Click and collect combines online ordering with in-store fulfilment. A smooth printing workflow can help staff identify orders, prepare items and hand them to customers efficiently.
But there isn’t necessarily one “best” printer for every click-and-collect operation. The right solution depends on what you need to print.
What do you need to print for click and collect?
A click-and-collect workflow might require:
- Customer receipts
- Order tickets
- Picking lists
- Bag or package labels
- Collection labels
- Product labels
- Customer order information
The best printer therefore depends on your workflow.
Receipt printers for click and collect
A thermal receipt printer can be used to print customer receipts or order information at the point of sale.
For businesses already using a POS system, choosing a printer supported by that system can simplify deployment and integration.
Label printers for click and collect
Label printers can be useful when orders need to be identified during fulfilment or collection.
For example, a retailer could use labels to identify:
- Customer orders
- Collection bags
- Packages
- Prepared items
- Delivery or fulfilment orders
Star Micronics offers label printers supporting different media types, including linerless, die-cut and continuous media.
What should you look for in a click-and-collect printer?
Speed
The printer should keep up with the volume of orders being processed.
Connectivity
Consider whether USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth best suits the environment.
Media flexibility
Choose receipt paper, linerless labels or other media according to the workflow.
Software compatibility
The printer needs to work with your POS, ecommerce or order-management software.
Size
Counter space can be limited, particularly in retail stores.
A flexible printing setup
For some businesses, the most effective solution could be a combination of receipt and label printing.
For example:
Online order → POS/order system → Receipt/order printer + label printer → Fulfilment → Customer collection
Multifunction printers can also reduce the number of devices required for some workflows.
Star’s mC-Label2 and mC-Label3, for example, support multiple media types and can print labels and receipts from one device.
FAQs
What printer do I need for click and collect?
It depends on what you need to print. Receipt printers can handle receipts and order tickets, while label printers can be used for order identification and fulfilment labels.
Can a label printer be used for click and collect orders?
Yes. Label printers can be used to identify bags, packages, orders and prepared products where the software and media support the required workflow.