Before talking about smart lockers for e-commerce, we must first ask: are we at the helms of the last frontier for digital e-commerce platforms?
Digital platforms are everywhere and in the near future you will find a digital platform for everything. Nowadays, we already have platforms for dog walking, construction, gardening, you name it!
Understanding the Current Situation
The platform business model is very tentative, without a scaling cost organization, the possible margins are huge. If the organization builds a faithful big crowd, it is almost impossible to go out of business. You can pivot, become a one-stop shop, or even change your core business.
Facing a possible loss of 29€ Million a year, platforms need solutions to optimize their logistical operations. By maximizing riders’ capacity, businesses can make multiple orders at the time. I think that can be done by conquering one last frontier, the physical presence.
This was avoided in the first place because it represents a slice of huge fixed prices, renting or building, employees, fixed bills, the list goes on and on. But, does it need to be this way?
Well, I’m tentative to say, but, not quite actually.
The Solution
There are many ways of having a physical presence without building a shop. Mobile food stands, for instance, or popup corners that come and go. But, what if you achieve that with the most flexible and economic way of them all? Enter a smart locker.
Lockers allow you to be flexible and tailor to your customers by strategically placing lockers where people need them. For example, if your business primarily delivers to one area, that might be a great place to put a locker. Not only can you reduce delivery times, but customers also enjoy the added convenience of picking up their package on their time.
In Portugal, there’s a famous garden among the young students community, Arco do Cego. At this location, especially during the summer, hundreds of students gather around to have a chat and drink a couple of beers. Weirdly, a brand never targeted the spot to make a marketing move, either, to gain money.
Companies like Glovo, Uber Eats, Stuart, Just Eat and so on, would have great interest in making an Urban Corner within a space like this.
With the help of smart lockers, they could brand their own corner easily and put it in the heart of the city. Thus, for users, it would be nice to have a place to chill out where they can order while they are leaving classes on their way to the garden, without having to worry if they get there on time, or, leaving the conversation on hold to find the rider with their request.
This last frontier, when crossed, will materialize digital companies and brands. That’s the last challenge remaining for this model. Who will be the first to pilot this?
Getting Started with Smart Lockers for e-commerce
How can your business actually get started? Many e-commerce owners know they need to make a change to stay competitive but are confused about where to start.
Think back to our example of the garden on campus. Infusing your business’s presence into a populated area can not only help you build your brand image, but your sales will also reflect the added traffic.
Have you ever thought about a smart locker? Smart lockers for e-commerce are gaining popularity as it provides these businesses with a way to increase delivery efficiency and promote customers’ experience at the same time.
The convenience of picking up a package at a smart locker can lead to customers choosing your business over competitors. Differentiating your business between competitors is vital as there are low barriers to creating a new business.
Overcoming the last frontier should be a priority for your business and smart lockers can be the next stepping stone on your journey.
Does this sound like something your business can benefit from?
If so, reach out to one of our team members today to get started. We would love to chat with you on the benefits of using our smart lockers and the next steps.