and collect service is set to go through explosive growth over the next three years, according to a new forecast by Planet Retail.As part of the research into Planet Retail’s new report, Click & Collect: retail fad or future of the high street?, 15,000 consumers were questioned on the shopping service.
They were based in ten key ecommerce markets including the UK, France, Germany, the US, China and India.
“Click and collect is poised for explosive growth,” said Natalie Berg, global research director at Planet Retail.
Shoppers are already accustomed to browsing and transacting on their own terms, she explained, adding that choice in fulfillment is “the final piece” to the puzzle.
Within the next three years, Planet Retail predicts more than three-quarters of online UK shoppers to collect their own items.
The study showed how the cost of delivery was the main barrier putting shoppers off doing their ordering online.
Meanwhile, one in four Internet shoppers are put off by the inconvenient delivery times being offered by retailers.
Berg said these two barriers to online shopping meant click and collect was becoming more attractive to customers and retailers.
She believes fulfillment is poised to be the next big battleground in retail.
“Retailers should be readying themselves for this massive shift in shopping behaviour and thinking beyond traditional collection points,” said Berg.
“Retailers must be prepared to forge relationships with some unconventional partners in pursuit of better serving the customer.”
