Speed and convenience have become the consumer norm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worldwide were introduced to instant access to goods and services via apps and digital platforms, the supply and demand considerably grew and splintered. The 'I need it now' culture shows no signs of slowing down, ye...

Aldi has launched its first checkout-free store, joining the likes of Amazon Fresh and Tesco GetGo. After finishing their shopping, people can simply leave without visiting a checkout – the shift to smart pay responds to shoppers’ desire for convenience by removing the friction and saving them time.

The Alibaba-owned Freshippo supermarkets are transforming the grocery shopping experience in China into one that’s truly seamless and omnichannel. In doing so, these stores are responding to the changing habits and expectations of post-pandemic Chinese grocery shoppers.

Queueing has always been a pain point for customers, but the pandemic added real health risks and longer lines to the mix. With expectations of hyper-convenience having been honed by digital immediacy, people are turning to virtual queuing technology to avoid the hassle of real-life lines.

Forget writing a list, running a quick errand, or even opening an app – where once online grocery shopping was the peak of convenience, Walmart’s voice-assisted collab with Apple and Google is upping the ante. As seamless shopping becomes the norm, the retailer is pivoting to meet shifting demand.