Introduction
Growing environmental concerns and changing customer expectations are encouraging companies to seek innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Striving to provide an exceptional service in the outbound process. Blokker, a leading Dutch retail chain, embarked on a remarkable journey of transformation by connecting their numerous retail locations to Packaly's sustainable delivery network. As the world is getting used to more sustainable alternatives, Blokker too were eager to explore how they could improve their sustainability initiatives whilst benefiting other key business components. A major element of this is the delivery of their online orders using local store stock that was not yet available to their 4.2 million weekly webshop visitors. This case study delves into how this partnership revolutionised brick and mortar by leveraging the power of local stock and sustainable delivery options, creating a win-win scenario for Blokker, consumers and the environment.
Problem
Blokker, like many traditional retailers, were met with a range of challenges. One of the challenges being, getting stock that is sitting on store shelves available online. Whether this is to relieve stress in the warehouse or to get a higher turnover rate. The company chose to take on this challenge and seek solutions.
To address this challenge, Blokker needed an innovative solution that could streamline delivery processes, leverage local stock, and minimise their carbon footprint. This is where Packaly comes in.
Solution
Blokker found the solution to their challenges in Packaly's ship-from-store proposition. This solution helped Blokker to transform local stores into micro fulfilment hubs. Offline stock in physical stores can now be shipped to customers locally on the same-day. We help speed up turnaround times of products in store and relieve stress from warehouse operations by utilising store staff for order picking and packing.
Here's how the collaboration works:
Leveraging Local Stock
By connecting their brick-and-mortar locations to Packaly's delivery network, Blokker unlocked the full potential of their local stock. This means that when a consumer does an order online, their products get allocated to the nearest Blokker store and have them delivered directly to their doorstep without the interference of a warehouse distribution network. We assisted them in managing their store’s availability within our system, ensuring that only eligible stores in the Packaly service area could participate in shipment allocations. This is constantly verified using a Dry-Run through our API. As the Packaly service area expands over time, Blokker can seamlessly add their stores within the new regions.Green Delivery
One of the standout features of the solution is its sustainability focus. By utilising Packaly's delivery network, Blokker managed to reduce the environmental impact of each parcel significantly. Directly contributing to the sustainability goals on CO2 reduction without making complex changes to their own logistical network. Parcels that previously contributed 138 grams of CO2eq now only had an impact of 0.07 grams of CO2eq, aligning with Blokker's commitment to sustainability.Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery
We enabled them to leave customers with a "WOW" effect by shipping their parcels on the same-day of the order creation.. Blokker adopted Packaly's ship-from-store same-day and next-day delivery feature, allowing them to offer customers the convenience of rapid delivery without the need for large centralised warehouses. With a cut-off time until 14:30, Blokker ensured that customers could place orders and receive them on the same day.
Results
Blokker's collaboration with Packaly's delivery system is a shining example of how a traditional retailer can reinvent themselves by embracing innovation and sustainability. By leveraging the power of local stock and sustainable delivery, Blokker not only met customer expectations for fast and convenient delivery but also significantly reduced its carbon footprint.
“Many of our customers are surprised to receive their products within a few hours of placing their order” - Wilco Dwarswaard, Development Manager Delivery
The success of Blokker's collaboration with Packaly was evident in different areas:
Reduced Carbon Footprint
The most impressive result of this partnership was the substantial reduction in the carbon footprint associated with each parcel. Blokker's shift to sustainable delivery options aligned perfectly with their environmental goals.Same-day delivery
With the use of Packaly’s zero emission last-mile delivery network, Blokker is able to deliver parcels from 40 stores in 23 different cities with a same-day proposition. As the network grows more cities and of course stores can be added to this operation.
The Relationship:
Blokker has embarked on a remarkable journey of transformation by connecting their retail locations to Packaly's on-demand delivery platform. This partnership that started 3 years ago, has now developed into a long standing partnership that has then been growing along with our coverage. Adding additional stores at a steady pace.
“We are very satisfied with the collaboration with Packaly. The working relationship is good and the people at Packaly are thinking ahead” - Wilco Dwarswaard
This partnership underscores the importance of adaptability and customer-centricity in today's retail landscape. Blokker's commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction positions them as a forward-thinking leader in the industry, and we are excited to see what the future holds.
Conclusion
Blokker is continuously looking to explore new horizons and minimise their carbon footprint. Their commitment to delivering an exceptional service while minimising their environmental impact is a true testament to their progressive business model and a blueprint for success in the ever-evolving retail landscape.
Together, Blokker and Packaly’s continued partnership has produced good benefits for both companies and consumers. By utilising Packaly’s ship-from-store model, Blokker has been able to ship 6% of their online orders in a more sustainable way. Not only that, but they have been able to surprise their customers with super fast deliveries.