Click and collect enables online goods to be collected offline.
Amazon lockers, new ways to click and collect have been revolutionising online shopping for some years and with Amazon lockers appearing in more and more locations, it’s easy to imagine a time in the not-so-distant future when nobody misses a parcel delivery again.
Gone are the days of finding a “sorry we missed you” card on your doorstep, despite the fact that you were just in the garden for a minute, or the dreaded moment when the embarrassing present you ordered as a ‘joke’ for your mate turns up at your work because you wouldn’t be at home to receive it.
What is click and collect?
Click and collect is a way of allowing consumers to pick up their goods purchased online at an offline location. Amazon lockers can be found all over – from university campuses to tube stops, supermarkets and train stations. When you place your order, you have the option to collect your parcel at a location of your choice, and if you’re a prime subscriber you can get one-day delivery for free. New subscription-based collect and send service Doddle also boasts 44 collection stores to date, and a growing number of retailers such as Argos and Schuh allow consumers to check stock levels then pick up in store.
How do Amazon lockers work?
You choose a locker, this can be where you’re travelling to, a regular location or part of your regular commute. When the parcel has been delivered, you get a message, like the one below, with a code that can be scanned, as well as a pickup code that you enter into the locker’s welcome screen.
As soon as the code is entered one of the locker doors opens. It couldn’t be easier.
Why is click and collect part of digital strategy for bricks and mortar stores?
Click and collect connects your online proposition with the offline reality, so taking time to co-ordinate a strategy that focuses on the omni-channel experience is key. Offering delivery options that are both convenient and reliable for consumers means a better overall customer experience, and being able to choose a pickup location that’s open when they want, where they want it, means consumers are more likely to have a positive experience.
Speed is crucial for shoppers who need something almost straight away, and offering a next day pickup service is going to attract these customers. This means promoting your speedy click and collect service through digital and social media marketing can be a sales driver, so using new methods of collection will put you ahead of slower competitors.
Labels: amazon lockers, click and collect, online delivery