Grocery And Convenience Store IT News For VARs — July 11, 2014
In the news, IBM shares its vision of the grocery store of the future and a study shows online grocery shopping could hurt supermarkets, with online consumers making less impulse buys. Also, recent retail data breaches are changing shoppers’ perceptions of store transactions.
IBM Envisions The Grocery Store Of The Future
The Street reports IBM is encouraging grocery stores to advance their use of technology. Bill Gillispie, IBM’s retail consulting team leader for grocery, tells The Street grocery stores of the future will be connected 24/7 from a mobile perspective, recognize shoppers as they enter the store, offer personalized promotions as customers move through the store, provide order and delivery of out-of-stock items, and offer online “shopping lists.” Also, data from the checkout will help stores make fact-based decisions.
Is Online Grocery Shopping Hurting Supermarkets?
A Consumer Affairs article considers whether online grocery shopping is having a detrimental effect to brick-and-mortar stores. The article points out although most online grocers market themselves more as delivery services, some traditional grocery stores are competing by offering delivery. Reporter Mark Huffman writes, “In the end, it appears brick and mortar supermarkets are embracing online shopping instead of fighting it.” He adds, however, research shows this could be detrimental. Consumers who order online buy fewer items — there is no opportunity for impulse buys.
Retail Breaches Are Changing Consumer Perceptions
Integrated Solutions For Retailers reports two studies both concluded customers view shopping differently after recent high-profile retail data breaches. The first study, National Consumer League’s Data Insecurity Report, found that consumers are increasingly blaming retailers for the compromise of their credit card data and are responding by changing the stores they patronize. The second study, Security Matters: Americans on EMV Chip Cards, indicates that nearly two thirds of Americans are more likely to pay in cash after hearing about security breaches at large retailers, with younger respondents being much more likely to play in cash than their older counterparts.
Biometrics Emerging In Payment Solutions
Following PayPal’s introduction of fingerprint authentication for payment on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Samsung Tab S, Business Solutions looks at where biometrics in payment might go next. Groupement des Cartes Bancaires CB, the French bank card association that pioneered the use of chip cards for payments in the 1980s and Visa Europe both show interest in the technology.
Grocery IT Talking Points
In a statement this week, Isis CEO Michael Abbott announced the company would begin the process to rebrand, including changing the name of its mobile wallet. He says, “Recently, we have observed with growing concern a militant group whose name, when translated into English, is Islamic State of Iraq and Syria — often referenced by the acronym ISIS … However coincidental, we have no interest in sharing a name with a group whose name has become synonymous with violence and our hearts go out to those who are suffering. As a company, we have made the decision to rebrand.”
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Grocery and Convenience Store Tech Center.