E-commerce is booming, and wine is no exception. As a result, a new generation of wine consumers is discovering their favorite wines with the convenience of online shopping.
Technology innovations, like augmented reality, are revolutionizing the wine shopping experience, and drones and autonomous vehicles are streamlining delivery operations. Learn how you can capitalize on these trends to improve your winery’s online sales.
Technology
In recent years, winemaking has been influenced by technological advancements that are revolutionizing online shopping experiences. Consumers can now easily browse and purchase wines from the comfort of their homes, all while connecting with their favorite winemakers and interacting with other fellow enthusiasts.
The emergence of DTC sales has made it possible for wine producers to connect with customers directly, fostering loyalty and a deeper sense of community. Combined with modern-day innovations in shipping, delivery, and storage technology, DTC wine sales are rapidly increasing.
Online retailing allows consumers to access a broad selection of wines, from boutique to classic, and compare prices. This has led to a boom in Grapeful online wine sales as buyers compare options and seek out better values than what is available on the shelves of their local stores.
Ecommerce software platforms offer a wide range of tools for retailers to optimize their wine selling experience. From point of sale systems like KORONA to eCommerce integration plugins, leading options like Shopify and WooCommerce can enable outstanding wine eCommerce experiences with ease. There are also specialized wine technology platforms designed for direct-to-consumer sales, ensuring wineries can sell their products and services with confidence.
KORONA’s wine-specific Point of Sale system, KORONA POS, is built to handle complex wine inventory and order management for both physical and virtual stores. The POS is integrated with eCommerce systems, making it easy for wineries to sync their product catalog and orders between online and offline channels.
Artificial Intelligence
In recent years, e-commerce has become a key driver of wine consumption. Consumers have embraced this digital shift, seeking convenience and personalized recommendations when buy chardonnay online
In addition to enhancing the experience of online wine shopping, AI can also help to streamline logistics and boost sales for wineries. For example, AI-powered chatbots can provide instant and accurate answers to common questions and help shoppers find the best wines for their specific palates. Additionally, wineries can use artificial intelligence to create virtual vineyard tours that offer immersive experiences.
As consumers grow more health-conscious, they are seeking ways to reduce their alcohol intake without sacrificing taste or enjoyment. Alcohol-free wines that promise the sensory pleasure of wine without its intoxicating properties are a growing trend.
Likewise, the popularity of virtual wine tastings has soared in recent years. These events bring together wine lovers and experts to share their enthusiasm for wines while engaging with other wine enthusiasts through video conferencing tools.
In order to meet these evolving demands, wineries must stay on top of trends and consumer behavior data to better understand what their audience is looking for in their wine experiences. This data can be sourced from a number of sources, including industry reports and surveys. In addition, wineries should use a robust point of sale solution like KORONA that can seamlessly integrate with their eCommerce platforms and provide seamless purchasing experiences.
Augmented Reality
With a few simple tech innovations, wineries and vineyards can deliver a delightful online shopping experience for their consumers. For example, augmented reality allows users to see a virtual representation of the product before purchasing it. This technology is a great tool to help consumers make more informed decisions by showing the exact size of the bottle, label information, and other pertinent details. It also provides an immersive and interactive way to showcase the vineyard and winery experience.
Moreover, virtual wine tastings can be used as a marketing tool to promote wines and build brand awareness. They also allow consumers to connect with their favorite wine tourism destinations without traveling physically. According to a recent lab experiment, VR videos have positive effects on wine consumption and purchase behavior of young consumers (Kim, Lee, & Jung, 2020).
Similarly, Sephora’s “Virtual Artist” app allows shoppers to test lipstick, blush, foundation, eyeshadow, and other beauty products at home. This digital augmented reality experience is a powerful strategy that helps shoppers make more informed buying decisions and increases customer satisfaction. In fact, it is one of the most effective tools for boosting sales and brand loyalty.
Drones & Autonomous Vehicles
For wineries, drones can be a helpful tool for capturing high-quality images and videos that showcase the vineyard. The images can be used to promote the wine, on social media and in marketing materials. The drones can also be used to create virtual tours of the vineyards and cellars.
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales boomed during the COVID pandemic in 2020, with online wine orders growing more than 20% year-over-year. This surge is a testament to the popularity of wine and how well it lends itself to ecommerce. In addition, during the pandemic, wineries started hosting virtual tasting sessions and by-appointment wine tastings—trends that continued even after COVID restrictions eased.
Ecommerce is a profitable business for wineries that produce high-quality products, comply with state and federal regulations and do their research. However, before launching an online wine store or becoming a dropshipper, it’s important to consult with an experienced attorney. This will ensure that your wine complies with all state and international shipping laws and regulations.
To streamline ecommerce operations, many wineries use a commerce-as-a-service (CaaS) provider. These companies provide a suite of ecommerce tools, such as a shopping cart, payment gateway, product listing and order management, at a monthly or annual subscription fee. This is an attractive option for small businesses that don’t have the resources to build and maintain a custom ecommerce platform.
