Top Technology Solutions for Curbside Pickup

Curbside pickup lets customers order online and collect goods from a store’s car park or entrance – often without even leaving their car. It’s essentially a form of “click-and-collect” except the handover happens at the store’s curb. This model exploded during the pandemic as a contactless, convenient alternative to home delivery. Today it’s a core part of modern retail: customers can place orders online and drive to a designated pickup spot, where a sales associate brings the order out. For shoppers it means fast, same-day service with no delivery fee or waiting around. For retailers it taps into omnichannel synergy – converting online browsing into foot traffic, increasing sales per visit, and making better use of store inventory.

Many retailers report that curbside shoppers spend more (often browsing additional aisles when they arrive) and are more loyal, especially if loyalty points or promotions are added. In fact, industry analysts say the shift to curbside pickup will leave a lasting “legacy” in shopping habits, since even after restrictions ease, customers have come to expect fast, hassle-free local pickup as a choice.

• Customer convenience: Shoppers get their goods quicker than home delivery, often same day, and can wait in their car. This appeals especially to busy customers who value speed and safety.
• Cost savings: Retailers save on last-mile delivery expenses, since staff use existing store inventory to fill orders. Shoppers save on shipping fees.
• Increased sales: Bringing a customer onto the premises often triggers extra sales. When visiting for pickup, people tend to browse or accept upsells (for example, adding a related item or signing up for a loyalty offer). This can boost the average order value.
• Omnichannel experience: Curbside pickup bridges digital and physical retail. It lets customers switch channels fluidly – buy online and collect offline – which strengthens brand loyalty. Retailers who blend online catalogues, real-time inventory and in-store service into one experience find customers shop more across channels.

In short, curbside pickup has become a must-have option in retail. Australians in particular have embraced it: major chains have set up clear signage and dedicated car park spots for pickups. The local retail sector view is that consumers now expect this flexibility as a standard service, just like home delivery or in-store shopping.
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How Mobile POS (mPOS) Supports Curbside Pickup

A key enabler of smooth curbside pickup is mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) technology. A mobile POS system consists of a smartphone or tablet running checkout software (and typically paired with a card reader or built‑in payment terminal). Unlike a fixed register, an mPOS can operate anywhere there is a network connection, so a staff member can complete a sale on the store floor – or at the customer’s car in the parking area.

What makes mPOS ideal for curbside? The flexibility of mobility is the main advantage. Instead of having the customer walk up to a central till, an associate can walk out or park by the pickup spot and ring up the purchase there. This “line-busting” approach drastically cuts wait times and improves service. For example, Apple Stores use handheld POS devices to check out customers on the shop floor or even queue-bust in the line; the same principle applies to curbside pickup. With an mPOS in hand, staff no longer need the customer to come inside at all – the entire transaction happens curbside. This makes the experience truly contactless and convenient.

Other benefits of mPOS in a curbside context include:

• Integrated hardware: Many mPOS solutions offer an all-in-one device with a built-in barcode scanner and card reader. This means the associate doesn’t juggle separate gadgets; they scan items and take payment on a single handheld terminal. Operations like scanning items from the boot and tapping for card payment all happen seamlessly on one device. (By contrast, some generic POS setups require multiple devices – an iPad plus a separate scanner and card reader – which adds complexity.)
• Real-time inventory and customer data: Mobile POS is connected to the store’s backend, so staff instantly see if an item is in stock (or available at another location). If a customer comes to pick up an order and asks about a related item, an associate can check on the spot whether it’s available elsewhere or online. This “endless aisle” capability keeps sales from falling through. Associates also have access to customer profiles and loyalty information in real time. For a loyalty member, the mPOS can display their points or rewards instantly, allowing seamless redemption or upselling relevant products based on the customer’s history.
• Speed and efficiency: Mobile POS transactions are typically much faster than traditional checkout. Staff can tap or swipe cards using a portable NFC reader, email digital receipts from anywhere, and use single-click workflows. Studies have found that stores using mPOS saw roughly 25–30% faster transaction times on average, which matters a lot during busy pickup periods. Faster checkouts mean more customers served per hour with the same staff.
• Flexibility during peak: During weekends or promotional events when in-store checkouts get jammed, mobile POS lets retailers bounce staff out to the curb or around the store. Curbside pickup orders can be handled right at the customer’s location, so no one ever has to come indoors until their order is ready and paid for. This keeps lines short and allows associates to spend more face-to-face time with customers (helping them with product questions or promotions) instead of managing cash drawers.
• Enhanced customer experience: Using a tablet or phone instead of a fixed register feels more personal and high-tech. Staff can engage customers one-on-one, scan items to show product details or videos, and complete the sale with a friendly note. It turns a potentially transactional moment into a personalised service touchpoint. In fact, retailers note that giving salespeople a mobile device transforms them into on-the-spot advisors – they can share product information, check stock, and even suggest upsells like warranties or complementary items right from the device.

In summary, mPOS makes curbside pickup frictionless. It untethers the checkout, so every part of the pickup (from confirming the order to taking payment) can happen quickly at the car. For retailers, this means more streamlined operations and happier customers.
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Leading Software Solutions for Curbside Pickup

Square: Curbside for Small to Mid-Size Retailers

Square is widely recognised for bringing sleek, easy-to-use POS systems to small businesses. Their ecosystem includes POS software, card readers, online stores, inventory management, and basic appointment features. For curbside pickup, Square offers:

• Order flow visibility through a unified dashboard for online and in-store sales
• Text message notifications to alert customers when their order is ready
• Curbside-ready checkout where staff can mark an order as "ready" and "collected"
• Hardware integrations that support mPOS-style checkout via mobile card readers

Square is highly accessible: it’s plug-and-play, with minimal setup time and flat pricing. For retailers with fewer than 10 locations, it can be a fast way to trial curbside service. However, its limitations show at scale. For example, Square’s mobile checkout isn’t built for deep enterprise integration – it may not support advanced inventory synchronisation across dozens of locations, nor complex loyalty systems. Additionally, the user interface and workflows are optimised for simplicity rather than for high-performance service environments where every second counts.

Best for: Small-format retailers or pop-up brands wanting a quick and cost-effective way to add curbside pickup.

Shopify POS: Bridging E-Commerce and Pickup

Shopify is best known for powering online stores, but its POS system allows retailers to unify in-person and digital sales. Shopify POS Pro includes:

• Click-and-collect flows, including curbside as a fulfilment method
• Customer notifications via email or SMS for pickup instructions
• Inventory syncing across online and store stock
• POS app for mobile checkout using compatible iPads and card readers

Shopify’s strength lies in online-first retailers who want to explore physical fulfilment. Its platform makes it easy to set rules for in-store or curbside collection and issue reminders to staff when items need to be packed and handed over. However, in a high-volume curbside context – such as a multi-brand retailer during peak season – Shopify POS can feel like an add-on rather than a native solution. Associates may need to switch between apps, and integrations with loyalty, product discovery, or workforce scheduling tools may require third-party extensions.

Best for: E-commerce-first retailers experimenting with physical pickup or those with limited in-store checkout needs.

Awayco: Mobile POS Designed for Seamless Pickup

Awayco offers a robust mPOS and product discovery platform built specifically for enterprise retail. Its system enables sales associates to serve customers anywhere – including on the shop floor, in the aisle, or directly at the curb. For curbside pickup, Awayco supports:

• All-in-one mobile POS terminals with barcode scanning, integrated payments, and loyalty access
• Pickup coordination tools, enabling staff to see incoming orders, customer vehicle info, and fulfilment status
• Customer engagement at pickup – including upsell prompts, loyalty point redemption, and real-time product info
• Deep system integrations with inventory, CRM, e-commerce, and customer experience platforms
• Associate empowerment, where staff become brand ambassadors, not just order runners

Awayco's focus on frictionless mobile service means associates aren’t tethered to registers or split between apps. They can greet a customer at their car, verify the order, check related items or inventory requests, and complete checkout on a single device – all while reinforcing brand experience and driving loyalty.

Where Awayco particularly stands out is its retail-specialised use cases. The platform is designed to handle peak traffic, multi-SKU orders, pet tags or custom item fulfilment, and complex catalogue structures. It empowers associates not just to deliver the order, but to deliver a great brand interaction. The company’s success with retailers like Petstock shows how thoughtful, mobile-led pickup flows can drive loyalty and revenue.

Best for: Enterprise retailers seeking a scalable, branded curbside experience that integrates deeply with retail operations and enhances every customer interaction.
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Real-World Case Study: Petstock

Challenge: Petstock, one of Australia’s largest pet retailers, needed to deliver a better curbside pickup experience across its store network. Associates were juggling printed orders, manual fulfilment, and disconnected systems. As a result, wait times were too long, and staff couldn't easily engage with customers beyond the handoff.

Solution: With Awayco’s mPOS and product discovery platform, Petstock transformed its curbside service. Staff received mobile devices that:

• Displayed live order details, inventory info, and loyalty profiles
• Enabled fast, mobile checkouts without needing a counter
• Allowed them to upsell on the spot – for example, suggesting pet treats or promoting grooming appointments

Results:

• Staff now serve customers at the car door with ease and confidence
• Orders are completed faster and with more opportunities for additional sales
• Customers report smoother, more personal interactions
• Loyalty uptake increased due to better associate engagement during pickup

Read the full case study here →

Petstock’s example shows what’s possible when curbside pickup isn’t just added as a stopgap, but elevated as a fully integrated customer journey.
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Conclusion: Tech-Driven Pickup is Now a Retail Essential

Curbside pickup is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s a competitive necessity. Customers now expect the ability to buy online and collect locally, with minimal fuss and a seamless experience. For retailers, this opens up new revenue opportunities and deepens customer loyalty – but only if the process is smooth, fast, and branded.

Mobile POS is central to delivering this experience. It enables associates to meet customers where they are, carry the full power of the store in their hands, and turn curbside service into a high-touch moment. Among the vendors examined, Awayco stands out for its thoughtful retail integrations, scalable enterprise approach, and proven success with brands like Petstock.

As more retailers look to combine flexibility with personalised service, curbside pickup – powered by the right tech – will continue to play a key role in the future of omnichannel retail.