Click & Collect, a tool against loss prevention?

Click-and-collect solutions have emerged as a powerful tool for retailers not only to enhance convenience but also to address pressing challenges in loss prevention and retail crime. As retail crime in the UK remains a critical issue for retail, click-and-collect offers a streamlined, secure way to mitigate these risks by leveraging both operational controls and technology.

Minimizing In-Store Theft
One of the primary ways click-and-collect helps with loss prevention is by reducing the need for customers to spend time in the store, thereby minimizing the risk of in-store theft. Since items are pre-ordered and prepared for pickup, retailers can manage and secure products from the moment they are requested until they are handed over.

Mitigating Internal Theft
Click-and-collect services create an opportunity for tighter control over inventory and staff handling. With clearly defined workflows, video surveillance, and automated systems tracking the fulfillment process, any discrepancies or suspicious activity, such as appeasement fraud (where employees manipulate return processes), can be detected quickly. This level of transparency helps reduce both employee-related shrinkage.

Using Technology to Combat Fraud
Retailers can further strengthen their loss prevention strategies by integrating advanced technologies like real-time data analytics and surveillance with click-and-collect services. Data from click-and-collect orders can be tracked to identify suspicious patterns, such as multiple high-value purchases from the same account or device. Advanced security solutions, such as alarmed anti-theft devices and real-time tracking systems, ensure that even as orders are processed for pickup, any anomalies can be flagged for further review.

Protecting High-Value Items
Retailers often face theft related to high-value goods, but by utilizing click-and-collect, these items can be stored securely until they are picked up. Unlike in-store shopping where these products may be openly displayed, click-and-collect minimizes the need for such exposure. With real-time inventory tracking and secure pickup points, retailers can ensure that valuable items remain secure until they reach the rightful customer.

Reducing Shrinkage Through Automation
By removing the need for physical checkout processes, these systems reduce the risk of theft during checkout. Moreover, with package audits and employee training specific to click-and-collect workflows, retailers can ensure that every order is accurately fulfilled, reducing potential losses due to mishandling or fraudulent activities.

As retail crime evolves, click-and-collect offers an adaptable, customer-friendly solution that also serves as a critical defense in the broader strategy against loss prevention.