Technology

Smart & Final rolls out tech-enhanced checkout lines

The company will route shoppers into a socially distanced single line, where a digital screen will point them to the appropriate check stand.

By Jessica Dumont • May 12, 2020

Grocers are ramping up mobile checkout platforms

Retailers like Sam's Club, Wegmans, Fairway and Kroger are encouraging customers to adopt the technology as they promote contact-free shopping during the pandemic.

By Jessica Dumont • May 06, 2020

Grocers take nutrition services online

As people try to manage their health at home, retailers like Weis and Giant Food are adding virtual classes, counseling and health advice.

By Jessica Dumont • April 28, 2020

Trade shows are going digital

With in-person events canceled due to COVID-19, organizers are rolling out virtual versions to continue industry education and strengthen connections.

By Jeff Wells • April 28, 2020

Walmart partners with Nextdoor on shopping assistance program

The program connects Nextdoor members across the country with neighbors seeking or looking to provide shopping assistance for groceries and other essentials.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 24, 2020

Grocers add live events, online classes and other virtual content

Retailers like Jungle Jim's and Northgate Gonzales are arming shoppers with how-to videos, family activities and more to keep them entertained while stuck at home.

By Jessica Dumont • April 21, 2020

Walmart's grocery app downloads reach record highs

The retailer saw 460% growth in daily downloads, according to App Annie, while Amazon's growth by comparison was 20%. 

By Jessica Dumont • April 13, 2020

Grocers are wait-listing shoppers to cope with e-commerce demand

Amazon is putting new online grocery customers in a queue, while companies like ShopRite have installed virtual lines to manage site inflow.

By Jeff Wells • April 13, 2020

Instacart aims to add flexibility, speed up grocery delivery

One new feature lets shoppers opt for the first available delivery time while another lets them place orders up to two weeks ahead. 

By Jessica Dumont • April 09, 2020

Stop & Shop and Uber offer half-price rides for seniors

The discounted rides will be available to and from all Stop & Shop locations during shopping hours designated for those 60 and older. 

By Jessica Dumont • April 07, 2020

Hy-Vee offers free fitness videos for kids

The grocer's KidFit program is intended to lend parents a hand and add a little structure to their children's days.

By Jessica Dumont • March 30, 2020

Sponsored by Badger Technologies

So you've deployed robots, now what?

Retailers must step up efforts to use real-time data gathered by robots to improve store performance and customer experience.

By Phil Wright • March 23, 2020

'We're putting out fires': Companies adjust to online grocery surge

Retailers are adding servers, hiring fulfillment workers and trying to better sync inventory with their online platforms.

By Jeff Wells • March 19, 2020

Ocado temporarily stops taking orders

The British e-grocer has been overwhelmed by consumers trying to buy groceries as the coronavirus crisis spirals.

By Sam Silverstein • March 19, 2020

Fairway is taming lines with its skip-checkout app

The Northeast grocer has promoted the tool extensively, beefed up staffing and added servers to process orders. At one Manhattan store, around 30% of transactions are coming through the app.

By Jeff Wells , Jessica Dumont • March 17, 2020

Grocery apps see record downloads as shoppers move online

A new study finds a sharp increase in shoppers turning to services like Instacart, Shipt and Walmart Grocery as they stock up on everyday essentials.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 17, 2020

Surging demand overloads online grocers

Peapod's site and mobile app were intermittently available Thursday and Friday., and FreshDirect delivery slots have filled up as coronavirus anxiety grows.  

By Sam Silverstein • March 13, 2020

Amazon to sell cashierless tech to other retailers

The company's Just Walk Out technology utilizes computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning to eliminate checkout lines.  

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 10, 2020

Instacart launches doorstep delivery service

The company had been testing the feature for months and decided to roll it out nationwide after demand shot up over the past week.

By Jeff Wells • March 06, 2020

Deep Dive

Is Go Grocery a game changer for Amazon?

Experts agree the checkout-free store is a technical marvel, but they questioned its ability to promote regular shopping trips and attract interest to license its system to other retailers.

By Jeff Wells • Feb. 26, 2020

Sponsored by Avery Dennison

What if you could make frictionless shopping a reality?

RFID can help leverage a more convenient, frictionless experience, by ensuring products are in stock and making it easier for shoppers to access product information and check out faster.

By Julie Vargas, Avery Dennison Corporation • Feb. 26, 2020

Instacart aims to cultivate online community with new Shop Talk hub

Weaving in features from social platforms, such as badges and micro-rewards, the grocery delivery company is encouraging continued participation.

By Robert Williams • Feb. 21, 2020

The appeal of cashierless stores? Speed and short lines

Health and beauty could gain the most from adopting the concept, per a report from USA Technologies and PYMNTS.com.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 19, 2020

Sponsored by Badger Technologies

The time is now: Robot tests yield fast results

Don't fall victim to analysis-paralysis when it comes to testing in-store robots.

By Tim Rowland • Feb. 19, 2020

Kroger's self-serve ad platform addresses attribution challenge with sales data

By letting advertisers view online and in-store sales data on its self-serve platform, the retailer aims to bring more transparency into the ad buying process.

By Dianna Christie • Feb. 14, 2020