The number of UK shoppers using click and collect is set to double by 2017, according to research from Planet Retail.
35 per cent of online shoppers in the UK used click and collect in the past six months but this figure is expected to more than double to 76 per cent in three years.
Click and collect has been rolled out by retailers including Next, John Lewis, Cotswold Outdoor and Asda and have been largely welcomed by British consumers who value the convenience and security of knowing a product will be in store.
Despite its success in the UK the research warns that retailers could be doing more to cater to this shifting shopping behaviour. Only two-thirds of the top 50 retailers offer the service, while only 14 per cent offer more than one collection option (i.e. instore collection, locker, third party store).
Click and collect has boomed in recent months with a new delivery service from Volvo allowing shoppers to have packages delivered to the boot of their car.
“Two of the biggest barriers to buying online are cost of delivery and inconvenient delivery times, making click & collect an increasingly attractive option for both shoppers and retailers. Fulfilment is poised to be the next big battleground in retail,” argued Natalie Berg, Global Research Director at Planet Retail.
