iStore leads innovation in fulfilment for South African retail

iStore, Africa’s first and only Apple Premium Partner, has taken fulfilment innovation to new heights with its cutting-edge delivery and fulfilment capabilities, allowing customers to receive Apple devices like the iPhone or AirPods within an hour of purchase in select urban areas.

iStore’s efforts set a new standard for speed and efficiency in South Africa’s retail sector.

“South African customers have come to expect quick deliveries for groceries and fast food, but the idea of receiving a newly purchased iPhone in under an hour is truly groundbreaking, even by global standards. No other Apple retailer, not even in the United States, can match this level of speed,” says Chris Dodd, iStore CEO. “This is a first in the country, and we’re thrilled to be leading this innovation in select catchment areas across Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.”

For customers within the Sandton area in Johannesburg, Cape Town’s City Bowl and Umhlanga in Durban, the one-hour delivery service offers unmatched convenience. In addition, iStore provides same-day delivery at no extra cost across multiple urban areas including Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town as well as Bloemfontein and Gqeberha. This approach allows customers to choose a delivery date at checkout, accommodating both urgent needs and planned purchases.

Behind this fulfilment revolution is iStore’s pioneering partnership with Xpand, a leading company in unmanned retail systems. Through this collaboration, iStore has implemented an unmanned system in its Johannesburg distribution centre, achieving an unprecedented level of automation and efficiency. This autonomous system picks, packs and labels orders without human intervention, reducing the need for large warehouse spaces and enabling iStore to fulfil orders directly from local distribution points.

“This system is highly compact and powered by advanced robotics and machine learning, allowing us to operate at a fraction of the space and cost traditionally required. It can even run autonomously 24/7, further boosting efficiency and security,” adds Dodd. “This level of automation is unmatched in the local logistics space and provides us with the flexibility to eventually establish more distributed, smaller fulfilment centres in key areas around the country.”

iStore’s fulfilment model allows half of all its e-commerce orders to be fulfilled directly from its stores, providing faster deliveries while reducing operational complexity.

The retailer also offers a 30-minute Click-and-Collect option at all stores, a service that very few retailers offer in South Africa. This same-day offering allows customers to collect their purchases quickly, further enhancing the flexibility and convenience of the shopping experience.

Customers also benefit from free delivery on all orders, without a minimum purchase threshold. “We want every customer to enjoy hassle-free, fast delivery without needing to fill up their cart,” adds Dodd. “From urgent phone replacements to essential accessories, our approach is designed for both flexibility and customer satisfaction.”

With fulfilment technology at the forefront of retail innovation, iStore is redefining customer expectations and the future of e-commerce in South Africa – making premium technology more accessible and readily available than ever before.