Wondering what BOPIS even means?
Perhaps you are part of the shrinking group of people that have not done it yet, or maybe you have and just didn’t even know you were doing it.
BOPIS, if you’re still unsure, refers to the concept of “Buy Online, Pick-Up in Store”, otherwise known as OOPIS (Order Online, Pick-Up in Store), ROPIS (Reserve Online, Pick-Up in Store), or simply “Click-and-Collect.” At the heart of all of these abbreviations is the same general idea of a multichannel transaction in which a person purchases an item online and then goes to the physical store to pick it up themselves, rather than having the product shipped to their home.
The Reset Team has been helping big-box stores construct BOPIS areas within their locations across Canada. Constructing a pick-up area for online orders usually involves re-purposing an existing space through demolition and general construction, building designated areas for purchases and returns, adding wiring for electrical purposes, data entry and loss prevention systems, and installing a corresponding sign package.
For the retailer, one of the goals of their BOPIS location investment is to drive traffic into their brick and mortar stores which often leads to an add-on or impulsive purchase by the shopper, and an overall improved shopping experience. Offering BOPIS options means that the shopper can easily select their items from the comfort of their home, before coming into the store at a time that is convenient for them to pick-up their purchases.
For the consumer, there are several good reasons to use the BOPIS option. For starters, the shopper can save money on delivery charges, as BOPIS initiatives negate the shipping costs altogether. There is also the added convenience of picking up the purchase when the consumer wants it, rather than being at the mercy of an untimely delivery service.
In comparison to the entire shopping experience taking place in-store, the consumer can also benefit from BOPIS by eliminating the risk of the item they are looking for not being in-stock, saving the time it would take to walk through the store to locate their items, as well as, avoiding lengthy check-out lines.
As the BOPIS trend continues to expand, it is likely that we will see more interesting partnerships develop to further the initiative. For example, the test conducted by Loblaws and Metrolinx earlier this year which offered grocery pickup at select GO Train stations around the Greater Toronto Area. This form of BOPIS was intended to make life easier for commuters, eliminating their need to make an extra stop on the way home from work to pick up groceries.
BOPIS presents an abundance of new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike. If your store is looking to set-up a BOPIS location at your brick-and-mortar, contact The Reset Team to see how we can help!
Where do you see BOPIS going in the future?
