Texas’ signature grocery store, H-E-B is testing out a modern way for customers to shop through a pilot program that launched Monday.
But it’s only at one of their Dallas locations.
The pilot program allows customers to check out using tap-to-pay with a physical card or digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
According to a study by Forbes, 72% of U.S. respondents said they would consider using digital wallets as their primary form of payment for shopping.
What caused this increase in the desire for digital wallets as a form of payment? Although other factors include convenience and safety, the most significant contributor may have been the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digital payment methods offer a contactless experience for consumers who needed to make trips to public spaces with an influx of crowds, including grocery stores, gas stations, and malls.
For some consumers, a store without tap-to-pay is already a dealbreaker when it comes to choosing where to make a purchase.
According to Visa’s Back to Business Study conducted in 2020, which surveyed small business owners and consumers in eight countries, 48% said they would not shop at a store only offering payment methods requiring contact with a cashier or shared machine such as a card reader.
A spokesperson for H-E-B noted that although they do not have any other plans to share regarding tap-to-pay, they are “always exploring a broad range of technologies to enhance how our customers shop and pay for products.”
