The rise of the Internet has caused countless industries to change in incredible ways. For example, in July of 1995, Amazon took the book world by surprise as it became the first electronic commerce provider of literature. Today, Amazon is the largest internet retailer in the world, and has its eyes on a vast number of non-biblio sectors as well. With this kind of progressive growth, it would be unwise to believe that the grocery sector could circumvent similar technological advancements within its industry.
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom for grocery store owners and managers. Click and collect services just may be the answer that customers and grocers are looking for. Savvy retailers willing to adjust their selling models to encompass this current shopping trend have the potential to put additional dollars in their pocket.
What is Click and Collect?
With a click and collect system, a customer selects the items they need online via an app or the merchant’s website. Then, they just drive to that retailer’s location or distribution center, and either collect their merchandise from the store’s pickup desk, or an employee will load the purchased items into the customer’s car. From a customer’s point-of-view, it’s a simple process.
On the retailer’s end, however, click and collect processes can be somewhat more complicated. The store must pull the items from the shelf and store them until the customer picks them up. Frozen and refrigerated products can make this a difficult task, especially since about 66% of online orders contain perishable items like meat or seafood.
How Important is This Innovation?
Some retailers may feel tempted to write this technology off as a passing fad. However, this could be a grievous misconception. Recent studies have shown that online grocery shopping, including click and collect, is on track to grow twice as fast as initially expected. In fact, experts predict that in just five to seven years, a whopping 70% of shoppers will use the internet to buy their groceries. This is no transitory craze—Thom Blischok, the Global Retail Strategic Advisor for Nielsen, believes this study signals a fundamental change in the retail industry.
How can KPS Global Help?
One thing is exceedingly clear: customers are online and sharp retailers will meet customer demand by implementing click and collect services in to their businesses. But grocery stores making this upward move must do so without spoiling food or inconveniencing customers. KPS Global has solutions.
KPS Global’s experienced team of engineers can help you design solutions that make sense for your business. We understand how to integrate different temperature levels into a storage space—in a smart and convenient way. With manufacturing expertise, KPSG is able to work seamlessly to design and create solutions for retailers. Check out this video on how KPS Global can help solve Click and Collect for you. Contact KPS Global today.
