Why Your Grocery Store Needs to Accept Mobile Wallets

In the age when brick-and-mortar retailers are losing the battle to the likes of Amazon, grocery stores are successfully standing up to the challenge. Part of the reason is because they’re implementing their own e-commerce tactics, but it’s also because there’s something about being able to choose your own fruit and vegetables that makes the in-store experience so unique.

However, nobody likes to end their shopping trip by standing in a long line or worse, dealing with a slow or unsecured transaction process. Here’s how accepting mobile wallets can help your grocery store avoid this:

Faster Checkouts

When merchants began accepting EMV chip cards, the increased time it took to process them became a major source of frustration. And though many have gotten used to the new procedure (plus there’s now a faster way to make EMV payments with Quick Chip technology), the desire for greater convenience hasn’t gone away.

Cue the mobile wallet. Since it’s already connected to the customer’s credit or debit card, it eliminates the need for them to carry the actual plastic in their wallet. It also takes paper receipts out of equation, since payment apps can email or text them it instead. Fewer friction points in the transaction means that the line keeps moving and the customers stay happy.

Added Security

It's a common misconception that mobile wallets are less secure than other payment methods. Yes, smartphones and tablets can be lost or stolen, just like any other device. But, unlike cards or cash, criminals have a much harder time using them to make fraudulent payments.

This is because most mobile wallets not only require a two-step authentication process, but also keep payment data safe via tokenization and encryption. The former enciphers sensitive data while it’s stored on the device, while the latter ensures that it remains protected when transferred during the actual transaction.

Customer Experience

When focusing on customer experience, grocery stores need to pay attention to not just how they attract potential buyers but also what they do to turn them into repeat customers. And considering that nearly half of shoppers are looking for more mobile services, there’s a lot of room for grocery stores to improve. 

From scanning products to delivering coupons directly to the customer’s smartphone, mobile payments can effectively transform the customer experience. Is your grocery store up to the challenge? Discover which mobile solution is right for you!