Dive Brief:
- Grocers are using in-store kiosks in more ways than ever before, according to Progressive Grocer.
- Popular kiosk options include Redbox machines, Coinstar coin exchanges, telemedicine kiosk DocNow, coffee kiosks and kiosks that print coupons for shoppers.
- Supermarket executives told Progressive Grocer these machines further enhance customers' experience along their shopping journey and drive incremental purchases.
Dive Insight:
As shoppers become increasingly dependent on digital technology, brick-and-mortar and e-commerce grocery experiences are beginning to converge. A few years ago, most supermarkets would only have vending machines and Coinstars in their stores, but today's grocers are capitalizing on evolving kiosk technology.
A study from Carbonview Research division of EnsembleIQ last November found that 47% of retailers have embraced in-store kiosks as a digital marketing strategy. Analysts expect the segment to continue to rise in 2017 as technology advances.
Some stores have kiosks that print coupons, some that offer nutritional information and provide recipe ideas, while more advanced kiosks offer coffee, count money and even help with shopping. Others provide promotional information, give help with loyalty programs, encourage deli or quick-service ordering, or feature other point of service applications.
Whole Foods’ Bryant Park location in New York, for instance, has kiosks that deliver high-demand prepared foods more quickly.
It may be wise for retailers to leverage high-tech kiosks as a way to lure shoppers away from competing stores and e-tailers. Grocers should study their shopper base to see which kiosks perform best with their clientele, and should strategically position them in their store layouts to ensure optimum shopper convenience.