Coles Online has expanded its offer to make shopping faster and easier with the arrival of Rapid Click&Collect, promising customers can collect their groceries in under 60 minutes of placing their online order, for the first time.
Launched at Coles’ next generation supermarket at Southland in Victoria, Coles is the first major retailer to launch an under 60-minute Click&Collect service. Customers can order from an extended range of over 20,000 products, some not usually offered for home delivery orders such as Coles hot roast chicken. Customers can also select from a range of local and international beer, wine and spirits from selected stores.
Following a pilot program in 2022, which saw demand for Rapid Click&Collect almost double, the service is now available in almost 400 Coles stores around the country and will roll out to an additional 200 stores.
Coles CEO, Steven Cain said Coles customers are increasingly looking for more convenience when shopping and are seeking out omnichannel solutions that allow them to shop anytime, anywhere and anyhow.
“Our Rapid Click&Collect service has grown in popularity since launching in February last year,” Cain said.
“Our research shows the number one consideration for online shoppers is convenience and for click and collect customers it’s immediate collection. Rapid Click&Collect in under 60 minutes will make it easier for customers to have their groceries conveniently delivered to their car boot as quickly as possible when they don’t have time to shop inside the store.”
Customers can place an order for up to 40 items, with a minimum spend of $30 and a flat fee of $5 for orders to be picked, packed and ready for collection in under 60 minutes between 8:30am and 4:30pm daily. Coles Plus members will continue to receive free Rapid Click&Collect as part of their membership subscription benefits.
For extra convenience, shoppers can use the Coles app to notify the store when they are on their way or have arrived to collect their Click&Collect order.
Coles Southland ushers in new digital innovation
Coles Southland features Coles’ largest ever Click&Collect area and in a first for Coles, customers are greeted with digital screens navigating them to an available Click&Collect bay. The technology will enable team members to track customer arrivals and departures to reduce customer wait times.
In addition to the new Click&Collect technology, the store incorporates the launch of digital ticketing across fresh produce and grocery aisles. Southland is introducing digital scales in the fresh produce area which use artificial intelligence to automatically detect the fruit or vegetable weighed to speed up shopping in store, while across in the store’s deli the introduction of new queue monitoring technology will reduce wait times.
Coles has also unveiled its first convertible hybrid checkout at Southland designed to provide more choice for customers shopping in store. The hybrid checkout will rotate between self-service mode, or a traditional checkout experience serviced by a team member, depending on customers’ preference.
Furthering Coles’ commitment to sustainability, for the first time Southland customers can bring their own container at the deli, scoop and weigh, frozen fruit, fruit and veg bar and the pet treat bar.
“We’re excited to be bringing new technology-led innovations to Coles Southland that will make it easier for customers to shop the way they like by improving efficiencies and speed of service, while also reducing waste through initiatives including BYO containers,” Cain said.
The shopping experience inside the Southland store has been enhanced to create a destination for health, sustainability and convenience including:
Coles Southland has also welcomed the launch of Liquorland’s first drive through Click&Collect service, delivering drinks to the car. Southland’s new black-and-white branded Liquorland store features twice the amount of drink fridge. The Liquorland range has been tailored to bayside shoppers featuring over 130 Victorian producers, an expanded choice of seltzers and shines a spotlight on local wineries.
In partnership with food rescue organisation, SecondBite, Coles Southland will donate all unsold, edible food, helping Australians in need. Customers can also donate products purchased at Southland at a dedicated SecondBite collection area located at the front of store. Coles and SecondBite have been working together since 2011 in the fight against hunger and food waste.
To reduce the store’s environmental footprint Coles has installed doors on fridges throughout the store and uses natural refrigerant gases which have close to no global warming potential.
This article was written by Emily Bencic and originally appeared on retailbiz.
To stay up to date on the latest industry headlines, sign up to the C&I e-newsletter.