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In the wake of Covid-19, merchants continue to see more features added to cloud-based point-of-sale systems. In the latest updates, Lightspeed POS Inc. introduced on Tuesday new e-commerce services, including shipping, curbside pick-up, and appointment setting. And Revel Systems Inc. has refined its online ordering and order-pickup management.
First up, Montreal-based Lightspeed says its upcoming suite of e-commerce services—influenced in part by its merchants experiencing a 400% increase in e-commerce volumes processed in April 2020 over February—will provide access to a shipping-broker service with immediate access to shipping rates and labels. It also will provide curbside pickup options and the ability for consumers to schedule appointments to shop.
Lightspeed recently added a Live Preview Themes feature that enables merchants to test the look of their online store prior to taking it live.
“Omnichannel is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have, and it is important for us to constantly innovate in the retail, e-commerce, and hospitality space, so we can continue to support retailers and restaurants as they digitally transform their business,” Dax Dasilva, Lightspeed founder and chief executive, said in a statement.
For its merchants, San Francisco-based Revel says among its new online ordering features are the ability to directly message consumers and for merchants to customize messages on their online-ordering sites. It is releasing a new Order Ready screen that enables merchants to distinguish more easily between third-party pickups and to-go takeout orders.
Revel also is adding an option for consumers to specify a no-contact delivery and the ability to include pass-through service fees, such as from third-party delivery services. Restaurants account for between 75% and 80% of Revel’s sales.
“We are seeing many rush to update their POS systems to help process off-premise orders,” Chris Lybeer, Revel chief strategy officer, said in a statement. “Revel quickly shifted our research and development spend in March to double down on improving capabilities in our POS platform to assist merchants in optimizing order pickup, curbside practices, delivery and contactless payments. Over 20 new features are now available in an update release, and more will be announced throughout the summer.”
