The Kroger Co., a leading retail chain, has revealed the achievements made in its digital transformation initiatives, which are evidently boosting customer experience and driving business growth.
Kroger’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Yael Cosset is driving its spending on digital transformation to enhance customer experience at stores and online.
“We continue to invest in our digital transformation journey by enhancing our customer and associate experiences, recognizing that both are equally impactful to gaining loyalty and earning our customer”s next trip,” said Yael Cosset, Kroger CIO said at NRF 2023.
Kroger has invested significantly in customer facing digital innovations to provide greater value and savings. Yael Cosset cited examples such as making weekly circulars digital, so ads can be shopped from directly and digital improvements to make customers aware of available savings.
Kroger is using AI and GenAI across the business for improvements such as relevant creative marketing content, better search outcomes on digital platforms, greater personalization for customers, and easier solutions for associates.
According to Kroger’s latest financial report, digital sales soared to $12 billion in 2023, marking a notable increase of 12 percent from the previous year thanks to its massive investment in digital transformation. The company’s total sales for the same period amounted to $150 billion.
Notably, delivery sales of Kroger surged 24 percent, driven by the success of Kroger Boost and Customer Fulfillment Centers. Kroger also disclosed an 18 percent uptick in digitally engaged households last year, underscoring the result of its digital strategies. Moreover, Kroger’s gross margin for 2023 reached 22.2 percent of sales.
The US-based retail giant has attributed its digital advancements to the implementation of Restock Kroger, an initiative launched several years ago aimed at enhancing the omnichannel experience for its store customers.
“We are pleased with the progress we’ve made there, and we’ll continue to invest in digital as it remains an important part of our growth model,” Kroger’s Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said in its earnings report for 2023.
Key to Kroger’s success is its focus on personalization and loyalty programs, which have resulted in increased savings for customers through discounts, fuel rewards, and personalized offers. The improvement in the digital experience has played a pivotal role in driving customer engagement and loyalty.
Kroger has noted that customers who shop both in-store and online spend three to four times more compared to in-store only shoppers. Personalization is also driving digital engagement and remains one of the primary ways we deliver value for customers beyond low prices.
By offering personalized savings, Kroger’s customers get the right promotions at the right time. Moving promotions online allowed Kroger to take personalization to a new level, targeting customers more efficiently and increasing the breadth and depth of promotions. During the fourth quarter, this led to an 18 percent increase in digitally engaged households.
By making investment in data sciences and AI, Kroger aims to serve personalized offers to customers, thereby enhancing their overall shopping experience. In 2023, Kroger customers clipped 4 billion coupons, showcasing the effectiveness of its digital engagement strategies. This means that Kroger customers clipped 1 billion more coupons compared to 2022.
Looking ahead, Kroger anticipates another year of double-digit sales growth in 2024, with digital initiatives expected to play a significant role. The company aims to enhance its digital margins and bridge the gap with traditional brick-and-mortar operations over time.
Kroger’s commitment to innovation is further evidenced by its testing of initiatives such as customer pickup lockers, drive-thru lanes, and AI-enabled store routing technology. These efforts are geared towards improving digital margins and overall operating results.
In conclusion, Kroger’s relentless focus on digital transformation continues to yield positive results, driving customer growth and elevating the shopping experience for millions of consumers across the country.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
