can help mitigate these challenges.
All in all, while there may be some costs associated with implementing an online grocery shopping system, the potential benefits in terms of customer loyalty and increased sales could make it a worthwhile investment for your store.
1. Increased Price Transparency
Price transparency is the first benefit many customers will enjoy with online grocery shopping. With the ability to compare prices easily across different brands and even stores, customers can make informed decisions about their purchases.
When your store provides clear pricing information online, including sales and promotions, it makes it easy for customers to know exactly what they're paying. In contrast, in-store shopping can result in unexpected taxes or pricing appearing at the checkout, which can be frustrating for customers.
With online shopping, the customer can easily adjust the items in their cart without running across the store, making it a convenient and transparent shopping experience for them.
2. Reduced Impulse Purchases
Another benefit of online shopping is that a customer is less likely to make impulsive purchases. Instead of roaming the aisles and grabbing items that look good just because they are hungry, the customer can mindfully and purposefully build their cart.
While this might sound like a downside for store owners, it can actually benefit your store in terms of customer loyalty and retention. Impulse purchases can break the bank for customers.
By removing the temptations that come with in-store displays and promotions, customers can stick to their budget and avoid overspending. Ultimately, this can lead to happier customers who are more likely to return to your store for their future grocery needs.
Related Read: 6 Natural Food Store Customer Loyalty Ideas
3. Unique Deals and Discounts
When your customers grocery shop online, they can enjoy the convenience of receiving unique deals and discounts based on their shopping behavior. Online shopping allows stores to gather customer data more easily, which can be used to offer unique and targeted promotions to customers who will benefit most from those offers.
Customers will appreciate the convenience of these offers, and your store can enjoy increased sales based on targeting offers toward the customers most likely to take advantage of them.
Related Read: Digital Circular for Grocers
This is a great way to increase customer loyalty and keep your customers returning to your store for their grocery needs. It’s also an excellent way to promote products you need to clear from your shelves before they become dead stock.
4. Time Savings
Finally, perhaps the most obvious benefit of online grocery shopping: time savings. Customers will save time by shopping online in a few ways. They won’t need to drive to the store, roam the aisles selecting items by hand, or wait in line to check out.
The increased convenience for online grocery shopping is a feature many of your customers will appreciate, especially those who have busy schedules or prefer to avoid crowded stores.
By offering online shopping, you can help your customers save time and make their shopping experience more convenient, ultimately leading to happier customers and increased sales for your store.
How Your Grocery Store Benefits from Online Shopping
We’ve talked a lot about how online grocery shopping benefits your customers. Now, let’s take a moment to discuss how offering this service benefits your business.
First and foremost, offering online shopping options can help you attract new customers and retain existing ones. With the convenience of online shopping, customers who may not have previously shopped at your store may be more likely to give it a try.
Additionally, existing customers who may have been hesitant to shop in-store due to long lines or crowded aisles may appreciate the convenience of online shopping and continue to use your store for their grocery needs.
By offering online shopping, you can expand your customer base and increase your store's visibility in the community.
Additionally, your store can gain valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences by gathering data available through online shopping orders. You can then use this data to build targeted marketing campaigns and promotions more likely to resonate with your target audience and existing customer base.
With the ability to target your promotions to customers who are most likely to take advantage of them, you can increase sales and improve your store's overall profitability.
Does Online Grocery Shopping Cost More? How To Increase Efficiency and Save Money
Does online grocery shopping cost more? In terms of dollars spent on delivery fees, it may seem so, but with the other cost savings and the peace of mind offered by the convenience of this solution, the ultimate answer is “no.”
As a grocery store owner, you should explore offering this solution to your customers. Helping your customers save time and money will win their loyalty and help ensure you retain them as customers in your store.
If you’re interested in offering online shopping for your customers but aren’t sure where to start, IT Retail can help.
Request a demo of our solution today to see how we can get you up and running on a full-service POS solution capable of offering your customers this convenient solution and more!
