What is Dark Stores Mean for Retail?

A retail distribution facility or location that only serves online shoppers is referred to as a "dark store." It is often a sizable warehouse that may be utilized as an order fulfillment platform for online sales or to enable a collect-and-click service where a customer picks up an item they have bought online.

Definition of a Dark Store

A dark store is a retail establishment that operates exclusively for online orders and is not accessible to the general public. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar stores located in shopping malls or commercial areas, dark stores are typically situated in less desirable locations with convenient transportation links.

Externally, dark stores often have unremarkable and functional appearances. Internally, they resemble conventional supermarkets, featuring aisles of shelves stocked with groceries and various merchandise. However, dark stores do not employ sales assistants to provide customer assistance, display products at the point of sale, or operate traditional checkout counters. Instead, orders placed online are processed within the store.

These electronically generated orders are efficiently managed and processed based on the store's layout to optimize the picking process. Unlike traditional stores where pickers navigate the aisles with shopping trolleys, dark stores employ a stationary approach. A mechanized system or goods-to-person pick station transports less frequently purchased items, such as spices and cordials, from storage to the picker via a conveyor belt.

Simultaneous collection of multiple orders is often possible within dark stores. Once orders are fulfilled, they are delivered to customers using a fleet of delivery partners that regularly return to the dark store throughout the day for replenishment.