B2BC process: How to bundle end customer orders into one package with delivery to a brick-and-mortar store

Ordering goods online is now a common part of life. However, not every customer prefers home delivery and opts for personal pick-up at a brick-and-mortar store. The reason is not only time flexibility, often more convenient availability and lower shipping costs, but also the possibility to have more variants of the ordered product delivered for trying out. This trend places new demands on e-shops and their logistics solutions, especially if the warehouse is located outside the sales network or is operated by an external provider.

We were asked by several clients from the fashion and footwear segments to consolidate multiple orders from different customers into one package going to the same store. Previously, we were picking and packing each order separately, which led to a high number of shipments per store, inefficient transport and multiple process errors in the warehouse and stores.

We decided to solve this challenge systemically and the result is an in-house concept called B2BC. An efficient way to process B2C (Business-to-Customer) orders for delivery to end customers at B2B (Business-to-Business) stores. In this article we will show how B2BC works in practice and what benefits it brings especially to clients and logistics operations.

What is the B2BC process?

B2BC is an internal term for the process of consolidating multiple B2C orders going to one specific store, where they are then picked up by end customers. Instead of each shipment being shipped separately, all orders for a given store are packaged together into one larger package.

From a system and warehouse perspective, these are normal B2C orders that go through a standard process from receiving to picking. The difference comes at the packaging, consolidation and shipping stage, where special rules and automation linked specifically to B2BC logic come into play.

How does the new process work?

We have designed the entire transaction to build on existing processes, but at the same time allow for efficient processing of multiple orders going to one specific address. Below you will find the steps of how the B2BC process works in practice.

Import and order processing

Orders from end customers arrive in bulk in a set format. The system automatically processes them as normal B2C shipments, except that they contain a special recognition tag and have a different shipping method.

Picking and packing

Orders go through the standard flow – system availability check, release of orders for picking, picking itself. Everything proceeds in the same way as for normal shipments.

When packing, the system recognizes by the tag that it is a B2BC shipment and prints a personalized form with the customer’s name and store address instead of the usual shipping label. The shipments physically remain at the specified location where they are then consolidated.

Consolidation of orders into one package

Packed shipments are physically placed in a defined location and at a specified time, a B2BC order consolidation transaction is triggered to manage the sorting of all orders by destination store. These shipments are then scanned and packaged into a larger superior package. This automatically generates a shipping label for the selected carrier and the shipment is ready to ship.

Palletizing and shipping

Consolidated parcels are further palletised and handed over to the carrier as part of normal dispatch, just as with other B2C shipments. The carrier then delivers the package directly to the brick-and-mortar store.

Benefits for clients

From the client’s perspective, the B2BC process improves the customer experience and reduces costs.

• Lower shipping costs – by consolidating multiple shipments into one package, shipping costs are significantly reduced. Instead of ten separate shipments, only one shipment is paid for to the destination store, allowing the seller to offer a lower delivery price to their customers.
• Easier receipt at the store – store personnel do not have to receive multiple packages, but receive one complete shipment with a list of all contained orders, including the names of the end customers.

Benefits for logistics / warehouse

For logistics, B2BC means higher productivity in operations, elimination of unnecessary handling and lower error rates.

• More efficient dispatch – shipments are automatically recognized as B2BC and grouped into one superior package.
• Transparency and lower error rates – automatic sorting makes handling shipments easier and less error-prone.
• Better use of warehouse capacity – grouping by destination store allows consolidation and dispatch to be scheduled within a defined time slot, helping to optimise utilisation and traffic in the warehouse.

B2BC: Combining the benefits of B2C and B2B shipments

The B2BC model provides a smart solution for retailers who want to deliver goods to their brick-and-mortar stores efficiently, transparently and at a lower cost. It allows you to combine the benefits of a B2C approach with the logic of B2B delivery, without complex interventions in existing processes. For clients, this means lower shipping costs and smoother handling in stores, and for the warehouse, higher productivity and greater visibility.

We initially developed the B2BC transaction to fit a need of a specific client, but due to its success, we have expanded the concept and are currently using it with other clients with similar needs. If you are also solving a similar need – get in touch. We would be happy to discuss the possibility of a B2BC process with you.