Staples Launches Series of Omnichannel Updates to Help Businesses Make More Happen

Staples, one of the world’s largest internet retailers, today announced a series of enhancements to its omnichannel experience, making it even easier for customers to get all the products and services they need to make more happen with their businesses. The enhancements include the ability to buy products online and pick them up in-store within hours, an easier way to pay online called Visa Checkout, new in-store kiosks and, for the first-time ever, an iPad app.

Staples has announced the first iPad app in the company’s history. The app provides an easy-to-use tablet experience. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Staples continues to innovate and develop new technology to improve the customer experience, whether it’s providing convenient shipping options, making check-out faster or adding mobile platforms,” said Faisal Masud, executive vice president, global e-commerce, Staples. “The recent updates will make it easier for customers to shop however and from wherever they want. This is particularly important for businesses that are always on the go and can’t wait for a delivery or delay shopping until they are in front of a desktop.”

With Staples new buy online pick-up in-store feature, customers will be able to select a “pick up today” option as they view a product on Staples.com. Staples promises to have their order ready for pick up within two hours. Customers can also permanently set their preferred store location, and Staples.com will automatically show the inventory available at the three closest stores. For products not sold in store, customers will still have the ability to ship their order to a store for pick up. Both the buy-online, pick-up in-store and ship to store options are free of charge.

Visa Checkout is an easy-to-use payment service that lets customers check-out online on any device, in just a few clicks, by entering a Visa Checkout username and password. Shoppers can use any brand of credit card with Visa Checkout, which pre-populates their shipping information and is available on Staples.com and Staples mobile website. Once enrolled, customers can then enter their username and password to complete purchases easily on any device, without ever having to leave Staples’ website. Staples first announced the availability of Visa Checkout on Staples.com in July, but it is now accessible through the retailer’s mobile sites.

As a part of its continued commitment to providing a true omnichannel experience for its customers, Staples is also rolling out new touch screen in-store kiosks throughout its retail locations in the U.S. over the next several months. In addition to upgrading the technology to the existing kiosks, the company will reposition them in store to ensure shoppers have even easier access to the over one million products now available on Staples.com, with fast and free delivery when ordered through a kiosk

Staples has also announced the first iPad app in the company’s history. The app provides an easy-to-use tablet experience. Users can easily check and cash their Staples Rewards balance and reorder past purchases. Other features include:

• Direct access to Staples’ biggest and best deals
• Product availability at the nearest store
• Faster search and quick navigation
• Customizable viewing of search results
• The ability to narrow down search results by price, category and relevance

About Staples:

Staples makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it’s in-store, online, on mobile devices, or through the company’s innovative buy online, pick-up in store option. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Copy and Print services. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. More information about Staples (SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.

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