The boom from the dark stores is transforming e-commerce logistics in the world; We will tell you what the new online proposal that is already in Mexico is about.
The dark stores or ghost stores are the new global trend of e-commerce. East boom It is the result of the increase in users who buy online and the growth of their demands since the confinement by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is a ‘dark store’?
Do you know a dark store? Surely yes. A dark store, dark store or ghost store, is a company that is dedicated to selling products in a 100% virtual way. This means that it does not have a physical store open to the public, only a physical space used for e-commerce logistics operations. Something very similar to dark kitchens in the apps from delivery.
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According to a study by the Kearney consultancy, the effectiveness of dark stores can triple that of traditional supermarketsThis is due to the fact that they are open 365 days a year and allow for a greater range and availability of products, as well as expanding the capacity to prepare orders, deliver and collect merchandise in areas with a high density of purchase orders or with restrictions due to the traffic. In Mexico, these types of “stores” already operate in cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
“The dark stores position themselves as an alternative to the increase in digital purchases and the new consumption habits of users. If we remember, only in 2020 the e-commerce it grew 81% in Mexico, so challenges such as last mile delivery, times and experience improvement became latent; today, the dark stores are one of the answers ”, explains Oscar Victorin, CEO & co-founder of Skydropx, the logistics management platform that helps companies reduce time and costs, as well as centralize shipments in one place.
What are the advantages of the ‘dark stores’
The dark stores They are here to stay, as they satisfy a market need that is growing and will hardly change course. Here are the top three advantages of ghost shops.
1. Offer guarantee
The dark stores help supermarkets, platforms retail and stores to improve the management of their inventory and ensure the supply in a strategic way, by being closer to the final buyers.
Through a dark store, sellers can process more orders per day and with a greater variety of products in their catalog, all available 24/7, that’s the ghost store offer guarantee.
2. Cost reduction
The dark stores reduce logistics cost, having a strategic location in urban centers. According to the analysis “Efficient Dark Store Networks: Future of Post-Pandemic Retail”, by Data Surram, Ghost stores around the world have made deliveries 1.25 times faster, reduce cost per delivery and operating costs by up to 35%, in addition to increasing operating efficiency by up to 40%, and improving consumer satisfaction rates.
3. Improved last mile delivery
Meeting delivery times is critical to the success of an e-commerce brand. Currently, the one that a retailer or digital store Failure to comply with the indicated delivery times is the second most annoying aspect to digital consumers.
For this reason, ghost warehouses are an effective answer to last-mile logistics, facilitate the delivery of products from a center close to the user’s home.
In fact, the effectiveness of these three advantages for retailers that sell in large urban centers it can triple that of traditional supermarkets.