This Is The Grocery App That's Beating Amazon

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, ordering groceries online has become more popular than ever, and some retailers are reaping the benefits. App Annie, a company that tracks mobile marketing trends, claims that there were 106 million downloads globally of all shopping apps during the week of March 29th, 2020 to April 4th, 2020. They state that this high download volume proved particularly well for retail chain Walmart, which saw a surge of growth for their app Walmart Grocery, pushing it to the number one spot for all shopping apps and outperforming Amazon's app by 20 percent. 

Grocery Dive states that this represents an average 460 percent growth in daily downloads for Walmart Grocery when compared to its January 2020 numbers. According to a Fox Business report, Walmart had announced in early March its plans to combine its multiple apps into one, eliminating the grocery-specific Walmart Grocery that is currently performing so well. This updated app would allow customers to purchase groceries and other items for pick up or delivery all in one order, versus splitting them up depending on which department they are from, as is the current practice.

Delish gives a run-down on what you need to know before placing an order using the Walmart Grocery app. They recommend you start by choosing a pickup or delivery slot, as they tend to fill up quickly due to demand and vary in availability by location. Doing this early in the morning will guarantee the most options, but continue to check back in throughout the day if there isn't a time available that works for your schedule. 

Pickup is free, but you have to show up for your scheduled time slot at the Walmart you selected. There is a delivery fee, which Delish claims is around $8 for each order, or you can opt into Delivery Unlimited, which costs $12.95 a month, or $98 per year. This subscription service also allows you to track your delivery and select contactless drop-offs, where the driver will simply leave your package at your door.

The app also offers you a short tutorial with tips on how to maximize the app's productivity and ensure your experience is quick and efficient. If you like, you can enable substitutions, which allow the staff member filling your order to swap out-of-stock items for similar ones. There is a $30 order minimum for delivery, and the app does not allow you to use any coupons other than an in-app refer-a-friend promotion and the standard discount applied if you pay using a Walmart credit card.