--- title: "How B2B BOPIS Cuts Freight Costs and Speeds Delivery" url: https://www.uncap.com/post/local-commerce-is-the-future-of-e-commerce author: "Denis Dyli" published: 2020-09-29 updated: 2026-07-16 --- # How B2B BOPIS Cuts Freight Costs and Speeds Delivery > BOPIS lets B2B buyers skip freight and pick up orders same day. See how Shopify POS makes buy online, pick up in store work for distributors. Two decades ago, most commercial buyers sourced inventory from local suppliers and distributors. Orders were placed by phone or in person. Delivery timelines were measured in hours, not days. Today, B2B [commerce](/commerce) has shifted online, with orders often fulfilled from centralized warehouses hundreds or thousands of miles away. But operational costs have increased. Freight expenses, fulfillment delays, and inventory inefficiencies now threaten margins across manufacturing, [distribution](https://www.uncap.com/solutions/distributors), and [wholesale](https://www.uncap.com/solutions/wholesale) sectors. A countertrend is emerging: local commerce is returning, but with digital infrastructure. Shopify POS and store pickup capabilities are enabling B2B merchants to unify online ordering with local fulfillment, reducing costs and accelerating delivery without sacrificing the efficiency of ecommerce. For manufacturers, distributors, and hybrid B2B/B2C businesses, this shift represents a strategic opportunity to reclaim margin, reduce operational friction, and compete on speed. ## Why Local Fulfillment Matters for B2B Operations The economics of B2B fulfillment have changed. Shipping costs have increased by more than 30% since 2019. Lead times have lengthened. Buyers expect faster turnaround, often within the same day or next day, especially for repeat orders, maintenance supplies, or time-sensitive projects. Local fulfillment solves several operational problems simultaneously: **Freight cost reduction.** Enabling buyers to pick up orders at a local branch, warehouse, or showroom eliminates last-mile shipping costs. For distributors with multiple locations, this can reduce per-order fulfillment expense by 40% or more. **Faster order turnaround.** Store pickup and local delivery compress the quote-to-cash cycle. Orders placed online can be ready for pickup within hours, improving cash flow and customer satisfaction. **Inventory efficiency.** Local fulfillment ties digital ordering directly to regional inventory, reducing the need for centralized stock and enabling better demand forecasting across locations. **Unified buyer experience.** B2B buyers increasingly expect the same convenience they experience in consumer commerce: the ability to order online, choose fulfillment options, and manage orders across channels. For businesses operating physical locations (branches, warehouses, showrooms, or distribution centers), Shopify POS and store pickup functionality provide the infrastructure to operationalize local commerce at scale. ## How Shopify POS Unifies Online and Offline B2B Commerce Shopify POS is not a standalone point-of-sale system. It is a [unified commerce](https://www.uncap.com/solutions/unified-commerce) tool that connects in-person transactions with online orders, inventory, customer data, and fulfillment workflows. For B2B operations, this means: **Unified inventory visibility.** Shopify POS syncs inventory in real time across all locations and sales channels. A buyer placing an order online can see available stock at nearby branches or warehouses and choose local pickup or delivery accordingly. **Customer account **[integration](https://www.uncap.com/integrations)**.** B2B buyers access the same pricing, payment terms, and order history whether they order online, through a sales rep, or in person. This eliminates data silos and reduces manual coordination between teams. **Order management across channels.** Sales teams can initiate orders in Shopify POS on behalf of buyers during in-person visits, then fulfill those orders through the same system that processes online transactions. This reduces duplicate entry and operational overhead. **Flexible fulfillment options.** Shopify POS supports buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS), curbside pickup, local delivery, and traditional shipping. Buyers choose fulfillment at checkout based on urgency and cost. This architecture enables manufacturers and distributors to operate multiple locations as a unified network rather than isolated branches, improving operational efficiency and buyer experience simultaneously. ## Configuring Store Pickup for B2B Buyers on Shopify Store pickup functionality in Shopify allows buyers to select local fulfillment during checkout. For B2B merchants, this capability reduces shipping costs, accelerates delivery, and provides buyers with flexible options. Setting up store pickup requires several operational considerations: **Location configuration.** Each physical location (warehouse, branch, showroom) must be configured in Shopify with accurate address, inventory allocation, and pickup hours. **Inventory assignment.** Products must be assigned to specific locations. **Pickup workflow design.** Merchants must define how orders are prepared, how buyers are notified, and how pickup is confirmed. **Buyer communication.** Shopify supports automated email and SMS notifications. **Access control for B2B pricing.** Store pickup must respect customer-specific pricing and permissions. ## Local Delivery: Same-Day Fulfillment Without Freight Costs Store pickup is one option. Local delivery is another. 1. A buyer places an order online and selects local delivery. 2. The order is routed to the nearest location. 3. Shopify requests a driver. 4. The driver delivers the order. 5. The buyer receives tracking. - Emergency orders - High-value items - Repeat buyers ## Operational Efficiency: How Local Commerce Reduces Costs **Lower shipping costs.** **Reduced inventory holding costs.** **Faster cash conversion.** **Decreased returns and damage.** **Improved labor productivity.** ## Integrating Shopify POS with ERP and WMS Systems - Real-time inventory accuracy - Order routing automation - Pricing enforcement - Fulfillment automation Common integration patterns include: - Middleware (Jitterbit, Celigo, Boomi) - Custom APIs - PIM systems (Akeneo, Salsify) ## Real-World Applications **Industrial distributor:** Reduced fulfillment cost by 38%. **Building materials manufacturer:** Saved $200k annually. **Auto parts distributor:** Unified B2B/B2C operations. ## Challenges and Considerations - Inventory allocation complexity - Order routing logic - Buyer communication - Integration complexity - Staff training ## The Future of Local Commerce Local commerce is not a trend. It is a structural shift. Shopify POS and store pickup provide the infrastructure to operationalize local commerce at scale. For businesses operating multiple locations, the opportunity is clear. Uncap helps manufacturers and distributors implement unified commerce solutions that connect Shopify with ERP, WMS, and CRM systems, enabling local commerce capabilities that reduce costs and accelerate revenue. If your business operates multiple locations and needs a more efficient fulfillment strategy, [let's talk](https://www.uncap.com/quote). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is B2B BOPIS different from consumer BOPIS? Yes, mainly in what has to carry over from the online order to the pickup counter. Consumer BOPIS mostly needs to confirm identity and hand over the item. B2B BOPIS also has to preserve account-specific pricing, payment terms, and order history at pickup, since the buyer is transacting under a company account, not a one-off consumer purchase. ### Do we need Shopify POS at every location to offer BOPIS? Each location fulfilling pickup orders needs to be configured in Shopify with its own inventory and pickup workflow, but that does not necessarily mean a full point-of-sale terminal at every site. Some businesses run pickup-only locations with a lighter setup focused on order staging and confirmation rather than in-person retail transactions. ### How long does it take to set up BOPIS on Shopify? The platform configuration itself, locations, inventory assignment, and pickup settings, can typically be set up in days. The part that takes longer is usually getting inventory data accurate and synced across locations, especially for businesses connecting Shopify to an existing ERP or warehouse system for the first time.