As consumer expectations continue to evolve, retailers are under pressure to deliver fast, frictionless, and flexible shopping experiences. While much of the focus has been on e-commerce, the most exciting innovations are happening inside physical stores, and few technologies are driving more value than smart lockers.
These secure, automated pickup points are redefining in-store fulfilment, enhancing customer convenience while unlocking serious operational benefits. But smart lockers are just one part of a wider trend: the shift toward tech-enabled, ROI-driven retail.
Here, we explore five powerful ways in-store tech - led by smart lockers - can boost return on investment (ROI), increase efficiency, and future-proof the high street.
1. Drive Footfall with Seamless Click-and-Collect
Today’s consumers want flexibility. They want to shop online but collect their purchases when and where it suits them. Smart lockers make this possible, offering contactless, 24/7 pickup in high-traffic locations such as storefronts, shopping centres, and transport hubs.
Integrating lockers into your click-and-collect strategy, means you not only meet customer demand for speed and convenience, you also create more footfall opportunities. Studies show that over 60% of click-and-collect customers make additional in-store purchases when picking up orders.
2. Reduce Last-Mile Delivery Costs
The last mile is often the most expensive part of the fulfilment process, in fact it’s up to 53% of total shipping costs according to Capgemini. By shifting more deliveries to in-store pickup via lockers, retailers can drastically reduce courier fees, packaging costs, and failed delivery attempts.
Even better, smart lockers centralise fulfilment, reducing the complexity of managing parcels across multiple delivery addresses. With fewer resources spent on logistics, more budget can be directed to growth-driving activities.
3. Free Up Staff to Focus on High-Value Tasks
Traditional in-store pickup can strain resources. Staff must locate, verify, and hand over orders, often during peak times. Smart lockers automate this process, allowing customers to collect their items using QR codes or SMS verification, without staff intervention or reallocation.
This frees up employees to focus on value-added tasks like customer service, sales support, and stock replenishment, boosting store productivity and performance.
Retailers like Decathlon, Argos, and Best Buy are already using smart lockers to transform their labour models, and see measurable gains in efficiency and customer satisfaction.
4. Create New Revenue Streams with Third-Party Locker Use
Forward-thinking retailers are using smart lockers not just for their own fulfilment, but to generate revenue from third-party use. Whether partnering with local couriers, e-commerce platforms, or independent brands, lockers can become shared pickup points, transforming stores into logistics hubs.
This model offers:
- New income from locker partnerships
- Increased footfall from partner customers
- Stronger B2B relationships in the local retail ecosystem
Retailers embracing this approach are seeing their stores deliver incremental revenue without extra investment in physical space or staff.
5. Gather Valuable Data to Personalise and Optimise
Smart lockers are more than hardware, they’re data generators. Each interaction provides valuable insights: which locations are busiest, what times customers prefer, how fast orders are collected, and more.
When integrated with CRM and loyalty systems, retailers can use this data to:
- Personalise promotions at pickup
- Improve inventory planning by location
- Optimise staffing and locker placement
Smart lockers also help identify drop-off in order collection or delays, allowing proactive service recovery and customer engagement.
Bonus: Sustainability and Brand Differentiation
Sustainability is no longer a niche concern, it’s a core purchasing driver. Smart lockers support eco-conscious operations by:
- Reducing failed deliveries and packaging waste
- Consolidating deliveries into fewer trips
Encouraging local pickup and walking visits
This aligns with rising consumer expectations around environmental responsibility. For retailers, it’s a chance to differentiate with purpose, and strengthen their brand identity in an increasingly values-driven marketplace.
Final Thoughts: A Smart Investment for a Smarter Store
Smart lockers are more than a fulfilment tool, they’re a strategic asset in the age of omnichannel retail. Improving customer experience, reducing costs, empowering staff, and enabling new revenue opportunities, helps retailers do more with less, boosting ROI in measurable and meaningful ways.
But lockers are just the beginning. As part of a broader in-store tech strategy, they enable a future where the high street is not only resilient but revolutionary.
If you're looking to invest in in-store tech that delivers real returns, start with Clix, and unlock the full potential of smarter retail.
