siliconindia | | SEPTEMBER 20248Grocery stores will always be there. As the markets continue to change and industries are pushed to innovate, it is not always clear or easy what lies ahead. The grocery retail sector in India has passed through a fantastic sea change, especially in today's socially distanced world. Once the backbone when lives and livelihoods were on the line, grocery stores have turned out to be fields for new trends and changing customer behavior as we head deeper into 2024.OK, what's the new plan? Do you rush to the nearest store, tap your delivery app, or add items to your e-grocery list for pickup at a time suitable for you? Gone are those days when there used to be one clear route to stocking your store. The modern consumer is spoiled for choice, from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to each and every modern digital channel e-grocery, online marketplace, and even social media.In this unstable environment, it is even more important nowadays to pay attention to the needs of consumers and the changing market conditions. For grocers, the ability to adapt at pace, coupled with targeted investment in strategic areas, forms the leading edge between leaders and laggards in the highly competitive market.Krishnarao Buddha, Sr. Category Head at Parle Products says, "Today, every brand is looking to become as fit as a fiddle and slip into conversations about trends and daily talk. And that's the whole concept of Moment marketing. And as they say time and tide waits for none, is the perfect articulation of Moment marketing".Ready for a Grocery Revolution?The future of grocery retail is on a cusp that is nothing short of a technology-driven revolution, where innovation is remodeling every step of the journey. Innovation has inspired retailers to deploy the latest solutions in Scan and Go, Mobile Checkout, and Self-Checkout, which allow consumers to move seamlessly through stores, scanning their products to pay with ease and easily avoid the lines they hated. But that's not all for innovation. While Store Pickup and Last Mile Delivery are becoming increasingly popular, it is left to the customer's ultimate convenience to pick up the groceries at the store or have them delivered right at their doorstep-perfectly in sync with the fast-paced rhythm of urban life.And to it comes to customer delight, Smart Substitution does the trick. Artificial Intelligence ensures that if something is out of stock, the best alternative is provided to the customer, fine-tuned to the customer's liking. Not only meeting expectations, it's about beating them while optimizing the inventory. Technology in the new world of grocery retail isn't bolt-on but an enabler for a seamless and gratifying shopping experience.The Rise of Online Grocery ShoppingOnline grocery shopping has been an evolution from convenience to mainstream necessity. But as online grocery shopping reimagines ways of doing the runs, one may wonder what lies on the horizon for this digital shopping revolution.In a world where balancing work, family, and social commitments can barely accommodate a relaxed grocery trip, online grocery shopping has come out to be quite a game-changer. Well, the convenience of ordering groceries from the comfort of one's home, delivered right to the doorstep, did not only redefine convenience but also managed to cut out the stress associated with going to a store and buying the groceries. Also, where popularity is on a rise, online innovation at every turn goes on to reshape the future of grocery shopping, thereby making life a little easier and far more convenient for one and all.EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVEFIVE MARKETING TRENDS TRANSFORMING GROCERY RETAIL & SALESM.R.Yuvatha, Correspondent, siliconindia
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