DIGITAL DRINKS TECHNOLOGY AND ALCOHOL INDUSTRY
BY JAMIE STAFFORD
Technology shapes the present and the future , creating an ever-evolving landscape of change . As we all turn to our devices that keep us connected in an increasingly hectic world , business continues to advance alongside us . This is no different for the beverage alcohol industry . But trends come and go , certainly at an accelerated rate these days , and only time will tell which will become mainstays .
Which trends can you trust ? We at Beverage Dynamics know that retailers are eager to try out the newest advancements . So we spoke to some of the galvanizing forces behind all these advancements to see how the industry is changing , and what the future for beverage alcohol retail technology may hold .
EMERGING TRENDS The move to mobile has crossed all industry lines . Thirstie is one company we spoke to that is taking full advantage of this migration .
“ Consumers are central to driving trends within tech ,” says Devaraj Southworth , CEO and cofounder of Thirstie . “ Now , on the heels of a twoand-a-half-year pandemic , they are more mobile than ever . With that , consumers are purchasing almost everything ‘ on the go ’ through their mobile devices . This has fueled the need for an improved and optimized checkout flow .”
While the move towards mobile has been years in the making , like many other modern trends , it has been hypercharged by the Covid-19 crisis .
“ The pandemic accelerated the modernization of a historically old-school , sleepy industry , resulting in retailers more willing to adopt new technologies to help them solve age-old retail problems ,” says Cort Ouzts , president of POS Nation , a company dedicated to point-of-sales solutions for small businesses . “ One trend we ’ ve seen is an increasing desire for retail owners to connect with their customers . The small retailers that survived the pandemic were able to effectively communicate with their customers and humanize their business ."
" It ’ s the exact same mentality as the shop local movement that we ’ ve seen for the past several years ," Ouzts adds . " Retailers are embracing technology and new mediums to expand their presence and voice .”
Technology has facilitated the rise of mobile purchasing , with even sales at bars and restaurants now utilizing digitization .
“ Digital payment has become a baseline expectation in hospitality ,” says Nancy Trigg , president of the POS provider Arryved . “ Whether via QR codes , a mobile payment app or a virtual wallet like Apple Pay , today ’ s guests expect their on-premise experience to be tech-enabled . Bonus if they can order to their table , bar seat or lounge area via their own devices . Folks who didn ' t sell online or to-go now do , and as some businesses closed their doors , others seized the opportunity to purchase turnkey businesses to expand .”
Digital payment doesn ’ t just apply to the customer experience . As B2B purchasing grows within the industry , new digital solutions are cropping up to address potential pitfalls .
Igor Ostrovsky founder and CEO of Koverly , highlights some of the trends he ’ s seen . “ B2B commerce for beverage alcohol has
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