newsonline24

• Arvato Systems is making it easier for retailers to open their stores for business with its online appointment platform
• The system can also be combined with the aroma® omnichannel order management system from Arvato Systems as an option
• Click & Meet can also be offered as a permanent service for products requiring more detailed consultation

The German federal government recently approved shopping by appointment depending on the Covid-19 incidence rate. The “Click & Meet” shopping appointment platform helps retailers generate revenue in spite of current events and provide customers with the traditional on-site shopping experience.

The “click and collect” system has already been in use for some time, even before the pandemic: Customers order goods online or by telephone and then pick them up at one of the retailers’ stores. Click & Meet, on the other hand, is a first step back to normal life in brick-and-mortar stores. Customers book a fixed appointment to do their shopping. During their appointment, they have the opportunity to seek out in-depth consultation. Retailers can finally provide customers with personal service again and mitigate the loss of business to online competition.

Click & Meet – Convenient and paperless

Retailers are not accustomed to booking and managing customer appointments, but it can be done easily and efficiently with the retail appointment platform from Arvato Systems. The system enables retailers to easily plan and coordinate their opening hours and the availability of their consultants. Customers book an appointment in the store of their choice by entering their information via laptop, tablet, or smartphone. In the process, they will be able to view the available appointments. While booking their appointment, customers have the option of entering the product range or item they are interested in. When the customers arrive at the store, they go through a check-in process to verify their master data.

Click & Meet as a permanent service

For retailers with services requiring more detailed consultation, such as premium fashion and jewelry products, furniture, kitchens, computers, and much more, it could make sense to offer Click & Meet as a permanent service. This would allow retailers to increase customer retention and optimize their processes. Click & Meet would simply become a new addition to the omnichannel retail toolkit.

And there is one more advantage: The appointment platform for retail can be combined with the aroma® omnichannel order management system from Arvato Systems. The solution enables all systems to be linked across channels: aroma® is designed to integrate and manage all the processes along the entire retail value chain.

Long-established, traditional store processes can be transparently connected to eCommerce systems and many new processes and systems. This allows retailers to offer their customers a seamless shopping experience across all channels while also improving their ROI.