Longacres, Surrey, says it’s the UK’s first garden centre to offer automated drive-in click and collect

Longacres of Bagshot, Surrey, says it’s the UK’s first garden centre to offer an automated drive-in Click and Collect service.

The solution, provided by Collectec, has been introduced in response to a growing number of online orders placed for in-store collection.

Customers use an outdoor touchscreen kiosk to check in to the service in an average nine seconds. They can also order compost and other garden supplies for delivery to their car.

Staff, equipped with Collectec mobile devices, use the customer name, order reference and parking bay number to deliver items to the car.

Mike Ainley, ecommerce manager for Longacres, said: “The Collectec solution has revolutionised our collection service reducing average customer collection time by over 50% to just five minutes. It’s also improved staff efficiency by removing dedicated staff from the collection point and enabling any available staff member to be alerted to a collection customer and take their order straight to their car.”

Collectec managing director Jolyon Platts said: “Our click and collect solution is designed to offer huge benefits to customers and retailers. Supermarkets, garden centres and high street retailers are all seeing an explosion in online ordering, and store collections are extremely convenient for busy customers.”