The Click and Trip website helps people quickly find transportation resources to help them get from Point A to Point B in Southwest Washington. To use the website, simply enter the address or cross street of where you are starting your trip into the “Origin” box and the destination into the “Destination” box. Click and Trip will then return a list of available transportation resources.
Consumer demand for online shopping and pickup options has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with buy online pick up in store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup among the top trends. These services enable consumers to order products and goods on a retailer’s website or mobile app, then drive to the store where employees will prepare their orders and bring them out to the consumer curbside or to an in-store pickup location. These services have been popular with shoppers who want to avoid crowded stores and for those who wanted to stay home during the pandemic or needed to run errands from their cars, cutting errand times in half and giving them more time at home.
Retailers that offer click and collect services are often able to sell products for higher prices than they would if they sold them in stores, as people tend to value convenience and speedy transactions. In addition, retailers can avoid the costs of shipping and fulfillment that are associated with delivering items directly to consumers’ doors.
Another reason why click and collect is becoming so popular is the high level of shopper control it provides. People can browse and purchase items online at their own pace, viewing detailed product descriptions and clear total prices, and choosing how they will be shipped. Consumers can also make changes and add more items to their cart before finalizing a purchase. They can also view and try on clothing before buying, and they can choose from a wide range of delivery dates.
While e-commerce companies can set up their online ordering systems to facilitate click and collect, it requires significant effort by stores to execute the service successfully. Employees must be able to keep up with the volume of orders and arrange and prepare them to be ready for pickup as efficiently as possible, while keeping all items separated and organized. The pickup locations must be clearly marked and labeled, and customers should be notified when their orders are ready to be picked up so they can make the trip in a timely fashion.
While the terms of the deal are not being disclosed, TravelPerk’s Meir says that both TravelPerk and Click Travel will continue to operate independently until they fully integrate. He also denies that the company will cut jobs or shut its Birmingham headquarters, which he calls “an important base for the business.” The acquisition is TravelPerk’s latest in a shopping spree that has seen it pick up travel risk management startup Albatross in summer 2020 and NexTravel in January 2021.