From BOPIS to BOPIL

In the retail sector in the USA, curbside pickup, requiring employees to take products out to customers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, has developed into the preferred choice for an increasing number of consumers, and even in ahead of BOPIS (buy online, pickup in stores). These are the results of a study by Zebra Technologies.
Actually, some retailers did not let customers come into their stores, relying solely on curbside pickup policies to generate sales. 46 per cent of the retailers said they were managing expanded curbside pickup operations.
An example of new curbside retail activities is given by Lowe's. The retailer announced plans to install pickup lockers at all U.S. stores by the end of March 2021. The addition of buy online pickup in store self-service lockers (BOPIL) at more than 1 700 stores leverages innovative technology to provide a safe, contactless and easier way for customers to collect same-day online orders at their con­venience, according to the number 2 in the U. S. and global home improvement retailing.
As shopping preferences shifted during the pandemic, Lowe's accelerated the migration of Lowes.com to the cloud and rolled out curbside pickup. With the demand for contactless services here to stay, Lowe's latest investment will eliminate checkout time for customers and allow them direct access to pick up their orders and get in and out of the store faster. The entirely digital experience relies on electronic technology in the lockers that generates a scannable barcode when an order is ready for pickup.

"With more than 60 percent of online orders picked up in our stores, this gives our customers one more option and the added convenience and flexibility to control how and when they get that order," said Joe McFarland, Lowe's executive vice president of stores.
Lowe's customers can now quickly collect their online orders from self-service lockers near the front of stores in many locations. After a Lowe's associate stages an online order, the customer receives an automated email notification with a one-time user barcode. The customer then completes the pickup by scanning the barcode at the locker using their smartphone without having to wait in line, receive assistance from a store associate or contact…