Doddle has launched its click and collect service in the US, seeking to tap into a market where it claims 70% of shoppers use the fulfilment option.
The UK-based provider said its service was now available to all US retailers, although it didn’t specify how many locations were present in the country.
The service consists of small kiosks where customers can both pick up online orders and drop off parcels for returns. Doddle is offered as a fulfilment option at online check-out alongside standard delivery.
The company claims that the click and collect network benefits both the online retailer and the physical store which hosts the pick-up point, citing figures showing that 58% of customers using a Doddle location make an in-store purchase.
Doddle CEO Tim Robinson said: “The way we shop has changed dramatically — and continues to change. Consumers move fluidly between online and offline shopping, driven by a need for speed, convenience and value.
“But we’ve seen that much of the retail industry is still thinking and behaving in silos. We want to help retailers bridge that gap between their online and offline worlds.”
He added: “We wanted to create a better retail ecosystem. Through our technology and partners, we are able to help each stakeholder in the retail space — from brands to logistics providers to customers — get a better experience in an increasingly complex and challenging landscape. Overseas, our existing partners have been thrilled with the results of our services, and we are very excited to help US retailers achieve the same.”
In an exclusive interview with eDelivery at the end of last year, Robinson discussed how Doddle had dramatically changed its business model to focus on offering its service at check-out rather than offering it as a subscription service to consumers.
He claimed that in the future “carriers and retailers will push more consumers towards click and collect” to the extent that some will incentivise it through vouchers in the way that Sports Direct does.
