How Sweláps Market Transformed Their Business with Smart Technology Solutions

In the competitive grocery industry, independent stores often struggle to match the efficiency and capabilities of large chains. Sweláps Market, however, has discovered that with the right technology solutions, even a community-focused grocery store can operate with remarkable efficiency while preserving its personal touch.

The Challenge: Too Much to Do, Too Little Time

Like many small businesses, Sweláps Market found themselves constrained by time-consuming manual processes. Management spent hours organizing strategy notes, creating safety documents, managing customer data, and tracking product information for their "Made in Canada" initiative.

"If I had to manually enter all of those, that would be very time-consuming," explains Kara, the store’s General Manager. With no extra hours in the day, these administrative burdens were limiting their ability to focus on growth and customer service while competing against larger corporate chains.

Smart Solutions for Real Problems

Sweláps Market features a range of locally and Canadian-made products.

Central Interior Business Accelerator worked with Sweláps to identify specific pain points and implement targeted technology solutions:

AI-Powered Documentation: Instead of spending hours transcribing meeting notes, they now capture whiteboard images and use AI to organize them into actionable plans.

Streamlined Safety Protocols: AI assists in generating comprehensive safety documents and standard operating procedures. "Even using [AI] in meetings... for making all this kind of safety stuff that we need," notes Kara, eliminating hours of manual documentation.

Customer Data Analysis: New systems analyze geographic trends based on postal codes, providing valuable insights into their customer base and shopping patterns that inform marketing decisions.

Digital Loyalty Program: Their upcoming loyalty solution will replace outdated hardware, integrating with their point-of-sale system to capture detailed purchasing data while offering customers greater convenience.

Implementation That Works

Rather than overwhelming staff with technological change, CIBA helped Sweláps implement these solutions gradually, starting with the highest-impact areas. Training was provided in manageable steps, with systems refined through feedback and iteration.

"When you use the tools right they are very helpful... otherwise it would have been me sitting at home typing it all out, you know, hours on end," Kara explains, highlighting the practical time savings.

This measured approach extends to their upcoming online shopping capabilities, with a "soft launch" planned before the full rollout to ensure systems work flawlessly for customers.

Sweláps Market proves that "every business is a technology business. They just don't know it yet," asserts John Zubak, the CIBA Entrepreneur-in-Residence working with Kara and her team. Their success demonstrates that you don't need to be a tech company to benefit from technological solutions.

Remarkable Results

Don't panic -- Sweláps Market has bannock - made fresh daily.

The technology integration has delivered impressive benefits across Sweláps’ operations:

Time Reclaimed: Tasks that once consumed hours now take minutes, freeing staff to focus on customer service and business development.

Deeper Customer Insights: Data analysis provides a clearer picture of who shops at Sweláps and what they're buying, enabling smarter business decisions.

Targeted Marketing: Promotions can now be tailored based on customer preferences and shopping history, increasing marketing effectiveness.

Enhanced Product Management: Their "Made in Canada" initiative is easier to manage and promote, strengthening their commitment to local sourcing.

Measurable Growth: Despite operating in traditionally slow months, Sweláps has seen consistent sales growth with their average basket size trending higher with continued growth potential.

"The introduction to AI has been amazing," says Kara, summing up the transformation they've experienced.

The Lesson for Every Business

Sweláps Market proves that "every business is a technology business. They just don't know it yet," asserts John Zubak, the CIBA Entrepreneur-in-Residence working with Kara and her team. Their success demonstrates that you don't need to be a tech company to benefit from technological solutions. By identifying specific pain points, implementing targeted solutions, and maintaining focus on their unique value proposition, they've achieved greater efficiency while enhancing what makes them special.

Is your business ready to explore how similar technology solutions could address your specific challenges? The transformation might be more accessible than you think. Contact us today to discover how we can help you identify and implement the right technologies for your unique business needs.