BigCommerce BOPIS: All You Need to Know
By Sam Nguyen
This straightforward guide dives into what BigCommerce BOPIS is, how it benefits retailers and customers alike, and essential tips for smooth implementation.
What is BigCommerce BOPIS?
BigCommerce BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In Store) is a solution that lets shops sell things online and then have customers pick them up at the store. It’s like connecting the dots between clicking ‘buy’ on the screen and actually getting the items in hand.
BOPIS retail sales are projected to jump from $73.16 billion in 2020 during the pandemic to more than $150 billion by 2025. This indicates that BOPIS is not just a one-time occurrence but a staple of the industry that can be used throughout the year.
How BigCommerce BOPIS Works
The process of BOPIS with BigCommerce involves three main steps:
- Customers buy online: Shoppers can complete their purchases online or through an app, selecting the time and store location for pickup. BigCommerce provides real-time local inventory visibility, allowing consumers to choose when and where to pick up their products.
- The store fulfills the order: If the item is in stock at the customer’s chosen local store, a store associate can quickly locate, pick, and pack the order to hold for the customer. If the store does not have the item in stock, the associate must order from a nearby store or warehouse facility.
- Customers pick up the order: Customers can go inside the store to a designated online pickup area where a store associate will hand over the items. Options for order pickup include in-store or curbside, where customers can receive their orders without leaving their cars. The process is facilitated through various forms of communication, such as text messages, push notifications, or emails with a receipt or QR code for order confirmation.
Pros and Cons of BigCommerce BOPIS
Pros of BOPIS
- Save on Shipping: Retailers don’t have to ship from warehouses to customers, cutting costs and getting items to customers faster. This means shoppers can get what they bought online really quickly, right from the store.
- More Shoppers in Stores: Customers coming in to grab their online purchases might browse and buy more, boosting in-store sales.
- Happier Customers: Mixing online with ease with the speed of getting things right away in-store makes shopping smoother. People can shop at home and then pick up their items fast, skipping the wait for delivery.
- Smart Stock Use: Stores act like little warehouses, helping manage stock better. This means less chance of having too much or too little on the shelves.
- Fewer Abandoned Carts: When people can pick up in-store and avoid shipping fees or waits, they’re more likely to finish buying what’s in their online cart.
Cons of BOPIS
- Setup Can Be Tough: Merging online shopping with store pickups needs careful planning. You have to keep track of what’s in stock in real-time and make sure orders are ready when customers come in.
- Stock Mix-ups: Sometimes, what the website says is available might not match what’s actually in the store, which can upset customers ready to pick up their purchase.
- Extra Work for Staff: Staff have to juggle their usual tasks with finding and preparing online orders for pickup, which can be a lot, especially when the store is busy.
- Risk of Mistakes: Making sure the right person gets the right order is crucial to avoid mix-ups or fraud. Stores need a good system to check customer IDs or order numbers.
- Initial Costs: Starting BOPIS means spending money upfront on the right tech and training people, which might be a lot for smaller shops.
What to Consider When Using BigCommerce BOPIS
Integrating Technology
Ensure your online store and physical store systems work together smoothly. This means your website needs to show what’s available in real-time in your stores. BigCommerce helps by connecting everything, but you need to check that your inventory and sales systems talk to each other well.
Training Your Team
Your staff should know how to handle orders that customers will pick up in the store. They also need to be good at solving any problems customers might have when they come to get their items. It might be a good idea to give your team special training on how to deal with pickup orders or use a portable POS.
Marketing BOPIS
Tell your customers about the option to buy online and pick up in-store. Use your website, social media, and emails to explain how it makes shopping easier and can save them money on shipping. The more your customers know about BOPIS, the more likely they are to use it.
Listening to Feedback
Keep an eye on how your BOPIS service is doing and ask your customers what they think about it. Their feedback can help you make the service better and make customers happier. You could use surveys or feedback forms to collect their thoughts.
Following the Rules
Make sure your BOPIS service follows local laws, especially those about keeping customer information safe. Have a secure way to make sure the right person picks up each order to avoid any mix-ups or fraud.
How to Set Up BOPIS with BigCommerce
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up BOPIS with BigCommerce.
Step 1: Choose the Right Theme
To implement BOPIS in your online store, you need to start with the right theme. Your store should have a Stencil theme that can be customized with GraphQL Storefront APIs. Without customization, BOPIS APIs will not display location-based inventory and pickup details on the storefront.
Step 2: Understand the BOPIS APIs
BigCommerce’s BOPIS APIs are now available by default. These APIs provide resources for configuring BOPIS via various endpoints such as Locations, Pickup Methods, Inventory, Orders, Storefront, and Checkout. Familiarize yourself with these APIs and how they can be used to create a custom pickup experience for your shoppers.
Step 3: Configure Locations
Use the Locations API to set up your store locations. Each location will need to be configured with its address, operating hours, and other relevant details.
Step 4: Set Up Pickup Methods
The Pickup Methods API allows you to define how customers can pick up their orders. This could include options like curbside pickup, in-store pickup, or locker pickup.
Step 5: Manage Inventory
The Inventory API helps you manage your stock levels across different locations. You’ll need to keep your inventory updated to ensure customers can only order items that are available for pickup.
Step 6: Integrate with Custom Checkout
Your store should have a custom checkout via Optimized One-Page Checkout. It is required to have the Checkout JS SDK to display pickup methods at checkout.
Step 7: Test Your Setup
Before going live, make sure to thoroughly test your BOPIS setup. Place test orders, go through the pickup process, and ensure everything works smoothly.
Step 8: Go Live
Once you’re confident everything is working correctly, you can go live with your BOPIS feature. Monitor its performance closely and make adjustments as necessary.
BOPIS features are currently API-only and cannot be enabled from within the control panel. However, you can get assistance with developing location-based inventory and pickup methods by enlisting a Certified BigCommerce Partner.
FAQs: BigCommerce BOPIS
Examples of BOPIS include major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Home Depot where you can order items online and then pick them up at a designated area inside the store. Many other businesses, from electronics outlets like Best Buy to fashion stores like Nordstrom and even local bookshops and boutiques, have adopted BOPIS to offer convenience to their customers.
BOPIS and curbside pickup are similar, but with a key difference in where you collect your order. With BOPIS, you pick up your order inside the store, often at a specific counter or area designated for online pickups. Curbside pickup, however, means you stay in your car, and store staff bring your order out to you. It's even more convenient if you're in a rush or prefer to minimize contact.
BOPIS has gained popularity for several reasons. It combines the ease of online shopping with the immediacy of getting your items without waiting for delivery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it offered a safe, contactless way to shop. Customers save on shipping costs and can resolve any issues with their purchase on the spot. Retailers benefit, too, as it drives foot traffic to their stores and reduces shipping and logistics costs.
Conclusion
With its ability to reduce shipping costs, increase foot traffic, and enhance customer satisfaction, BOPIS is a valuable addition to any retail strategy. By keeping the process simple, integrating technology effectively, and training staff accordingly, retailers can harness the full potential of BOPIS. Start implementing these insights today to create a seamless shopping experience that benefits both your business and your customers.
