Modern Design Trends for Supermarket Scales
The deli counter experience may seem like it hasn’t changed much over the decades. Walk up to the counter, tell the employee what you want and how much, and they’ll measure it out on a scale and wrap it up for you to purchase.
But is there room for innovation and modern design in the deli counter experience? At Beyond Design, we see smart design potential in a range of niche experiences— including at the deli. Here are some of the modern product design trends we’ve seen when it comes to the centerpiece of the deli or meat counter experience— the supermarket scale
Reduced Germ Transfer Materials
Studies have recently shown that supermarkets are among the most germ-infested locations we regularly encounter in everyday life. With recent events worldwide, reducing the spread of germs and infection is clearly top of mind for many consumers.
Fortunately, forward-thinking designers are integrating health-conscious features into the design of modern supermarket scales. One of these features is the use of materials that reduce the transfer of germs.
There is a range of materials and coatings that can help limit the spread of bacteria. One of the most popular now being used in supermarket scales is copper and its alloys, such as bronze or brass. Copper and copper alloys help serve as antimicrobials because their chemical composition reduces the essential cell functions of viruses or bacteria that come into contact with them.
The use of materials like these in supermarket scale designs helps deli counters and grocers reassure customers that they won’t be carrying more than their meat home with home after a purchase.
Two-Way Communication
As two-way communication by way of forward-facing screens has become more and more popular in retail and point-of-sale applications worldwide, supermarket scale design has responded.
Many deli and supermarket counters integrate forward-facing screens and two-way communication into the experience, giving customers more visibility into the weight, pricing, and other information about their deli purchase.
As we’ll see in the next section, two-way communication also provides opportunities for retailers to increase sales and revenue at each interaction.
Upsell Opportunities & Integrated Advertising
When deli counters and supermarkets can integrate two-way displays for customers to interact with, they can deliver messaging and advertising directly to those customers in real-time as they interact.
Many supermarkets are capitalizing on this opportunity by integrating upsell messages and advertisements for other products at the supermarket or deli, giving them the chance to increase revenue significantly beyond whatever purchase a customer may be making at the time.
While supermarket and deli scales may seem like an incredibly niche area for design innovation, it’s these areas where retailers and other organizations can significantly improve their customer experiences and find opportunities to boost revenue.
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