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Here’s Why Your Grocery Chain Needs a Mobile Grocery Application!

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CitrusBits
October 8, 2021
#XR #VR #UX #UI

Online grocery shopping is not a newborn phenomenon. It has been around since the late 90s but has gone unnoticed by many as we have been running around in monotonous circles, sticking to the default approach of pushing a cart down the aisles.

This approach seemed to stay for a little longer but as soon as Covid-19 broke into our lives, the in-store shopping restrictions and supply chain interruption brought about a huge shift in the world of grocery.

This caused a sudden and impactful surge in online shopping trends and today’s generation, already comfortable with eCommerce, quickly adapted to the new ways of shopping. Being aware of how Gen Z and millennials want everything shifted to their smartphones now, the business world is constantly bringing novelty to the online customer experience and keeping up with the trend.

Mobile Grocery Applications – a Must-Have for Your Grocery Store

In this era of technology (plus a deadly pandemic), a superstar mobile app is a must-have for your conventional grocery business to;

  • establish a digital presence
  • efficiently and effectively expand your business reach
  • retain customers
  • enhance customer experience and engagement

As the shopping behaviors have been greatly altered and more people have adapted to online shopping, the graph of online grocery shopping is projected to escalate to 21.5% of the total grocery sales in the United States by 2025.

This promising forecast gives us a quick insight into the urgency as well as the effectiveness of having a mobile app for your grocery business. Discussed below are some major reasons to build your mobile grocery application.

Enhance Customer Convenience

Offering a smooth and convenient experience to the customers is one of the most essential benefits that you can provide them with. Driving to the grocery store, going through a tiring stroll around the aisles on a lookout for required grocery items, standing in long checkout queues, and driving back drained and exhausted (that too in times of a deadly pandemic) does not sound like a smart idea to people anymore in this advanced era of technology.

Rather, people prefer doing everything from the comfort of their homes. Moreover, online grocery shopping has become more of an essential requirement than a luxury. For people who are always on their toes, managing house chores or work or both simultaneously, an efficient grocery delivery service would be a blessing!

Build the Brand Image and Gain Customer Loyalty

The more value your brand offers to the customers, the more inclined they are towards your brand and likely to come back for more. In today’s era where people are always seeking advanced technological solutions to all their needs, we cannot just stick to the old-school ways of brand marketing.

Moreover, we need to realize that customer retention is more important than customer acquisition as 80% of your future revenue comes from your retained current customers. Additionally, your current/loyal customers tend to spend 67% more than the new customers. Considering the aforementioned facts, we can deduce that customer loyalty significantly drives long-term profitability. If you have recently stepped into the grocery business, building an app is one of the most effective ways to build a loyal customer base.

Furthermore, running loyalty programs (if done right) is also a highly effective technique to build a loyal customer army. Here are some easy ways to make your loyalty program a success!

  • Implement gift cards and a cashback system (instant rewards) for the app users: this system rewards the app users with a certain defined percentage of their purchase and they can use these points while making a purchase in the future.
  • Personalized product recommendations will keep them coming: personalized suggestions and product recommendations are based on consumer behavior that you have to study closely. They will keep coming back when you are recommending them products similar to what they have been viewing.
  • Leverage social media for your rewards program: It is important to understand that the idea is not just about rewarding the customers but encouraging interaction with your closest customers. Customers are a source of brand awareness and advocacy when they share your content across the channels. It is highly recommended to add social sharing buttons like Whatsapp, Instagram, and more to increase social engagement.

Various Payment Options

As discussed above, customer convenience should be your chief priority to retain your customers and gain new ones. Payment options are another factor that you can leverage to build a loyal customer base.

It is important to offer numerous payment options to your customers to choose from. These may include payments through Credit Cards/Debit Cards/ATM Cards as well as online mobile wallets like PayPal. This also applies to in-store purchases as credit shopping can slow down the process of your business expansion. These mobile payment systems can be easily integrated into your online grocery application to offer a convenient and hassle-free shopping experience.

Some other reasons to get a mobile application for your grocery chain include;

  • Keep up with the competition
  • Collect valuable feedback from your customers
  • Deliver personalized offers by closely studying and analyzing consumer behavior (preferences, likes, dislikes)

Enhance the In-Store Experience

Mobile grocery applications also enhance the in-store experience for both consumers and employees. Following are the key benefits of using a mobile application for an in-store shopping experience.

  • Seamless Curbside Pickup: Curbside pickups, also known as BOPIS (buy online, pick up instore) is made easy through these mobile applications as the customers can check-in through their phones once they park in the designated area, and do not have to make phone calls to let the store know about their arrival.
  • Swift and Easy Navigation Instore: The consumers do not have to search for their required item as the mobile app will know the exact location of the product in-store.
  • Empowered Employees: Employees can also benefit from a mobile app as the track of products is at their fingertips and they do not have to rush to the inventory to check the availability of products. They can also keep a track of the number of people instore to effectively implement social distancing during the pandemic.

Ready to Get In On the Act?

If you are a grocery store/supermarket-chain owner or an entrepreneur, we recommend you to jump on the bandwagon and get a superstar mobile application developed for your business as online ordering now seems more like a habit than a temporary necessity!

If you are looking to get your online grocery app developed, you can check out our portfolio here and ping us!

About the Author

CitrusBits

Content Writer

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