{"id":25663,"date":"2020-05-01T14:41:22","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T14:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/blog\/why-bopis-in-retail-will-become-the-future-of-the-major-retailer-industry\/"},"modified":"2023-04-03T20:28:25","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T20:28:25","slug":"why-bopis-in-retail-will-become-the-future-of-the-major-retailer-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/en-ca\/blog\/why-bopis-in-retail-will-become-the-future-of-the-major-retailer-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Why BOPIS in Retail Will Become the Future of the Major Retailer Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parcel Pending is the leading provider of package management solutions for residential, commercial, retail, and university properties in the United States and Canada. With over 2 million packages delivered monthly, we\u2019ve had the unique opportunity to follow how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the <\/span>bottom line<\/span> for <\/span>retail stores<\/span> of all shapes and sizes across North America.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the most important trends we have observed over the past month:<\/span><\/p>\n

BOPIS Models Will Become “The New Normal”<\/h2>\n

Buy online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS<\/a>)<\/span> was a relatively new, but increasingly popular trend at the beginning of this year. Now, retailers both large and small are rushing to implement <\/span>omnichannel retail strategies<\/span><\/a> that optimize their BOPIS retail solutions amid changing health and safety needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right now, <\/span>online purchase<\/span>s come with extended shipping periods as couriers across the globe prioritize the shipment of medical supplies and essential household goods. Many <\/span>physical stores <\/span>can only allow a limited number of customers at any given time due to physical distancing recommendations and, in some cases, are not able to accept walk-in customers at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When a retailer provides a curbside pick-up <\/span>BOPIS option<\/span> or order pick-up lockers near the front of the store, the overall <\/span>shopping experience<\/span> becomes faster and more secure, providing consumers with a quick, easy, and safe way to retrieve their groceries or household essentials without actually entering a <\/span>physical store <\/span>for instant\u00a0<\/span>gratification.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, clients using our BOPIL\u00ae (Buy Online, Pick-up in Locker) solutions have seen a significant increase in usage and adoption of our locker solutions during this time, as many locations were not able to accept walk-in customers. Instead, they used a BOPIS process to quickly fulfill online or phone-in orders, increasing their eCommerce sales volume from an average of 7-10% to above 15% at the end of March.<\/span><\/p>\n

Customers Prefer Contact-Free Pick-Up Options<\/h2>\n

The <\/span>shopping experience<\/span> of the future is being reshaped by consumer fears and isolation-induced habits. A recent study conducted by weighing solutions provider Shekel indicated that 87% of consumers prefer contact-free <\/span>shopping experience<\/span>s like <\/span>BOPIS models<\/span>, click-and-collect lockers, or curbside pick-up<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the start of physical distancing measures and \u201csafer at home\u201d orders, Parcel Pending has experienced a 46% increase in mobile app downloads and a 25% YOY increase in package deliveries to our lockers, growth that rivals what is usually seen around the <\/span>holiday season<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re grateful that we\u2019ve been able to proactively meet the needs of our industry partners and the growing desire among users for contact-free pick-up options in the current environment,\u201d states Lori Torres, CEO and Founder of Parcel Pending.<\/span><\/p>\n

This increase in users taking advantage of contact-free pick-up options like our barcode scan feature and usage of our mobile app is expected to continue, if not grow significantly, as governments and businesses plan for how to re-open and re-start the economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Retailers are Innovating to Meet Changing Consumer Expectations with a BOPIS Retail Strategy<\/h2>\n

In an effort to preserve their <\/span>bottom line<\/span>, many retailers are innovating to try and meet rapidly changing consumer expectations for safety in their <\/span>shopping experience<\/span> and convenient access to their purchases.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRetailers are showing an increased interest in <\/span>BOPIS option<\/span>s like BOPIL, ones that involve little-to-no human contact to protect both their customers and their employees,\u201d states Cynthia Aadal, VP of Retail Strategy at Parcel Pending. \u201cThey know that having protections in place will be increasingly important to both employees and consumers, especially as stores begin to re-open to the public.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As retailers look to the future and consider how to make the <\/span>shopping experience<\/span> safer without sacrificing convenience or revenue,<\/span> BOPIS service options<\/span> like order pick-up lockers or curbside pick-up are emerging as the best solution. These contact-free methods of fulfilling buy <\/span>online and pick<\/span> up in-store orders can increase sales volume for stores without putting employees or customers at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

If implemented curbside, order pick-up lockers can also provide added convenience for consumers, both during the current climate and as businesses begin to find better ways to operate in \u201cthe new normal\u201d. Outdoor lockers are accessible to retail customers both during business hours and outside of them, enabling the 24\/7 on-demand order access that today\u2019s consumers have come to expect in almost every aspect of their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

BOPIS models<\/span> like order-pick up lockers also allow store associates to focus their efforts on providing the best <\/span>customer service<\/span> experience possible to those consumers who are actually shopping in-store. Better <\/span>customer service<\/span> can lead to further revenue boosts, such as impulse purchases made by consumers who came in-store to retrieve their <\/span>buy online, pickup<\/span> in-store orders.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s Not a Question of “If”, It’s a Question of “When”<\/h2>\n

In the short run, <\/span>BOPIS option<\/span>s give retailers a way to keep their doors open and continue serving their customers. In the long run, integrated <\/span>BOPIS model<\/span>s can provide increased revenue for <\/span>physical stores<\/span> and change the retail industry for the better.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the industry responds to \u201cthe new normal\u201d and makes plans for resuming business, the competition for consumer spending will grow even more intense. Protecting customers and employees will be equally important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

BOPIS model<\/span>s give customers all the convenience of online ordering while allowing retailers to fulfill orders on a local level. This saves retailers significant capital that would normally be spent on <\/span>shipping costs<\/span>. BOPIS also allows retailers to compete with eCommerce giants to provide same-day <\/span>online order<\/span> pick-up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When paired with contact-free, self-service <\/span>BOPIS order option<\/span>s like curbside pick-up or order pick-up lockers, retailers can provide a safe, secure, and intuitive method for customers to <\/span>pick up their order<\/span>s. That also means that retailers can positively impact their <\/span>bottom line<\/span> while keeping their employees safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

BOPIL is the Future of BOPIS<\/h2>\n

Buy Online, Pick-up in Locker (BOPIL) by <\/span>Parcel Pending<\/span><\/a> is more than just a smart, secure order management system. BOPIL can provide retailers with a number of benefits, including:<\/span><\/p>\n