Revolutionizing Courier Delivery for In-store Checkout
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In today's omnichannel commerce landscape, businesses and consumers rely heavily on efficient and reliable courier delivery services. Last-mile delivery, the final leg of the supply chain that brings products to the customer's doorstep, has long been a challenge in the logistics industry.
Delays, missed deliveries, and increased costs are some of the main operational issues businesses encounter that lead to customers' frustrations and disappointment. With the rapid growth of online to offline (O2O) commerce, the demand for speedy and accurate deliveries intensifies, pushing companies to seek innovative solutions.
Streamlining delivery options for in-store customers
When purchasing online, customers typically navigate multiple delivery options, carriers, and tracking systems at the click or touch of devices. The in-store customers, however, require a more unified approach to match their entirely different buying behaviours. In physical stores, an integration of courier delivery at checkout terminals provides a convenient and seamless approach that can significantly enhance the shopping experience.
Ingenico recognizes the gap for such a service in the market. Collaborating with our partner Kosmo, Ingenico's StartupIN program brings a solution to meet this need and deliver a POC (Proof of Concept) for courier delivery aggregation at point-of-sale (POS) terminals. The innovative solution is poised to reshape the last-mile delivery landscape, bringing together convenience, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.
Spotlight on Kosmo, a last-mile delivery platform
Many local businesses see the benefits of offering delivery services to their customers. However, integrating it with their existing systems is often a challenge. Kosmo provides a simple API that seamlessly embeds delivery options into the merchant POS with the fleets of local delivery services that offer same-day, on-demand, and scheduled deliveries to customers.
Kosmo, a Singapore-headquartered startup led by a prominent ex-food delivery executive, provides last-mile delivery optimization for SMEs mainly in Singapore, Malaysia & Philippines. The company has received $1.5M in funding from K-fund.
Kosmo provides 3 delivery options:
- Instant | ASAP
- Same-day delivery
- Scheduled | 1-3 day delivery
Kosmo has over 50 customers in Singapore, Malaysia and The Philippines. They company is partnering with local businesses such as florists, meal preps, pharmaceutical companies & other retail stores. Kosmo claims it helps reduce delivery costs by 20% with their optimization platform.
Unlocking courier delivery opportunities with Ingenico's StartupIN program
Kosmo and StartupIN's innovative approach streamlines the consumer's delivery process by allowing them to select and schedule delivery options directly from the POS terminal at the point of purchase, designed with simplicity and convenience in mind.
Here's how it works:
When a customer completes a purchase in a physical store, the cashier or the consumers are presented with various courier delivery options. These options are aggregated from a network of trusted delivery partners. Customers can select their preferred delivery option, time slot, and location at the POS terminal. The price is then added to the cart to ensure a single payment at checkout. The system securely transmits this information to the selected courier service, providing a smooth and coordinated delivery process.
Although the concept is still in its infancy, the solution has been seen at a few stores in Amsterdam and is expected to gain traction.
Benefits for consumers and businesses
- Convenience: Customers enjoy the convenience of choosing their preferred delivery option at the point of purchase, eliminating the need for separate online interactions and reducing the chances of missed deliveries.
- Transparency: Real-time tracking updates keep customers informed about the status of their delivery, enhancing transparency and trust in the process.
- Efficiency: Businesses benefit from streamlined logistics and reduced delivery-related customer inquiries, freeing up resources for other essential tasks.
- Cost Savings: Aggregating delivery options leads to cost efficiencies for businesses and consumers.
- Competitive edge: Retailers can stand out by offering a unique and convenient delivery aggregation service, setting them apart in a competitive market.
By seamlessly integrating courier services into checkout terminals, Ingenico and Kosmo's solution elevates the delivery process for businesses and consumers. This innovation highlights the collaborative synergy between established industry leaders like Ingenico and dynamic startups like Kosmo in shaping the future of last-mile delivery.
About Ingenico's StartupIN Program
The Ingenico StartupIN Program focuses on start-ups that are in-store natives or have plans to enter the in-store space, whether they are a FinTech or a SaaS provider. Designed for early-stage start-ups (Series A or below) that are looking for go-to-market routes in the in-store commerce space.
Through the program, startups will get access to Ingenico’s technology stack, payment expertise, and commerce ecosystem. It also serves to promote the collaboration between the program alumni and Ingenico to ecosystem partners.
As a global leader in payment solutions, Ingenico has consistently championed innovation in the digital commerce space. The StartupIN program is a platform to foster and cultivate groundbreaking ideas within the company and to collaborate with emerging startups to develop transformative solutions.
The courier delivery aggregation initiative exemplifies the program's success, combining Ingenico's industry acumen with the fresh insights of startups to produce a game-changing offering.
