Have you heard of the term, Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS)? BOPIS has steadily been gaining ground as a key strategy for retailers looking to provide flexibility when it comes to their product deliveries.
If you’re a retailer on the BigCommerce platform, you’re in luck. It can now integrate BOPIS into e-commerce stores on the platform.
Let’s talk about BigCommerce BOPIS and how mastering it allows you to stay competitive amidst cutthroat competition.
What is BigCommerce BOPIS?
BigCommerce BOPIS refers to the capability within the BigCommerce platform that allows retailers to offer customers the option to purchase items online and pick them up in-store.
The service combines the ease of online shopping with the immediacy of physical retail, offering a convenient solution for both retailers and shoppers.
Shoppers love it because it gives them another option to collect their purchases. If they want to get their orders faster, they can simply go to the store and get them instead of waiting for the delivery to come by.
The Benefits of BigCommerce BOPIS
Adopting the Buy Online, Pick up In-Store (BOPIS) feature through BigCommerce offers a range of benefits for retailers. Here are some:
Increased sales opportunities
When customers come to your store to pick up their online orders, they’re more likely to make additional purchases. This in-store foot traffic boosts impulse buys and increases overall sales.
Improved inventory management
BOPIS requires tight integration between online and in-store inventory systems, leading to more accurate inventory tracking. This efficiency helps in:
- Reducing overstock and understock situations
- Enhancing the ability to manage stock levels more dynamically
- Speeding up inventory turnover, which can lead to cost savings and less dead stock
Enhanced customer satisfaction
Offering BOPIS caters to the desire for convenience and immediate gratification among today’s shoppers. Customers appreciate the flexibility to shop online at their leisure and the option to avoid shipping delays by picking up purchases in-store.
Cost savings on shipping
For both the retailer and the customer, BOPIS can offer significant savings on shipping costs. Retailers can reduce the expense of last-mile delivery, while customers avoid paying shipping fees, making it a financially attractive option.
Driving in-store traffic
BOPIS naturally encourages more customers to visit your physical store locations. This increased foot traffic presents opportunities to strengthen brand loyalty and enhance the customer’s relationship with your store through positive in-store experiences.
Implementing BOPIS with BigCommerce
If you’ve decided to implement BOPIS in your online store, here’s what you need to know.
Start with the right theme
To kick off the Buy Online, Pick up in Store (BOPIS) feature on your BigCommerce website, the first step is choosing the right theme. It’s essential to know that not every theme supports BOPIS—especially older ones.
Integrate your inventory
Once you have the right theme, the next step is linking your online store with your physical store’s inventory. This is where the magic of BOPIS really happens.
The process of integration ensures that when a product is listed as available for in-store pickup on your website, it’s actually there in your store.
Real-time tracking is significant to keeping your promises to customers and managing their expectations from the moment they click ‘buy’ to when they pick up their purchase.
Make BOPIS user-friendly on your site
Your website should make it clear which products can be picked up in-store. Adding filters and search options for BOPIS products makes shopping easier and more appealing for your customers. They can quickly see what’s available for pickup and decide if they want to head to the store or have it shipped directly to them.
Create a customized pickup experience
BigCommerce’s BOPIS APIs are your toolkit for creating a tailored pickup experience for your customers. However, to fully leverage these APIs, two things are necessary:
1. Custom checkout process: Your store must use Optimized One-Page Checkout, enhanced with the Checkout JS SDK. This setup allows you to display various pickup methods during the checkout process, giving your customers the choice and convenience they value.
2. Customization with APIs: To display specific details like location-based inventory and pickup options, your store’s theme must be customized with GraphQL Storefront APIs.
This customization is what brings the whole BOPIS experience to life, showing customers exactly where and when they can pick up their orders.
Training Your Staff for BigCommerce BOPIS Success
Your team plays a vital role in the BOPIS process. Training staff to handle online orders, prepare them for pickup, and manage in-store pickups efficiently can make a significant difference in service quality.
Happy, informed staff lead to satisfied customers.
Conclusion
BigCommerce BOPIS is a strategic approach to retail that combines the best of online and in-store shopping. A successful BOPIS strategy enhances customer satisfaction, increases sales, and streamlines operations.
The future of retail is here, and it’s time to embrace the opportunities that BigCommerce BOPIS provides.
You Don’t Have to Be Overwhelmed with the Details
Epic is a BigCommerce expert. We design BigCommerce themes and BOPIS-compatible apps that make selling easier for retailers.
We’re here to simplify the process for you. From setup to launch, we handle the heavy lifting, making BOPIS work seamlessly for your business.
Let us do the work, so you can focus on what you do best.
Reach out to Epic today and start offering a more convenient shopping experience with BOPIS.
