We outline the market outlook for grocery microfulfillment in retail grocery — from investment trends, to leading companies, to recommendations for players in the space.
What is grocery microfulfillment?
Grocery microfulfillment centers (MFCs) are small fulfillment centers, often located in warehouses or within grocery stores themselves. These centers help grocery retailers quickly fulfill online grocery orders.
Many microfulfillment options use robotics to automate the process of picking up orders and preparing them for delivery. Currently, MFCs are most efficient with consumer-packaged goods, which tend to be relatively uniformly shaped and durable, making them easier for robots to handle.
As online grocery shopping continues to grow, MFCs are a feasible way to make the model more profitable and help retailers move fulfillment closer to consumers, especially in urban areas, without having to invest heavily in infrastructure or costly real estate.
Features & capabilities
Grocery microfulfillment technology provides grocery retailers with a number of capabilities, including the following:
- End-to-end e-Grocery Management Solutions for online grocery fulfillment
- Post-purchase tracking and messaging
- AI-powered, robotic transportation of storage items
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