Grocery retailers are significantly increasing their technology investments as 2025 progresses, according to recent surveys and industry reporting.
A new study by Columbus Consulting of the National Grocers Association found that approximately 81 % of grocers reported technology spending increases from 2024 to 2025, following a 75 % increase from 2023 to 2024.
Amid escalating margin pressure, evolving shopper behaviour and digital‑first expectations, technology is becoming essential rather than optional in grocery retail. The Columbus Consulting study revealed that many operators are still working with legacy systems — for instance, 44 % of grocers reported their POS systems are more than ten years old.
The top priority areas for investment include:
- Upgrading point‑of‑sale (POS) and e‑commerce platforms.
- Enhancing merchandise planning, retail media and assortment optimisation.
- Expanding digital engagement (mobile apps, loyalty), analytics, and AI‑driven demand forecasting.
Another recent analysis by Capgemini emphasises how in‑store technology is evolving: electronic shelf labels (ESLs), robotics, AI‑enabled sensors and connected POS are being deployed to enhance efficiency, reduce shrink and integrate physical and digital experiences.
Why This Matters for Omnichannel Retail
For omnichannel leaders — including major actors based in Bentonville and the broader ecosystem around Walmart Inc. — these shifts underscore three strategic imperatives:
- Unified experience: Shoppers expect seamless transitions across online, mobile and in‑store touchpoints. Technology investments must support inventory visibility, centralised data and cross‑channel fulfilment.
- Operational resilience: With labour costs, supply‑chain strain and rising shopper expectations, grocery retailers need tech to optimise operations, from forecasting and fulfilment to labour scheduling and shelf‑management.
- Value & differentiation: Technology now underpins value creation — personalised offers, retail‑media monetization, faster & smarter fulfilment — giving grocers a competitive edge in a tight margin environment.
The grocery industry is rapidly shifting from incremental tech upgrades to transformational investment. Retailers that align technology strategy with evolving shopper behaviour, back‑end operations and omnichannel execution will be best positioned to win in 2025 and beyond.
