How Retailers Can Scale Click-and-Collect Without Investing in New Infrastructure

1. Traditional Staffed Click-and-Collect

Customers collect orders from an in-store collection point managed by staff.

Pros: Familiar, easy to implement, uses existing store infrastructure.

Cons: Labour-intensive, requires storage space, and can create bottlenecks during peak periods.

2. Private Locker Networks

Retailers invest in locker infrastructure dedicated to their own customers and operations.

Pros: Full control over branding and customer experience.

Cons: Requires ongoing investment and expansion costs, while utilisation is limited to a single organisation.

3. Open Locker Networks

Retailers gain access to an established network shared by carriers, retailers and other service providers.

Pros: Faster deployment, lower investment, improved customer convenience and access to existing infrastructure.

Cons: Retailers should assess how the network integrates with existing fulfilment processes.

For many retailers, Open Locker Networks offer a practical way to expand collection services without building a network from scratch.

Why Retailers Are Considering Open Locker Networks

Reduce Operational Costs

Automated collections reduce the need for staff involvement, helping streamline collections and returns while freeing teams to focus on customers. As discussed in our blog on Why Traditional Click-and-Collect Is Becoming Too Expensive for Retailers, growing collection volumes can place increasing pressure on store teams, space and operational budgets.

Improve Customer Convenience

Self-service collections and returns give customers greater flexibility and can support access beyond service desk hours.

Make Better Use of Space

Rather than using valuable stockroom or sales floor space for order storage, retailers can support fulfilment more efficiently through automated infrastructure.

Expand Services Faster

Open Locker Networks provide access to existing infrastructure, allowing retailers to scale collections and returns without significant capital investment.

Unlock Additional Value

Shared infrastructure can increase utilisation and create opportunities for additional revenue from existing locations.

Supporting Collections and Returns

Returns are an increasingly important part of the customer experience.

Open Locker Networks can support:

• Customer collections
• Customer returns
• Carrier drop-offs
• Label printing
• Self-service return journeys

This helps improve convenience while reducing operational pressure on store teams.

Is an Open Locker Network Right for Your Business?

Retailers are increasingly reviewing their fulfilment strategies as they face:

• Growing ecommerce volumes
• Rising operational costs
• Increasing demand for out-of-home delivery
• Higher customer expectations
• Pressure to maximise store productivity

For organisations looking to balance convenience, scalability and efficiency, Open Locker Networks can provide a practical alternative to expanding in-house infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can retailers scale click-and-collect without investing in new infrastructure?

By using shared infrastructure such as Open Locker Networks, retailers can expand collection and returns services without building and maintaining their own network.

How can retailers reduce click-and-collect costs?

Reducing manual processes, introducing self-service collections and improving space utilisation can help lower operational costs while maintaining convenience.

When should retailers consider an Open Locker Network?

It may be worth considering when collection volumes are growing, store resources are under pressure, or customers are demanding more flexible collection and returns options.

What’s the difference between a private and open locker network?

A private network supports only one organisation, while an Open Locker Network can be shared by multiple retailers, carriers and service providers.

Can Open Locker Networks support both collections and returns?

Yes. They can support collections, returns, carrier drop-offs and other fulfilment services from the same location.

What should retailers consider when evaluating collection infrastructure?

Key considerations include customer convenience, operational efficiency, scalability, space utilisation and long-term costs.

Speak to our team to explore how Open Locker Networks can help your business scale click-and-collect without investing in new infrastructure.