Grocery stores have been a mainstay of the consumer economy during Covid-19. Even with reduced hours and capacity restrictions in place, supermarkets have seen major year-over-year sales surges of 30% or more during March and April. Online sales and delivery fulfillment have been a big part of the revenue spikes. But so have mobile self-checkout apps that are now gaining wider consumer adoption not only because of convenience but more importantly, adhering to social distancing practices by avoiding checkout lanes and getting through the store faster. So it’s no surprise that Kroger and Wegmans are advancing use of their mobile apps. Meanwhile, developer FutureProof Retail has had a mobile self-checkout app for a few years with Fairway Market in the New York City area, and recently announced a partnership with Associated Wholesale Grocers. Expect to see more shoppers roaming grocery store aisles scanning items, paying seamlessly via their mobile apps, and bypassing checkout lanes upon exiting. Even after Covid-19 becomes history.
The following Grocery Dive article reports more on this topic which is excerpted below:
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, retailers are seeing mobile checkout adoption grow while promoting the technology as a safe, contactless and quick option for customers.
Some companies, like Sam’s Club, had the technology in place pre-COVID to allow people to pay with their phones and skip the checkout lines. The club retailer said the number of new shoppers using its Scan & Go app has increased more than fourfold since the pandemic struck. Kroger said it is making improvements to its existing Scan, Bag, Go system, and Wegmans is rolling out its new SCAN service to more locations ahead of schedule.
Other companies are just launching their mobile checkout solutions. Associated Wholesale Grocers has introduced scan-and-go technology at its warehouses with technology company FutureProof Retail, allowing its retail members to scan and bag groceries while they shop and complete the transaction with their phones before exiting.
Overview provided by Raymond Pucci, Director, Merchant Services at Mercator Advisory Group.