What A Digital Experience Platform Can Do For Regional And Independent Grocers

For grocery retailers in today's digital-first environment, adopting a digital experience platform is essential to remaining competitive and customer-focused.

A digital experience platform is a unified technology solution designed to manage, optimize, and personalize customer interactions across every digital touchpoint. It brings together customer data, content management, commerce functionality, streamlined fulfillment, and analytics to help retailers deliver cohesive and meaningful experiences throughout the buyer's journey.

At the heart of every successful digital experience platform is the ability to unify data and turn insights into actions. By combining the strengths of a customer data platform, real-time personalization engines, and omnichannel commerce tools, retailers can elevate every interaction—from targeted promotions to relevant product recommendations. These platforms are designed to understand the entire customer lifecycle, unlocking opportunities to enhance retention, increase average order value, and encourage long-term loyalty.

For the grocery sector in particular, the need is even more specialized.

A Digital Experience Platform for Grocery is purpose-built to address the unique operational challenges and customer expectations in food retail. From personalized weekly offers to intelligent order management, it connects in-store and online journeys through a centralized system that improves engagement and reduces cost-to-serve. This category-specific approach ensures grocery retailers aren’t adapting to generic tools. Instead, they’re deploying solutions designed specifically for their business model.

Enter DXPro by Mercatus. This is a digital experience platform custom built for grocery that unifies eCommerce, customer engagement, and predictive analytics into one scalable, grocery-optimized system.

Built as both a Digital Experience Platform for Grocery and a Customer Data Platform for Grocery, DXPro empowers regional grocers to take full control of their digital strategy, from shopper engagement to fulfillment execution.

It’s not just software—it’s an end-to-end operating system for grocery success.

DXPro: A Unified Platform for Data, Engagement & Commerce

DXPro is a purpose-built digital experience platform that brings together everything a modern grocer needs to grow revenue, deepen customer relationships, and operate efficiently.

It merges insights, engagement, and commerce into one connected system. This approach eliminates silos and equips grocery retailers with real-time control over the entire customer journey.

By integrating these three core capabilities—customer data platform, digital engagement engine, and grocery-focused commerce—DXPro delivers measurable value in one streamlined solution. Retailers no longer need separate tools for insights, outreach, and order management. Everything happens inside a single, flexible digital experience platform built for food retail.

Unified Customer Data Platform

DXPro also functions as a fully integrated customer data platform. It collects, structures, and activates shopper data from every channel. This drives smarter, more contextual engagement and decision-making.

• Centralized Intelligence: Aggregate online, in-store, mobile, and historical transaction data.

• Real-Time Shopper Profiles: Update profiles dynamically based on behavior and intent signals.

• Predictive Analytics: Identify churn risk, basket size trends, and timing for targeted campaigns.

With an embedded customer data platform for groceries, grocers can shift from reactive to predictive strategies. Every interaction is informed by current shopper behavior and past purchase cycles.

Personalized Digital Engagement

DXPro’s engagement engine makes shopper interactions precise and impactful. It uses embedded intelligence to serve relevant content, offers, and promotions based on actual customer data.

• Audience Segmentation: Group shoppers based on household, category preference, or purchase timing.

• Context-Based Offers: Present deals relevant to real-time cart behavior or reorder windows.

• Brand Control: Maintain full ownership of channels, messaging, and shopper relationships.

Personalization is based on the customer data that’s been collected, consolidated, and used to inform every interaction within the digital experience platform, ensuring each message aligns with user behavior.

Grocery-Specific eCommerce and Fulfillment

Unlike generic eCommerce systems, DXPro’s commerce engine is purpose-built for the grocery sector. It accounts for order complexity, real-time inventory, and store-level variability.

• Flexible Checkout Options: Accept multiple payment types, including government programs.

• Smart Fulfillment Tools: Enable accurate substitutions, real-time slotting, and multi-location routing.

• Native Mobile and Web: Responsive storefronts and iOS/Android apps support seamless shopping across devices.

This grocery-aware design makes DXPro the ideal Digital Experience Platform for Grocery. It meets operational demands without sacrificing shopper convenience or profitability.

Why Choose a Digital Experience Platform for Grocery?

A digital experience platform built for grocery handles unique challenges that general retail systems cannot address. Grocery shopping involves real-time substitutions, varied basket structures, perishable goods, and fulfillment across multiple departments. Grocers also need tools to support loyalty programs, government-compliant payments, and fluctuating stock availability—often across dozens of store locations.

Grocery is not general retail. Choosing a dedicated digital experience platform like DXPro ensures that every part of your digital operation—from customer data to final delivery—is tuned to the grocery model. It helps grocers compete more effectively and grow on their terms.

Addressing Grocery-Specific Operational Complexities

Traditional commerce platforms aren’t designed to manage the complexity of food retail. DXPro simplifies these demands with tools that align with how grocers operate and how shoppers behave.

• Substitution Management: Offers real-time logic for replacing out-of-stock items with acceptable alternatives.

• Mixed Basket Handling: Manages combinations of prepared meals, perishables, and center-store goods in a single cart.

• Fulfillment Coordination: Streamlines pick, pack, and delivery across departments like deli, bakery, and produce.

These features ensure that customers receive accurate orders while grocers avoid inefficiencies and negative customer experiences that hurt profitability.

Store-Level Personalization and Loyalty

Grocery customers expect relevant promotions, store-based pricing, and personalized experiences. DXPro meets these expectations with embedded intelligence and store-level logic.

• Localized Offers: Serve personalized pricing and deals based on store inventory and shopper behavior.

• Loyalty Integration: Reward returning customers through points, incentives, or exclusive digital coupons.

• Segmentation by Shopping Habits: Build engagement using frequency, timing, or preferred product categories.

This approach supports both acquisition and retention strategies, which are essential in a low-margin grocery model.

Mobile and Web Shopping with SNAP/EBT Compliance

Today’s shoppers expect flexibility in how they order groceries and pay for them. DXPro supports both mobile and desktop experiences while meeting federal payment standards.

• Responsive Storefront: Delivers a consistent shopping experience across devices and screen sizes.

• Native Mobile Apps: Offer iOS and Android apps that reflect the full web experience with added convenience.

• SNAP/EBT Support: Allows customers to pay using government benefits, in compliance with regulatory requirements.

For independent and regional grocers, these features make DXPro a purpose-built Digital Experience Platform for Grocery that’s ready for real-world use cases.

Drive Growth with Predictive Intelligence and Personalization

Modern grocery operations demand data that leads to action. AisleOne, the intelligence engine within DXPro, functions as a Customer Data Platform for Grocery that fuels precision engagement. By converting behavioral insights into smart marketing moves, grocers can deepen loyalty and drive repeat purchases.

Together, these capabilities position AisleOne, the customer data platform that powers personalization, as a core driver of DXPro’s value as a digital experience platform. It brings together the intelligence, automation, and personalization needed for grocery retailers to compete and grow profitably.

Behavior-Based Product Recommendations

Personalized product suggestions help shoppers find what they need faster and inspire add-ons they didn’t expect. AisleOne analyzes browsing and purchase data to create dynamic recommendations that reflect personal habits. This leads to larger basket sizes and better customer satisfaction.

• Personalized Suggestions: Recommend products based on past purchases, seasonality, and cart behavior.

• Cross-Sell Opportunities: Introduce related items at checkout or via email, improving basket size.

These recommendations help retailers deliver more relevant experiences while increasing revenue per visit.

Search Optimization Using Intent Signals

AisleOne improves product discoverability by adapting search results to the customer’s intent. Instead of showing generic matches, it uses context, history, and local data to elevate what each shopper is most likely to buy. The result is more efficient browsing and higher conversion rates.

• Intent-Driven Results: Ranks products by likelihood to purchase, not just keyword match.

• Context Awareness: Considers local availability, dietary filters, and purchase history in ranking.

Search becomes a sales tool rather than a barrier, speeding up transactions and guiding smarter choices.

Predicting Churn and Purchase Cycles

Grocery shoppers have regular habits.

AisleOne analyzes these patterns to anticipate when someone is likely to buy again—or stop buying altogether. This lets retailers send timely messages, offers, or reminders to maintain frequency and prevent attrition.

• Churn Detection: Identifies customers likely to lapse based on buying trends and engagement gaps.

• Reorder Timing: Triggers reminders or offers based on predicted replenishment needs.

By acting early, retailers can maintain customer lifetime value and reduce defection rates.

AI-Enhanced Offer Delivery

Promotions perform better when they’re relevant, timely, and context-aware.

DXPro uses real-time data and smart automation to deliver offers at the ideal moment in the customer journey. It also learns from performance to continually improve campaign targeting.

• Contextual Offers: Serve deals based on weather, location, time of day, and stock levels.

• A/B Testing: Test message types and placements to refine conversion performance.

This turns every campaign into a chance to increase sales with less waste and better targeting.

Seamless Digital Engagement That Builds Loyalty

Engagement means more than just reaching customers—it’s about making every interaction relevant.

DXPro enables seamless, omnichannel engagement built on full first-party data ownership and smart audience targeting. This supports long-term loyalty while preserving control over brand experience.

Brand Control and First-Party Data Ownership

Retailers often lose visibility and influence when they hand off engagement to third-party apps or marketplaces.

With DXPro, you keep direct access to customer relationships, data, and channels. This means you’re building value into your business—not someone else’s.

• Direct Customer Relationship: Communicate through owned channels like SMS, email, and apps.

• No Data Leakage: Your customer data stays with you—never sold or shared externally.

• Brand Integrity: All digital touchpoints reflect your visual identity and voice.

Maintaining full control strengthens brand equity and avoids dependency on outside platforms.

Precise Audience Targeting and Segmented Offers

DXPro makes it easy to act on what you know. Use built-in segmentation tools to create audience groups based on purchase behavior, location, dietary preferences, or loyalty tier. Then send offers that feel handpicked—not broadcasted.

• Behavioral Segmentation: Group users by categories like lapsed buyers, frequent shoppers, or new users.

• Geo-Targeted Offers: Deliver promotions based on store-level inventory and local preferences.

• Responsive Campaigns: Change offers in real-time based on redemption rates and engagement.

Relevant engagement leads to higher response rates and more frequent visits.

Branded Media and Multi-Channel Engagement

Engagement happens everywhere—from mobile push notifications to sponsored product placements.

DXPro supports branded media delivery that’s cohesive across channels. Whether on your app, email, website, or in-store signage, each touchpoint feels connected and personalized.

• Omnichannel Consistency: Deliver a unified experience across mobile, web, and in-store touchpoints.

• Personalized Messaging: Show product deals, alerts, or reminders tailored to each shopper.

• Branded Ad Delivery: Monetize media space with sponsor placements that align with your brand.

With these tools, DXPro turns passive shoppers into active loyalists. It strengthens customer loyalty through controlled, intelligent, and cohesive digital engagement.

Choose the Right Digital Experience Platform for Your Business

Different grocery retailers have different needs.

Whether you’re a large regional grocer or a single-store independent, choosing the right digital experience platform depends on scale, internal capabilities, and growth goals. DXPro offers multiple deployment models—DXPro, DX Plus, and DXP—each aligned with a specific retail maturity level and operational requirement.

Selecting the right Digital Experience Platform for Grocery is more than a technology decision. It’s a strategic investment in growth, customer experience, and operational stability.

DXPro ensures you get the right mix of scale, flexibility, and functionality—without overcommitting or under-delivering.

Compare DXPro, DX Plus, and DXP

Mercatus offers three solutions under the DXPro umbrella, each designed for different stages of digital maturity. Retailers can choose based on feature needs, store size, and available IT resources.

• DXPro: Ideal for grocers ready to scale with deep data, loyalty, fulfillment, and personalization.

• DX Plus: For growing retailers expanding engagement and fulfillment capabilities with flexibility.

• DXP: Best for independents launching fast with core eCommerce, mobile, and perimeter department features.

Choosing the right fit avoids unnecessary re-platforming or overbuilt systems.

Pre-Built Integrations for Seamless Connection

Technology shouldn’t be a barrier to innovation.

DXPro supports over 60 ready-to-deploy integrations that reduce the time and cost of implementation while ensuring compatibility with the tools grocers already use.

• POS and Payments: Works with existing systems like NCR, Toshiba, and a wide range of payment gateways.

• Fulfillment Partners: Easily connect to in-house or third-party providers without disrupting operations.

• Loyalty and CRM: Plug into your customer database or use embedded customer data for offers and segmentation.

This creates a smoother onboarding experience and faster time-to-value.

Flexible Deployment That Matches Retailer Goals

DXPro doesn’t force grocers to adopt unnecessary functionality or wait months to go live. It’s modular and flexible, meaning retailers can deploy only what they need today—and scale up over time.

• Fast Deployment: Launch essential features quickly without full replatforming.

• Modular Rollout: Add engagement, data, or commerce tools as business needs evolve.

• No Vendor Lock-In: Grocers retain control over systems, data, and tech partners.

A flexible deployment strategy helps retailers grow without delay or disruption.

Conclusion

Choosing the right digital experience platform is critical for grocers who want to stay competitive, efficient, and relevant in a rapidly shifting retail market.

From customer data activation to predictive personalization and fulfillment optimization, platforms like DXPro are engineered to meet the specific operational needs of grocery retail. Whether you're managing complex baskets or optimizing multi-channel engagement, a purpose-built system will help deliver performance at scale.

Getting started with DXPro is straightforward. The onboarding process begins with a one-on-one consultation to identify your business goals and current infrastructure. From there, you’ll move through a structured deployment plan that integrates with your existing systems—POS, payments, loyalty, or fulfillment. Each rollout phase is supported by Mercatus specialists to ensure minimal disruption and maximum value.

If you're ready to unify your digital strategy, improve customer loyalty, and grow basket size with confidence, DXPro is built for you.

Reach out today to schedule a demo or begin a tailored digital assessment and learn how a Digital Experience Platform for Grocery can help you grow on your terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a digital experience platform used for?

A digital experience platform (DXP) helps businesses deliver consistent, personalized interactions across all digital channels. It integrates customer data, content, and commerce tools to manage and optimize customer journeys in real time.

2. How is a DXP different from a CMS?

A CMS manages and publishes website content, while a digital experience platform combines CMS functionality with customer data, personalization, and eCommerce features. It provides a unified system for engaging users across multiple touchpoints.

3. Is a DXP necessary for digital transformation?

Yes, for businesses aiming to deliver seamless digital experiences. A digital experience platform supports agility, data-driven engagement, and operational efficiency—key elements of any successful digital evolution.

4. What are the top-rated digital experience platforms?

Leading platforms include Adobe Experience Manager, Sitecore, Salesforce Experience Cloud, and DXPro. DXPro stands out as a Digital Experience Platform for Grocery, purpose-built for food retail operations.

5. How does a DXP help with customer personalization?

A DXP uses embedded data and behavior signals to deliver targeted content, offers, and product recommendations. With a Customer Data Platform for Grocery, retailers can act on real-time shopping behavior and customer intent.

6. Can small businesses benefit from using a DXP?

Yes. Scalable platforms like DXPro offer modular features and fast deployment, making them accessible for small or independent retailers. They enable better personalization, loyalty retention, and operational control at any scale.