Longacres, a popular UK garden centre retailer is now offering an automated "Drive In" Click & Collect service. At the pilot store in Surrey, there is a dedicated drive in lane and parking bays. The outdoor self-service kiosk enables customers to order garden supplies that can be brought out to their vehicle. Orders are then sent from the kiosk to store staff who carry mobile devices which display the customer name, order reference and parking bay number and all the information they need to fulfil the order. Mike Ainley, ecommerce manager for Longacres, said: “The Collectec solution has revolutionised our collection service reducing average customer collection time by over 50% to just five minutes. It’s also improved staff efficiency by removing dedicated staff from the collection point and enabling any available staff member to be alerted to a collection customer and take their order straight to their car.”