Fashion retailer Zara is installing parcel vending machines in its German shops. Customers picking up their online order no longer have to go past the checkout.
Zara's first parcel machine is in its flagship store in Hamburg and can accommodate 700 parcels. The chain set up a special area for it, significantly reducing the shop's floor space. One drawback: the parcel machine is only accessible when the shop is open.
Omnichannel is becoming increasingly important for the fashion chain. In 2018, it launched a ship-to-store service for two thousand shops. If an item ordered online is out of stock, it can still be delivered from one of its shops.
Meanwhile, with click&collect (in-store pick-up), Zara hopes to reduce the logistics costs of e-commerce. The retailer encourages this by keeping click&collect free, as opposed to home delivery. For home delivery, customers pay a €3.95 fee.
