'Shoppers want faster convenient delivery'

Consumers are seeking speed and convenience when shopping for groceries online, states new research.

According to a survey by end-to-end managed services provider Ensono, 54 per cent expect their groceries to be delivered within the same week and nine per cent expect to receive their groceries on the same day when they order online.

The survey of 2,000 UK shoppers revealed that younger generations are leading the way in the search for faster deliveries. Eighteen per cent of those aged 25 and under who buy groceries online expect them to be delivered on the same day of order, compared to just four percent of 56- to 65-year-olds.

Ensono’s research also found that younger generations were significantly more willing to try groceries on demand during the pandemic, with 13 per cent of 18-to 25-year-olds trying groceries on demand against just three per cent of 46-to 65-year-olds.

Overall, there has been about 81 per cent rise in UK consumers doing all or most of their food shopping online since the pandemic started, states the survey findings.

Consumers may be opting for online services but they still seek convenience and better services. About 28 per cent of consumers doing online shopping have not been able to choose the delivery slots they want while just under half (49 per cent) agree that there are fewer delivery slots compared to before the pandemic, according to Ensono.

Simon Ratcliffe, principal consultant at Ensono, said, “We are living through an unprecedented era for grocers. Whilst we have seen customers flock back to stores in recent months, the online shopping habits forged in the pandemic are here to stay as a critical part of modern retail.

“In this hybrid shopping era, customers are craving convenience and a service that delivers a seamless, reliable, and memorable experience between in-store and online.

“Grocers need a technology stack fit for the demands of the modern consumer. Cloud-native systems are crucial to address shoppers’ ongoing concerns about performance and availability.”