How to Improve Your Click and Collect Pre-ordering Experience

The click-and-collect preorder or pre-order service is beneficial for customers who prefer the convenience of online shopping but want to avoid delivery fees and wait times. Similarly, pre-order synonyms can be described as “advance order,” “reservation,” or “booking.”

multi-location loyalty

Here are 5 surefire ways to improve the click-and-collect pre-ordering experience for your customers.

  1. Provide a real-time inventory feed per location from your point of sale to eCommerce to ensure that you have an accurate inventory count.

Providing a real-time inventory feed per location from your point of sale (POS) to eCommerce is an excellent way to ensure that you have an accurate inventory count. This can be done using software tools to connect the two systems, such as API integrations or middleware like bLoyal. Once integrated, your POS system will automatically update inventory levels in real-time, providing an accurate view of your inventory across all locations.

Benefits of implementing real-time inventory feeds:

  • Accurate inventory levels: Real-time inventory feeds ensure that your inventory levels are always up-to-date and accurate to avoid overselling products, leading to dissatisfied customers and lost sales.
  • Better customer experience: With accurate inventory levels, customers can confidently purchase products online, knowing they will be available for pickup or delivery.
  • Reduced manual effort: Automating the inventory management process reduces the need for manual data entry and eliminates the risk of human error.
  • Improved efficiency: By automating inventory management, staff can focus on other essential tasks, such as customer service and sales.

  1. Syncing stores by customer location ensures they place an order at the closest possible location.

You must use geolocation technology to determine the customer’s location via GPS data from their device or by prompting them to enter their zip code or address. Once the customer’s location is defined, you can provide a list of nearby stores offering the product they seek. This can be done through an eCommerce platform or mobile app or by providing a store locator on the business’s website.

Benefits of syncing stores by customer location:

  • Improved customer experience: By showing customers the nearest available location to purchase a product, businesses can provide a better customer experience for enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Increased sales: By directing customers to the nearest available store, businesses can increase the likelihood of a sale. This is because customers are more likely to purchase a product when it is available nearby.
  • Reduced shipping costs: By directing customers to the nearest available location, businesses can reduce shipping costs associated with delivering products to customers’ homes.
  • Improved inventory management: Businesses can better manage their inventory levels by directing customers to the nearest location, so products are available when and where needed.

  1. Real-time communications from your inventory management system to your customer to notify them that their order is available.

Your inventory management system can trigger automatic notifications when an order is ready for pickup. The pre order message/notification should include clear and concise information about the pickup location, hours of operation, and any special instructions or requirements. By sending an automatic notification via email or SMS, depending on the customer’s preferred communication method, customers can be informed of their order status while enjoying a positive click-and-collect experience.

Benefits of real-time communications:

  • Improved customer experience: Customers appreciate being kept informed about their order status. By providing real-time notifications, businesses can improve the customer experience and increase customer satisfaction.
  • Reduced wait times: By notifying customers when their order is available for pickup, businesses can reduce wait times and improve the overall click-and-collect experience.
  • Increased efficiency: By automating the notification process, staff members can focus on other essential tasks, such as order fulfillment and customer service.
  • Increased sales: Real-time notifications can prompt customers to pick up their orders as soon as possible, which can help sales growth and reduce abandoned orders.

  1. Real-time notifications to staff ensure they promptly fulfill the order.

Your inventory management system can trigger automatic notifications when orders are placed. The notification should include information about the order, such as the customer’s name, the products ordered, and any special instructions or requirements. By sending automatic notifications to staff members via email or mobile app as soon as an order is placed, you can ensure that they are aware of the order and can prepare it for pickup as soon as possible.

Benefits of real-time notifications to staff:

  • Improved efficiency: Real-time notifications can help to ensure that staff members are aware of new orders as soon as they are placed, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of missed or forgotten orders.
  • Increased productivity: By notifying staff members in real-time, businesses can help to ensure that orders are prepared and ready for pickup as soon as possible, increasing productivity and reducing wait times for customers.
  • Improved customer experience: By fulfilling orders promptly, businesses can improve the click-and-collect experience for customers, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Reduced errors: By automating the notification process, businesses can reduce the risk of human error and ensure that orders are fulfilled correctly.

  1. Integrate pickup orders to your point of sale to ensure that looking up a customer’s eCommerce order is easy and fast.

You can use an eCommerce platform to support this feature. When a customer orders online, the order information is automatically added to the POS system. Staff members can access the customer’s order information, including order history, payment details, and special instructions. Additionally, pickup orders can increase store traffic and improve the customer per-order value.

Benefits of integrating pickup orders into your POS system:

  • Improved customer service: Staff members can provide better customer service by quickly accessing a customer’s eCommerce order. They can promptly address any concerns or questions the customer may have about their order.
  • Increased efficiency: By integrating pickup orders into the POS system, staff members can quickly access all order details, reducing the time spent searching for customer information.
  • Improved accuracy: By having all order information in one place, staff members can reduce the risk of errors and ensure that orders are fulfilled correctly.
  • Enhanced inventory management: By integrating pickup orders into the POS system, staff members can keep track of inventory levels and ensure that products are available for pickup.

bLoyal integrates eCommerce and POS systems, including pickup order functionality. By integrating with the bLoyal platform, businesses can offer a seamless pickup experience for customers, including real-time inventory tracking, automated notifications, and integration with the POS system to increase sales, efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction.