Technological advancements have pushed food retailers to continuously innovate to improve their overall store operation and provide an enhanced customer experience. With the ever-changing climate and customer behavior in the food retail landscape, technology has been a primary driving force for food retailers to adapt to the developing industry’s needs. As we enter this exciting new year 2023, the use of technology in retail stores is poised to define which grocers will stay afloat versus those who remain on the sidelines. To keep up with the times, food retailers should adopt innovative tools built specifically to achieve business objectives. Here are some technological tools food retailers should strongly consider adopting in the new year to stay ahead of the competition: Self-Service Kiosks Self-service kiosks, like self-ordering and self-checkout lanes, are still expected to grow in usage in the coming new year. These tools have proven vital to customers and retailers alike. They have proven their value to retailers in reducing labor costs, while at the same time enhancing the customer shopping experience. Putting up self-service kiosks reduces traditional bottlenecks at in-store, and checkout lanes and takes some pressure off store staff by reducing direct support needs. Smart Shopping Carts Aiming to accelerate the shopping process and offer more convenience for customers, smart grocery carts are changing how people shop in stores. Smart carts track shoppers’ items by using sensors and special AI (artificial intelligence) technology to allow customers to easily scan and pay for items directly with the smart cart, eliminating the need to join the line at checkout counters. Robotics Autonomous machines, like shelf-scanning robots and robot cleaners, are hitting grocery stores and improving operations. These robots have proven very helpful in performing easy and repetitive tasks. These machines free up the time of store associates, which can then be redirected to direct, customer-facing tasks. Also, when it comes to e-commerce order fulfillment, adopting robots in fulfillment centers is very helpful in ensuring that customer orders are sorted, packed, and delivered quickly and accurately. Elevated Mobile Apps Gone are the days when store apps are only used to showcase promotions and product offerings. With continuous innovation, store apps are now used as a tool for food retailers to enhance their customers’ shopping journeys. Store apps collect customer data, allowing them to personalize their shopping experience. Through store apps, retailers can recommend products to customers based on their specific profiles and offer special discounts based on their shopping patterns. Embracing technology in 2023 is crucial for every food retailer, especially those who rely on automation to expedite their operations. These technological tools will play larger roles in grocery stores and supermarkets as people continue to become more adept and open to using machinery and gadgets. When used right, these tools can do wonders for retailers’ bottom lines and unlock opportunities for further business growth.