Small Businesses
Local Pickup: how to enable self-pickup for online orders?
October 22, 2023
Local pickup is one of the shipping methods that eCommerce platforms provide for online stores.
Also known as self pickup, local pickup is a shipping method that online sellers enable for their shipping zones. This allows customers to choose pickup and delivery locations and pickup order themselves.
Whether it’s for increasing traffic to your physical store or reduce the shipping costs, there are numerous compelling reasons to offer local pickup and delivery service in your online store.
In this article, we will review:
What is local pickup?
How does local pickup and delivery service work?
Advantages of implementing local pickup
How to set up a pickup for online orders?
At the end of the article, you can find frequently asked questions on local pickup and delivery service.
Let's dive deeper into how Uvodo's local pickup option works and why it's a great choice for sellers and customers.
What is local pickup and delivery service in eCommerce?
In eCommerce, Local pickup refers to a shipping option where customers can purchase items online and pick up orders at a specified store or location.
Online stores offer local pickup and delivery service options to the shipping zones where their shipping is available.
Depending on the online store, the seller - you might require the customer to enter the location to pick up their order after the online purchase.
Regarding the location, the pickup usually takes place at the specified location defined by the customer or inside the store.
Being one of the eCommerce tools for small businesses market, small businesses widely use local pickup option. It’s a useful option for small businesses that may not offer shipping or with customers looking to avoid shipping fees or delays.
How does local pickup and delivery service work?
Local pickup is a convenient option for customers who prefer to pick up their orders directly from a store or specified location instead of having items shipped to them.
While the exact process may vary depending on the online seller and pickup delivery instructions, here's a general overview of how local pickup and delivery service typically works:
Upon deciding on an item and adding it to the cart, a customer selects the "Local Pickup" option during checkout.
The customer completes the purchase, provides the necessary details, and pays online.
For the local pickup option, customers can pay online with a card or choose Cash on Delivery payment option.
Note that only if the online seller enables the local pickup option on the shipping settings for the specific area does the local pickup appear on the checkout page.
Online sellers prepare and process the order according to the pickup delivery instructions and terms.
Next, once the order is ready for pickup, the seller confirms that the order is ready for pickup from the admin panel. This process notifies the customer that the ordered item(s) is ready to pick up.
After the customer picks up the item, the seller marks the order as “picked up” on the admin panel.
A few things to note:
Wait time: Some businesses offer immediate local pickup for in-stock items, while others require a waiting period.
Communication: Businesses must maintain clear communication with customers regarding pickup instructions, especially if there are delays or issues with the order.
Hours: Local pickup is typically bound by the store’s operational hours. Some businesses might extend hours for pickup services, but it's essential to check in advance.
Returns or issues: If the order has a problem, customers can usually address it directly at the pickup location, facilitating quicker resolutions than shipped orders.
While local pickup processes can vary by seller, the common principle is that it allows customers to order online and then physically pick up orders themselves. This often helps saving on shipping costs and time.
Why should you implement local pickup in your online store?
Implementing local pickup or self pickup order in your online store offers various benefits to both your business and customers.
Here are several compelling reasons to offer local pickup for online orders:
Reduce shipping costs
The local pickup option eliminates or reduces shipping and handling costs for your online business. And for your customers, it offers a way to avoid shipping fees, making purchases more appealing.
Faster order fulfillment
Customers can often get their items on the same day of order. It’s especially true if items are in stock rather than waiting for shipping and delivery.
Increased foot traffic
You can also make the pickup location an "in store pickup". Customers visiting your physical location for pickups can increase foot traffic. This could lead to additional in store purchases.
Reduced shipping-related issues
By implementing local pickup or self-pickup options, you can avoid complications related to shipping carriers, such as delays, lost packages, or damaged items.
Immediate refund & issue resolution
If there's a problem with an order, customers can address it immediately, enhancing customer satisfaction. When you enable cash on delivery shopping on your online store, and customers choose it, they can inspect it before purchasing. This will reduce the number of refund cases.
Feedback opportunity
Direct interactions during local pickups provide opportunities to gather immediate customer feedback or reviews.
To maximize the benefits of local pickup, you should ensure the process is smooth, clearly communicated, and customer-centric.
How to set up a pickup for online orders?
Uvodo is an eCommerce platform for small businesses that help them sell products online and get paid faster.
Setting up a pickup for online orders at Uvodo is easy peasy.
To enable local pickup at your online Uvodo store, follow these steps:
Create an account or log in to your Uvodo admin panel.
Head to the Settings → Shipping.
Click on the location under the Local pickup section.
Here, turn on the toggle to enable the local pickup for this location.
On this page, you can write pickup delivery instructions for self pickup service or in store pickup for the self pickup service.
The most common way to offer local pickup service is a pickup with the price of $0.00 since the customer chooses to pick up the order themselves.
However, depending on your business operations, you can set a price for pickup.
Once enabled, self pickup option will appear on the checkout page.
At checkout your customers will decide whether to proceed with local pickup or not. The desicion will depend on the shipping cost for local pickup and delivery dates displayed at the checkout as local pickup instructions.
How to manage local pickup orders for your online store?
Upon receiving an order and confirming the product's availability, you can indicate its readiness for pickup. If the order is ready for pickup, you should mark it as "ready for pickup" from the Orders → Order details at Uvodo admin panel.
Once the customer has retrieved the order, update its status to "Picked Up."
#1 Case for local pickup
If a customer places an order with cash on delivery and select local pickup option, the order appears on the admin panel with payment and shipping status with “pending” and “processing,” respectively.
Once the customer pick up the order is collected, it means that the payment was also made.
So, for this customer, you mark order as “picked up”, and the payment status will automatically be “paid”.
#2 Case for local pickup
Suppose a customer places an order using a payment gateway and selects the local pickup. In that case, the order will appear on the admin panel with payment status as "pending" until the payment gateway confirms the transaction.
Once the payment gateway confirms the transaction, the payment status automatically updates to "paid," the shipping status will show as "processing."
When the customer collects the order, there's no need to alter the payment status since it has already been verified and marked as "paid" by the payment gateway. However, you should update the shipping status to "ready for pickup" or "picked up" to reflect that the customer has picked up the order.
Local pickup: frequently asked questions
What is local pickup?
Local pickup is a method that allows the customer to pick up the order themselves at their specified location, or in store.
What payment options for local pickup?
Online sellers can offer cash on delivery, as well as integrate any preferred payment gateway for customer convenience.
How do I arrange local pickup?
Make sure the eCommerce platform you use for your online store provides local pickup option in their settings preferences. For instance, Uvodo includes local pickup delivery service in the settings.
What is pickup process?
The local pickup process involves customers ordering online and then collecting their purchases from a designated pickup point. Customers are notified when their order is ready, and they retrieve it either in store or at a specified pickup point.
How to set up eCommerce in store pickup?
To set up in store pickup for eCommerce, choose a platform that supports this feature, like Uvodo. Create a shipping zone for the location at the shipping settings, then turn on the toggle to enable the local pikcup for this location. Also, set the price and add the local pickup instructions.
Wrap up
Local pickup delivery offers customers a cost-effective and faster way to receive their goods.
The local pickup option also directly connects your online store with customers.
By enabling local pickup as your online store's delivery option, businesses can cater to customer preferences, reduce shipping costs, and enhance the overall shopping experience.
