New restrictions should allow for click and collect services, says Digital Business Ireland
Representative body warns that preventing use of click-and-collect services would harm the viability of many retailers
Print9 February 2021
Digital Business Ireland, the leading digital, ecommerce and online business representative body, has called for the Irish government to re-introduce click and collect services for the retail industry.
The sector has been largely unable to reopen due to the level 5 restrictions introduced on 31 December. Level 5 restrictions will remain in place until midnight on 5 March 2021 prior to which the government will consider an easing of measures.
Speaking about the need to reintroduce click and collect services, David Campbell, a spokesperson for Digital Business Ireland said: “On December 31 Government imposed a ban on click and collect for non-essential retail which was wholly justified in circumstances where there was a need to limit contact to curb the spread of Covid in the new year.
“However, with progress being made in daily diagnosis now the government must start to make plans to restore click and collect in the coming weeks as many non-essential retailers’ are struggling for survival especially as some of them had invested heavily in warehousing and distribution to meet demand.
“As the festive shopping period approached businesses across the country implemented systems to ensure people are kept safe while queuing and collecting goods,” continued Campbell. “They are already losing out on physical store sales but the continued suspension of having their click-and-collect service banned only exacerbates this. The reality is by preventing people using click-and-collect services this will only harm the viability of many retailers, already suffering under lockdown, as well as severely limiting the choice for some consumers.
“These restrictions are revenue-crushing for businesses and the lack of a plan is disconcerting for many. Businesses operating click-and-collect have taken every reasonable step to make their operations as safe as possible, complying with every twist and turn to government guidance and they are ready to continue these high standards. The answer is to introduce even stricter laws around the use of hand sanitiser, face masks, sterilised gloves and more rigorous cleaning of surfaces.”
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