Maximizing the Value of Salesforce’s Deprecated Curbside Pickup Solution Kit for Seamless Retail
How Salesforce’s Curbside Pickup Solution Still Delivers Contactless, Convenient Shopping Experiences
As businesses adapt to changing customer needs, offering contactless shopping options like Curbside Pickup has become a necessity. Whether it’s a matter of convenience or safety, many shoppers now prefer to buy online and pick up their orders without leaving their cars. Salesforce’s Curbside Pickup Solution Kit was designed to support this, making it easier for businesses to fulfill customer orders with minimal friction.
However, like many other solution kits, Salesforce has officially deprecated the Curbside Pickup kit. Despite this, the framework it provides is still incredibly valuable for retailers looking to streamline curbside pickup workflows and offer a seamless customer experience.
How Does the Curbside Pickup Solution Work?
Salesforce’s Curbside Pickup solution provides an end-to-end workflow for managing the entire customer journey, from placing an order to collecting it curbside. It integrates Salesforce Service Cloud, B2C Commerce, and Order Management Systems (OMS) to ensure a smooth process for both customers and store associates.
Here’s how the workflow typically operates:
- Customer places an online order and opts in to receive SMS notifications for pickup.
- The order is sent to the Order Management System, which routes it to the correct store.
- The store associate prepares the order, and the customer receives a notification when it’s ready.
- When the customer arrives, they send an SMS with their details (e.g., car model and parking spot).
- The store associate delivers the order to the customer’s vehicle, and the order is marked as complete in the system.
Why Salesforce’s Curbside Pickup Solution Still Matters?
Even though Salesforce no longer maintains this solution kit, the functionality it provides is as relevant as ever. With minimal customizations and proper integration, businesses can still leverage the Curbside Pickup framework to meet modern retail needs. By using Service Cloud’s digital engagement capabilities (such as SMS notifications) and integrating with your existing OMS, this solution can offer:
- Real-time communication between the store and customer.
- Contactless fulfillment, ensuring a safe and efficient pickup experience.
- Automation of key processes, reducing manual workload for store associates.
Exploring Related Patterns: Order on Behalf
If you’re interested in other valuable frameworks, you might want to explore Salesforce’s deprecated Order on Behalf (OOBO) solution kit, which I previously wrote about. The OOBO solution allows service agents to place orders on behalf of customers who may not have access to the internet or need assistance completing their purchase. While also deprecated, it remains a critical tool for enhancing customer service and driving purchase completion.
Read more about the Order on Behalf solution:
Final Thoughts
Salesforce’s Curbside Pickup Solution Kit may no longer be officially updated, but it still holds tremendous potential for retailers who want to offer a flexible, customer-first shopping experience. By leveraging B2C Commerce, Service Cloud, and the OMS integration, you can implement a seamless curbside pickup model that enhances customer satisfaction while optimizing store workflows.
If you’re a retailer looking to stay competitive in today’s omnichannel landscape, don’t let the deprecation of this kit hold you back. Instead, use it as a blueprint for delivering a modern, flexible curbside experience tailored to your customers’ evolving needs.
My name is Oleg Sapishchuk, and I’m an experienced digital leader specializing in digital transformation and unified commerce solutions for some of the world’s most recognized brands. I frequently write about Salesforce B2C Commerce Cloud and share insights on how businesses can leverage technology for growth. I invite you to follow my Medium profile for more industry knowledge and perspectives on the future of digital leadership.
