Grocery stores are integral to how we shop for produce and other food items today. In our conversations with grocers and grocery ISVs, there are a lot of questions around WIC that come up and the payment technology implications around. While we do talk a lot about retail and grocery-related topics on our blog, we wanted to explore WIC and help provide some information that can be helpful.
When it comes to terminal space at the merchant’s countertop, less is more. When it comes to the POS devices themselves, more is more. For ISVs and VARs, this creates an interesting challenge – how can you provide the most ongoing value to your merchant customers in a compact, modern way? The answer: Android.
There has been a tremendous amount of conversation recently around biometrics and its role in payments. The idea that we can pay for goods and services without having to carry a wallet or even a phone is certainly appealing, but what’s the current state of play? And where are we headed?
When talking about Android for payments, most people think of a smart POS using the Android Operating System (OS). The devices themselves are a central piece of the puzzle but there is so much more to the Android platform than meets the eye. Understanding the Android Platform and its many components is critical to getting the most out of Android for payments.
In 2020, retail shopping changed dramatically – from increased social distancing norms to a preference for buying online. Terms like buy online pick up in-store (BOPIS), Click & Collect, curbside pickup, etc. made more frequent appearances than before. More consumers are showing preference to shop at stores that offered these options. Especially in 2020, the onset of the pandemic drove strict social distancing guidelines in the U.S. and pushed shoppers to purchase essential items such as groceries, etc online. According to data from eMarketer, Click and Collect increased from a 5.8% share of all retail eCommerce sales to a 9.1% share. Also, total buyers went from 127.4 million people to 143.8 million people with a 12.9% growth rate as many consumers looked for new paths to purchase.
