Ordered Online, Delivered by the Retailer: Optimized Delivery Processes with Fax Integration
The Challenge
From food deliveries to flower greetings and pharmaceuticals orders many online platforms are increasingly relying on cooperation with traditional retailers rather than centralized warehouses for their business models. These web vendors act only as intermediaries, and benefit from the retailers expertise and local proximity to the customer. While customers select products conveniently from an online shop, the order is processed behind the scenes by a large partner network of local stores. However, the larger and more heterogeneous the retailer network, the harder it is for online platforms to reliably forward orders to local partner pharmacies, take-out restaurants, or florists. In addition, consumers quality expectations of online shopping are rising all the time. These days customers demand transparent notification of their order status at all times, as well as prompt delivery.
The Background
Few retailers have a dedicated office. Even in stores where there is a PC workstation, it is often unmanned. Emails are often only read after substantial delays, if at all. So the installation of complex IT solutions hardly addresses the problem. Point-of-sale terminals also consume available resources due to their expensive hardware, high maintenance costs, and the need for time-consuming training for the employees who use them. In the restaurant business, introducing these types of systems is highly problematic due to the high staff turnover rate. Another issue is that sensitive electronics are generally rather impractical in the hustle and bustle of fast food kitchens or florist shops. To make the ordering process fast and uncomplicated for all involved, well-considered processes are crucial.
The Solution
Internet platforms need a simple solution that neither presents a hurdle for retailers and restaurants, nor requires unnecessary investment. The answer lies in well-tried and standardized technology. Retarus Faxolution for Applications allows online vendors to establish a reliable order transmission solution with their partners by fax directly and securely. Retailers can simply continue using their existing fax machines to receive them.
Customer benefits
- Optimized order processes
- No investment costs for retailers
- Transmission report with time stamp
- Easy connection via standard API
s - Fax and SMS from one source
Benefits at a Glance
Use Case
Retarus cloud infrastructure handles the rest. Once the customer makes a selection on the internet platform and triggers an order by filling out a web form, it is automatically sent by fax to the appropriate retailer or restaurant. Thanks to the time stamp, vendors can track exactly when the order was received. After successful transmission, an automated reply is sent to the online vendors IT system, which then sends the customer an order confirmation by email or SMS. And for these two communication channels, vendors can rely on Retarus Cloud Services too.
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Did You Know?
Take-out delivery services receive tens of thousands of orders at peak times, for example during half-time of an international soccer game. Thanks to Retarus these orders are forwarded to connected restaurants reliably by fax in just a few seconds.
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