How a Digital Transformation Can Empower Your Local Store

Online grocery sales hit an all-time high this year, reaching a total of $9.1 billion. That’s a staggering number, especially when total sales barely reached $1 billion in 2019. 

It’s clear that ecommerce will be a vital part of the grocery market in the future, but local businesses are at a digital disadvantage when compared to giants of the industry like Amazon, Walmart, and Target; they often lack the tools and technology to compete in the digital space. 

Thankfully, there is a new generation of ecommerce services and platforms like ours that serve to help small grocers get online and stay competitive in the digital space.

Why You Need a Digital Store

The habits and preferences of modern customers are not the same as they were 20 or even 10 years ago. A recent IBM study found that hybrid shopping is the main buying method for 27% of all consumers and 36% of Gen Z. Today’s consumers want flexibility and the ability to choose how they want to shop.

As a grocer, you need to meet those demands if you want to be successful in the modern landscape. If you don’t offer consumers the convenience and options they want, they will go somewhere that does. While that may sound impossible given the robust offerings from big competitors, independent grocers actually have an advantage. 

Modern consumers also increasingly prefer businesses whose values they align with. Local and regional businesses that support their communities can use this to their advantage, as large companies simply don’t have the local, grassroots support that independent stores do. 

Still, how do you overcome the initial hurdle of setting up an ecommerce store? Well, there are now services like Local Express that make it easier than ever to set up, manage, and run your own digital store. We will help you set up the store, and an app, manage inventory, and more. We can even help when it comes to omnichannel options such as in-store kiosks or in-store pickup. 

With services like these, you can quickly and efficiently set up a robust ecommerce platform that enables you to meet the needs of your customers. We can provide the help you need to take your business into the future and compete in the modern market. 

The Future of Independent Grocers

The biggest strengths of local and regional grocers are their connection to their communities and their uniqueness. Though they may be beaten when it comes to resources and technology, they have a big lead when it comes to community, values, and their connection to their customers.

By utilizing tools like Local Express, independent grocers can compete in the ecommerce space while also using their deep connections to their communities to ultimately drive sales and succeed in an increasingly digital future. 

Contact our experts today!