We already suspected it at the beginning of 2021, and by the summer it was clear: Click & Collect is one of the eCommerce trends of 2021. The hybrid sales concept is currently evolving from a creative pandemic emergency solution in retail to an essential building block of an omnichannel strategy. But what opportunities does Click & Collect offer for your business and how can you set up a successful concept with JTL? We answer these questions in this article.
Click & Collect: advantages for customers and sellers
Click & Collect is a prime example of a clever combination of online and offline sales channels to achieve both customer satisfaction and Good business figures. The hybrid sales concept saves your customers stress and nerves: instead of searching for the right product in a crowded store on Saturdays, they can find what they need in the online store using a filter search. With Click & Collect, your customers can pick up their purchase from their local store on the same day – a plus point compared to online-only retailers, which usually have longer delivery times. In the event of an exchange, there is no need to go through the hassle of returning goods. Last but not least, there are no delivery costs.
For you as a retailer, the concept also offers decisive benefits: if you offer Click & Collect, you can reach an online-savvy customer base that otherwise rarely “strays” into the store around the corner. Unlike pure online retailers, you still don’t need to worry about extensive logistics. If you want to slowly gain a foothold in eCommerce and gain experience, Click & Collect is an ideal concept for new sellers.
Click & Collect as an eCommerce trend also after Corona
The HDE Online Monitor 2021 figures from the German Retail Association (HDE) show that Click & Collect is here to stay: While in 2017 only 13% of participants surveyed for the industry study said they were familiar with Click & Collect, in 2020 the figure was more than five times as high at 74%. Boosted by the coronavirus pandemic, the hybrid sales concept generated sales of EUR 4.6 billion in Germany last year – with room for improvement: According to the study, almost 60% of respondents can imagine using click & collect listings even after the pandemic. In general, sales in bricks-and-mortar retail are increasingly shifting to the online world. If you want to build a future-oriented business, you should take advantage of the click & collect trend.
Click & Collect with JTL - it works with these solutions
What is important for a well thought-out Click & Collect concept? There is no general answer to this question. Customer group, company size and the on-site situation in the store play a decisive role. To do justice to the individuality of each business, we at JTL offer modular software solutions that can be combined with each other and create room for scalability and flexibility. At the same time, you can coordinate analog and digital sales channels.
JTL-POS is a starting point for retailers. Our free point of sale system is quickly set up as an app and can be connected to our ERP system JTL-Wawi via the JTL-POS ERPConnected interface. This lays the foundation for selling products both online and offline. JTL-Wawi is the control center. This is where all the data comes together, whether you generate sales with the stationary checkout in the store or the virtual shopping cart in the online store. With the help of our statistics templates, you can immediately see which goods perform best via Click & Collect.
Open the "virtual store counter" with the right store system
Are you still looking for an easy-to-use store system for your Click & Collect concept? With JTL-Shop, numerous retailers were able to quickly open their “virtual store counter” at the beginning of the first lockdown. The responsive template ensures an appealing design on all common screen formats and device types. The “small print” is also taken care of: you can manage cookie policy and GDPR compliance via the Consent Manager. Has your online store with Click & Collect proven itself? Then it’s time to optimize it! You can find suitable extensions in the JTL Extension Store. If you decide to use a different store system but still want to use JTL-Wawi, you can use JTL-Connector. With this interface, you can integrate third-party providers’ shops into our ERP or JTL-POS.
Every Click & Collect concept is different
Overall, the eCommerce trend shows that the boundaries between brick-and-mortar and digital retail are breaking down and giving cause to rethink your own business. No matter which Click & Collect system you choose. The important thing is that you offer your customers a pleasant shopping experience on multiple channels. Since many JTL solutions are free of charge but still offer the full range of functions, they give you room to experiment without having to take any financial risk. The modular structure of our software is also ideal for tailoring Click & Collect to your customer group and company size without imposing a one-size-fits-all solution on your business.
Let’s see what eCommerce trends 2021 will bring. We wish you continued success!
