From Bricks and Clicks Synchronizing In-Person Payments & Online Sales

May 25, 2022

eCommerce stores have some serious benefits for owners as well ascustomers. However, in-person shopping offers incredible advantages, as well, and there are certain situations where your customers may need to purchase in-person. You'll see, now there's a way to successfully merge eCommerce and in-person purchases.

The term is 'click-to-bricks. The strategy is a blend of the very best of both: in-person and online shopping.

If you are an eCommerce business that wants to sell in person at places like flea and farmer's market, as well as for businesses that accept pre-orders on the internet but accept and deliver in person, clicks to bricks is the best method to serve your customers.

We'll introduce you to the concept of clicking to bricks, look at the reasons why it could be a smart way to upgrade your business, and then see the best way to implement it.

What are clicks to bricks?

Clicks to bricks gives online shoppers the option to go to a shop or market in person and also to place an order onlineand complete their purchase in person. All this happens while seamlessly handling your sales processes and stock.

It's a type of customer service. The purchase of things such as clothes and furniture, as well as tools and even food can be easier and more pleasant when you can see how, feel, and test on the item before you buy it.

people shopping at an outdoor market

Plus, it's more personal and exciting to talk to the creator of particular items. It's the main reason people go to market events in person.

Clicks to bricks is also an effective way of increasing profit. Certain customers prefer the in-store or in-person experience, so if you do not offer this option, they'll not purchase from the store. The well-known eCommerce retailer Warby Parker, for example, now makes approximately half its earnings due to its ever-growing assortment of stores.

The trend of bricks clicking has been evident over the last few years, as more customers and retailers grapple with the limitations of online shopping. For a time, some predicted the demise of brick and mortar stores as well as the end of shopping centers, as online shopping is, seemingly more efficient and convenient.

There was a twist along the way; it turns out that the in-person shopping experiences can be better than shopping online. The predictions of the demise of in-person retail were premature.

And physical markets appeal to certain types of customers who appreciate local products, and also supporting small enterprises. Additionally, they're green.

Five good reasons to include the strategy of "clicks to Bricks" within your company model

How does the clicks to bricks approach help you improve customer service and increase profits? Let's look at a few ways.

1. It offers a smoother customer service experience.

Some of the biggest pains associated with shopping online are alleviated by having an option to shop in person. A lot of customers are able to visit a physical place makes it simpler to return purchases. It's easier to explain an issue with an order in person, rather than emailing support.

Sometimes, it's even faster if you need the item today. It's easy to drive to the market or store to buy a product. You have it the same day that you want it. At the same time.

There are advantages to bothonline as well as in-person purchases, and combining the two lets you better reach your customers.

2. Customers can pre-order

The biggest flaw of a poorly executed clicks to bricks strategy happens in the event that a buyer sees an item online, and then goes to the shop or the market only to find out the product isn't available. There's nothing more frustrating than that. However, it's often not feasible to take your entire stock with you to the event or any other display. What can you do?

This problem can be solved by letting customers pre-order online, and then take their order home and pay in the store in person.

Furthermore, using software which syncs your inventory to the payment and order processing, the product availability information that customers see in your online store remains up-to-date.

3. It boosts sales and increases profit

In the research that was conducted, 57% of the customers who purchased online went to the store after having made an online purchase with the same company online. And going the other way, 68% of shoppers who bought their first purchase in-person followed by a visit to an online shop of the same business and bought a second time.

By offering both options, you're giving shoppers an additional option to purchase. In fact, as the study showed most of buyers will choose the two options. Offer them just one choice or the other, and you'll make lower profits.

retail store with an "open" sign

According to the Wall Street Journal reported that Untuckit was a previously online-only clothing retailer, gets a bump in sales on the internet business within ten-mile area of any new store they open. Think about that for a minute. Their CEO says their stores "are similar to a billboard that is inexpensive."

If you're selling your products in person at markets in your area You can expect the same result.

4. It increases conversion rates

Your digital storefront can help shoppers browse through your inventory to find out whether you've got what they're looking for. If they are aware that the product they're looking for is available and they're able to choose either delivery or pickup in person. Or, they may even go to your store and purchase the item in person.

In any case, buyers show up with a desire to purchase. And if your inventory is synced between your online and physical store, you can reduce the number of people that leave with nothing and are frustrated.

5. You get higher average order values

Why is it good when customers show up to buy in person? Because they spend more.

One study discovered the 70% consumers tend to make an impulse purchase at the store than online.

At a market, store, market or even a in a home delivery scenario, you can introduce shoppers to all sorts of items, great and small ones, which they would never discover in your retailer. As they're walking around, they'll see something else they'll realize they require. In the next, they'll find something to give to someone else as a present, or treat themselves to. That doesn't happen quite in the same way online.

You need the right tool for an enjoyable clicks-to-bricks shopping experience

The transition from an online-only company to one that also has an in-person experience is not something that can be done in a single step. It could be necessary to deal with shelving and layouts, managing inventory in a different way, employees in person experience design, more.

The right tools could assist in making things happen more quickly -- whether it's making a temporary display at a festival or designing large retail spaces beginning from scratch.

 A POS which integrates inventory as well as payment processing is a must-have.

At the point of sale it is necessary to have a means to process payment. Customers online purchase on one checkout page. In person, however, what happens if customers pay by curbside? What happens if their purchase delivered directly to their residence and pay on delivery?

You'll need a physical machine that is able to accept payment.

  • A M2 reader can be described as the actual device that accepts transactions. It's a small, lightweight unit that connects seamlessly with mobile apps. Mobile App. It's quick and secure with end-to-end encryption.
  • Customers are able to tap, swipe or use a chip or pay using contactless methods like Apple Pay -- whatever options you'd like to offer them.

Purchases made in person be synced with the online store so that inventory is always updated.

card reader accepting a credit card

This way, when someone purchases something from you that they pay for using M2 card readers, your online store will display the transaction. If the customer purchased the only one available of an item, the online store won't show it as still being available. It eliminates any chance that a different customer will show up hoping to purchase the same item.

With the In-Person Payments option it is possible to create an order, purchase it on the spot and then process the payment. And you can do this anywhere at the point of sale, even if you're at a farmer's market or are delivering to an individual staying in a hotel.