Agilence, Inc., a data and analytics reporting company, recently conducted a survey of decision-makers in the grocery industry about how COVID-19 has impacted their business, how they’ve managed this change, and what plans they have in place for a post-pandemic world.
Among the current practices that most retailers plan to continue long-term post-COVID are:
- Curbside pick-up (75%)
- Sneeze barriers at checkout (60%)
- Cleaning of carts per use (50%)
The practices many plan to continue for 3-6 months post-pandemic are:
- Associates fitted with PPE (62%)
- Six-foot separation at checkout (60%)
- Specialized hours for seniors (45%)
Interestingly, 87% of respondents said they think “safety & cleanliness” will be an important component of their marketing/brand message over the coming year.
Developing or enhancing proprietary online food delivery service was also identified as a priority by most respondents, and 93% said they plan to increase their spending in IT over the next year. Below is a graph indicating the types of technology initiatives in which grocers plan to invest:
