As the future of the grocery industry unfolds, it has become clear that grocery ecommerce will play a significant role. In the next two years, online grocery is set to become the single largest-selling ecommerce category in the US, accounting for 19% of all sales.
This is why grocery stores and supermarkets must adapt to ecommerce to remain relevant. Business owners must choose the right technology stack to bring their grocery stores online. In 2024, this involves the right cloud-based solutions for grocery ecommerce.
What are cloud-based solutions in grocery ecommerce?
Online grocery isn’t the sole domain of large industry players like Walmart and Kroger. Even small- and mid-sized grocery stores and supermarkets can benefit from offering their customers an omnichannel experience that blends physical retail and grocery ecommerce.
Store owners can offer customers a seamless online grocery shopping experience thanks to cloud-based solutions and software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms.
These cutting-edge tools help owners set up an online grocery store even if they don’t have expertise in building an ecommerce website.
8 key benefits of cloud-based solutions for online grocery stores
This article is about how adopting a cloud-based SaaS solution can help improve your online grocery store’s performance.
From administrative concerns like inventory management to customer-facing aspects like service quality, cloud-based solutions are valuable for any grocery ecommerce store.
Here are the various ways that cloud-based solutions add value to your online grocery store:
1. Scalability and flexibility
Whether you run an independent corner store or a supermarket chain with several locations, cloud-based solutions can be effectively applied regardless of your business's scale.
Some dedicated grocery ecommerce platforms operate on a SaaS model, like Wave Grocery, that offers tailored subscriptions where clients only pay for what they use.
Users can add more services and features when needed as their businesses grow. Because grocery stores deal with seasonal and periodic fluctuations in demand and traffic, this pay-as-you-go aspect of cloud-based solutions allows for dynamic resource allocation.
2. Cost efficiency
Most grocery stores don’t have the equipment or expertise to build and maintain an ecommerce store from scratch. It takes a dedicated IT staff, on-premise servers, and other costly hardware to set up and operate an in-house online grocery solution.
These are assets that most small- and medium-sized businesses simply do not have.
Fortunately, cloud-based solutions offer store owners all the functionality of an in-house platform without the need to set it up themselves.
Wave Grocery even provides training sessions for store employees to learn how to use the platform once it is set up.
3. Enhanced security
If not built correctly, an in-house ecommerce platform leaves the business and its customers vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Since online grocery stores handle sensitive payment information, it’s best not to take any risks with cybersecurity when setting up an online store.
Opting for a third-party, cloud-based grocery ecommerce solution is a reliable way to ensure the security of your platform.
They meet the mandated standards and regulations governing data privacy and online security protocols.
These SaaS solutions also help keep your website’s security up-to-date since they release regular updates.
4. Improved collaboration and accessibility
One advantage of cloud-based solutions for grocery businesses is that you don’t have to be physically present at the store to carry out essential tasks.
From conducting inventory management to tracking sales data or adjusting pricing, they can be done remotely by anyone with an internet connection and access to the cloud platform.
This level of remote access is even more critical for grocery businesses that operate in multiple locations.
Cloud-based servers facilitate real-time updates and transparent information-sharing among employees and managers.
5. Enhanced customer experience
Even your customers experience the benefits of cloud-based solutions for your online grocery store. Cloud servers perform consistently, leading to faster load times and a smoother shopping experience for all customers.
Modern cloud platforms also utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to perform advanced analytics on store data.
Grocery stores can use these insights to create a more personalized shopping experience, offering tailored recommendations and exclusive offers.
6. Disaster recovery and business continuity
Every brick-and-mortar grocery store owner will be familiar with the annoyance of an internet outage shutting down their point of sale (POS) system.
Sometimes, important data can be lost due to technical glitches or human error. However, a cloud-based solution for grocery ecommerce eliminates the risk of your business being disrupted by internet outages or data loss.
Cloud-based platforms can continue operating offline even without a connection. Once the internet connection is restored, they automatically sync the new data. Thanks to cloud-based solutions, you can keep your store’s sales ticking with minimal downtime.
7. Essential integrations
Ideally, the grocery ecommerce platform you choose will smoothly integrate with your existing customer relationship management (CRM) platform or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
You should also ensure it integrates with your chosen payment gateway to give customers a streamlined, hassle-free checkout experience.
Cloud-based platforms come with built-in integrations, so store owners don’t need to worry about whether it is compatible with their existing technology stack.
8. Sustainability
Modern consumers have a clear preference for brands that are committed to green practices. As an online grocery store, implementing cloud-based solutions is just one example of how your business can commit to sustainability.
Running on-premise servers is an energy-intensive, resource-draining operation. Migrating to cloud servers is much more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Using cloud-based solutions, along with recyclable packing materials, reducing spoilage, and optimizing inventory, is one way to reduce your online grocery store’s carbon footprint.
Conclusion
A modern grocery business needs SaaS platforms to succeed in the ecommerce market. Cloud-based solutions like Wave Grocery can provide advantages in various key areas for store owners, leading to greater efficiency, high levels of customer satisfaction, and more online grocery sales.
