Food Lion has started using location-tracking technology from artificial intelligence provider Flybuy to improve the efficiency and convenience of its curbside pickup service, the companies announced Tuesday.
Flybuy’s technology assists store employees in ensuring orders are ready when shoppers arrive to collect them by tracking people’s location when they are en route to the store. In addition to helping reduce wait times for customers, the system enables stores to more efficiently use order staging areas and parking spots designated for pickup, according to the companies. The platform also helps associates better manage their time by providing insight into when orders need to be ready.
Food Lion has already seen customer wait times decrease by more than 40% by using Flybuy’s system, an improvement that has led to a “notable rise” in customer satisfaction, according to the announcement.
The grocer is following fellow Ahold Delhaize-owned supermarket chains Giant Food, The Giant Company, Stop & Shop and Hannaford in incorporating Flybuy’s technology into its operations.
Food Lion also works with third-party e-commerce providers like Instacart and DoorDash.
Food Lion is infusing its pickup service, known as Food Lion To Go, with FlyBuy’s technology at a time when Ahold Delhaize has been dealing with sluggish online sales growth in the U.S. But while the Netherlands-based grocery company’s overall digital sales were down stateside in all four quarters of its last fiscal year, Food Lion turned in double-digit e-commerce sales growth for the year. Food Lion’s online sales were up by almost 40% during Ahold Delhaize’s most recent quarter.
Food Lion is also Ahold Delhaize’s best-performing U.S. banner as measured by comparable-store sales. The chain, which operates over 1,100 supermarkets in 10 states, has posted 50 consecutive quarters of comparable-store sales growth.
