A total of 83% of UK shoppers would like technology to help them with their food and grocery shopping in the future, a study has found.
In addition, 55% of shoppers want to use technology to find the best offers.
The research, carried out by IGD, highlights that shoppers are interested in more than just saving money when it comes to technology related to food and grocery.
When asked which areas they would like technology to help them with, over 22% say they would like help with reducing food waste, 18% on health and diet information, 18% with in-store navigation, 15% with fast delivery (one hour or less) and 9% with sourcing product information.
Technology: An Opportunity To Exploit
The disparity between the use of shopping and non-shopping apps highlights the opportunity for the food and grocery industry to engage further with technology.
IGD’s research reveals that while the number of shoppers saying they have a useful app of some kind on their phone has jumped from 72% in 2014 to 81% in 2016, the number that say they have a useful food and grocery app on their phone has dropped from 40% in 2014 to 34% in 2016.
Furthermore, 43% of shoppers are currently purchasing food and groceries online and 28% show an interest in using a voice-activated device at home to add items to an online basket.
Vanessa Henry, Shopper Insight Manager at IGD, said, “there is a real opportunity to harness new innovations and data in driving shopper loyalty for retailers."
The study found that with younger people polling higher interest than the average, this is a trend almost certain to grow stronger in the future and retailers would be wise to invest now so as not to fall behind the competition.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Gavin Ryan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
