Millennials ranked as top consumers of digital grocery shopping service, according to InstaShop, the UAE’s largest online grocery delivery app, with 78% of digital grocery shoppers in the UAE representing 25 to 35 age group. According to the findings, based on Instashop’s data analysis, while it may seem that digital grocery deliveries are used mostly by married couples and families as they have less dispensable time to physically visit a store, single individuals are increasingly using digital technology for day-to-day grocery needs, with more or less an equal distribution between the two segments.

The most consumed and high order items among these demographics are fruits and vegetables, followed by water, dairy and eggs. In terms of booking, 30% of the consumers prefer to place their order between 6 PM – 9 PM.

John Tsioris, CEO at Instashop, said, “The UAE, and the MENA region, have a smart youth population who are in-tune with the latest mobile technologies and applications, and hence are always on the lookout for apps that not only save time but also provide the ease of payment. Traditional old-school supermarkets and groceries have been missing out on this recent new consumer base either by only having a physical store presence or by not being able to successfully be present online due to the high investments required and the complex technologies and self-learning digital infrastructure.”

With 62% of UAE’s population shopping online, Instashop has made sure the needs of this growing sector are met by investing in new technologies that use machine learning and other AI techniques. Supermarket chains such as Zoom, Al Maya, Aswaaq, as well as small groceries have partnered with InstaShop and other platforms allowing these stores to smoothly transition into the digital realm, and therefore allow consumers easily and quickly to access their groceries and place an order.

“UAE has one of the most advanced consumers of mobile technologies. Physical shops that plan to add an online store on mobile accessible need to invest heavily on data science departments to make sure artificial intelligence continuously customizes and provides a better experience for the end-user,” Tsioris added. New technologies are always on the rise and adapting to them in a timely manner can be challenging for supermarkets. Some of these technologies can be very costly and yet a new trend always emerges in the next 6-12 months that need to be considered to remain relevant.