The online grocery shopping market witnessed a dramatic change in 2020; covid-19 forced customers to shop online and now make it a habit. Initially, the grocery market was slow as customers were more interested in buying groceries in-store than online. However, nothing has changed. According to a survey, the food and beverage industry will be the fastest-growing market in 2020 across the US. But this acceleration in the online grocery market will favor those willing to adopt, make necessary changes, and hop onto future trends.

This article will guide you with a few trends that you'll witness in the online grocery market: 

Holding on to the driving force of GenZ and Millenials: In the digital world, younger natives are driving the growth of online market trends. The two most important factors that younger generations look at in a company that is now forming online grocery trends are Consistency and Personalization. According to a Google survey, nine out of 10 people, or 80%, love to buy from companies that offer personalization. Customers look for consistency in the company. How many order intuitive or online browsing approaches do companies have? How economically smart are food companies? Do they have good morals? Do they focus on customer experience or only want money? They want to engage with the company on their terms; customers switch sites when companies force unwanted content or products they don't want to see. 

Voice Recognition: More and Online shopping grocery store businesses are now adopting_ of voice recognition. Voice recognition makes orders easy and convenient. The rise of voice search has increased ecommerce opportunities; more and more customers are now using voice assistants for online shopping and organizing their life. According to a survey, 75% of US households will have small voice recognition speakers by 2025. Many ecommerce giants such as Google and Amazon are already ahead in the trend of online shopping. So, retailers are expected to adopt voice recognition for their platforms. 

Healthy Eating Habits on the Rise: Many small to the large online grocery stores are now prioritizing and offering separate categories to customers for healthy food items. Because after the covid-19 outbreak, consumers are more interested in healthy eating habits. According to the Agriculture department of the US, healthy eating habits are at an all-time high; more than 50% of consumers are now inclined towards healthy food products. Where many online grocery stores struggle to provide a separate section for healthy items, some are taking advantage of a growing trend of online shopping. 

Chatbots: Irrespective of ecommerce businesses, chatbots are playing an important role in online grocery market growth. Chatbots interact with shoppers like in-store helpers. Today consumers like to find products with a few clicks; when they don't find them, they either get frustrated and change buying decisions or switch to other sites. That's where chatbots step up and can save your potential customer. According to a survey, more than 80% of ecommerce businesses have chatbots, so if your online grocery store platform lacks chatbots, consider adding them into your strategy. 

Loyalty Programs: Grocers have long discussed loyalty program schemes beyond their basic points program online. Many ecommerce giants such as Walmart, Amazon prime have unveiled their premium loyalty programs for customers. These programs include special offers, free delivery, early access to deals, discounts for early shoppers, and special deals like free gifts for a certain amount of shopping. Such loyalty programs were common in retail ecommerce businesses. However, as the global online grocery market accelerated, the need to introduce loyalty programs has spiked. 2020 has tipped the scale for the need for loyalty programs. These loyalty programs will bring more customers and help you retain your existing customers. 

Omnichannel approach: Omnichannel was initially a much-needed concept for retail ecommerce platforms, but ever since Millennials went online for grocery shopping, omnichannel has become a growing trend of online shopping. Many customers make purchases over multiple channels and devices. According to a survey, online grocery shopping using a smartphone will exceed 33%. This new market trend online shopping is now starting to grow where many grocery retailers can outperform their rivals by adopting early. As time passes, the shoppers will get used to the omnichannel approach in grocery shopping, so businesses need to be flexible with ecommerce solutions to meet their demand. 

Influencer Marketing: Like any other ecommerce business, influencers are now becoming a crucial factor for the online grocery shopping market. Whether famous actors or athletes or chefs, influencers can attract many customers to your platform. Many online grocers are now starting to focus on influencer marketing to attract their customers with the story. For instance, an influencer with a well-established audience convinces them to make a meal in 20 minutes if they buy these items from you. These trends are providing equal opportunities to the small or large grocery stores to outperform their rivals and improve their business growth. 

Tailor-made Categories: Customers love personalization; having personalization on your grocery platform is one of the future trends in online shopping. Consumers are expecting grocers to have a separate spotlight that fits their lifestyle. They expect companies to follow a personalized approach with technological elements, constantly a new variety of products with amazing deals. Customized nutrition advice or recommending products according to consumer behavior will improve customer experience and boost your sales and credibility. A satisfied customer is more likely to recommend your brand than any other visitor. Therefore, retailers need to be flexible with their customers depending on their behavior and buying habits. 

Meal Kits: Pandemic surged home-cooked meals, but with more people getting vaccinations and restaurants being open, the demand for customers will be high, so retailers will now focus on providing meal kits to their customers for breakfast and dinner. Many grocery retailers are adding a special category to retain their customers online, which might fuel their interest in the coming future. 

Final Thoughts: Online grocery store market has witnessed major growth last, which compelled consumers to buy. Many consumers have retained their habit of buying groceries online, but as the world is moving to retain customers and bring growth, online grocery store platforms need to adopt trends and make changes. 

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