Driving Efficiency in Omnichannel Retail

Helsinki Outlet is Finland’s only omnichannel outlet village. However, its standout feature is an e-commerce platform launched in 2021 that unites all 40 of its brand stores under one digital roof.

Previously, Helsinki Outlet operated a traditional order-and-collect service, allowing customers to pick up their orders from a collection point. Seeking to enhance operations and improve the customer experience, they adopted Punta’s Click & Collect solution in August 2024. The new 105-compartment smart locker system, located on the second floor, allows for flexible order pick-ups during opening hours.

“The locker pick-up point has significantly streamlined our operations. It has improved distribution efficiency and freed up staff to focus on order picking and packing. At the same time, it has provided customers with more flexible pick-up times,” says Anna Sandvik, Helsinki Outlet’s E-Commerce Manager.

One of a Kind in Finland

Punta’s Click & Collect solution consists of two components: the smart locker and the Punta Suite software.

The smart locker serves as a physical pick-up point where customers can collect their online orders. Lockers of various sizes ensure that each product has a suitable storage space. Advanced technology and software guarantee efficient and secure order picking, delivery, and customer pick-up.

For the first time in Finland, customers can place orders from multiple brand stores and retrieve everything from a single pick-up point. Dedicated runners collect the items from individual stores and deliver them to secure lockers, where customers can conveniently pick them up at their leisure.

“The system has proven to be extremely effective, and Click & Collect has become a very popular delivery option. It has significantly enhanced the customer experience,” Sandvik adds.

Praised for Simplicity and Speed

Punta’s solution has been lauded by Helsinki Outlet’s staff for its user-friendly design.

“Our logistics team includes many temporary workers, so having a system that’s easy to learn has been a major advantage. The training has gone smoothly, which highlights the user-friendliness of the solution,” Sandvik notes.

The smart locker system has also earned praise from customers. During peak times, such as Black Friday shopping week, it has enabled quick, smooth pick-ups without congestion.

“We’ve been able to serve a larger number of customers in less time, and this is reflected in our customer satisfaction,” Sandvik explains.

A Flexible and Scalable Solution

Designed to grow with businesses, Punta’s Click & Collect solution allows easy scalability.

“When we started, we weren’t sure how many lockers we’d need. Punta’s solution has proven excellent due to its flexibility. We can easily expand capacity as demand grows,” Sandvik says.

Punta’s Sales Manager, Marko Vornanen, also emphasizes the scalability of the solution, saying, “Helsinki Outlet’s concept demonstrates how our smart locker solutions can adapt to unique client needs and support business growth.”

Customer-Focused Collaboration

Punta and Helsinki Outlet’s partnership has been smooth and productive, opening new opportunities for both parties.

“Punta has listened to our needs and provided flexible solutions that support our business,” Sandvik says.

As the collaboration continues, there are plans to expand locker capacity and automate integrations to accommodate increasing customer volumes. Helsinki Outlet is also exploring the potential use of Punta’s solutions in other services.

Sandvik concludes by highly recommending Punta to other omnichannel operators: “The partnership has been seamless, and we’ve received excellent service. Punta’s solutions perfectly align with our growth goals and help us serve our customers even better.”