Ship-from-store turns physical stores into mini logistics centres that dispatch online orders directly to the customer. When a customer buys online, the system chooses the nearest store with available stock and routes the order for preparation and dispatch. The central warehouse is left for replenishment and peaks the stores cannot handle.
The benefits are threefold: reduced delivery cost (the store is closer to the customer), reduced delivery time (ideally same-day delivery), and use of stock that would otherwise sit idle in stores with low local demand. The trade-off is operational — store staff take on picking and packing tasks, which requires training and suitable tools.
MAXIRETAIL by INFOS supports ship-from-store with a configurable store-selection algorithm (by proximity, stock, current workload), a mobile picking interface for the store operator, and carrier integration. The decision to activate ship-from-store depends on the retailer's profile — chains with dense stores in urban areas benefit greatly; dispersed chains less so.