The crisis does not give respite to the Argentines. As a result of the fall in purchasing power and uncertainty in the political and economic sphere, sales in stores are plummeting. They have decreased to 13% year-on-year and already accumulate 13 months in negative territory.Consumption fell 6% in August compared to the previous month and became the worst record of the last 22 years for that month, according to the Monthly Consumer Indicator prepared by the Institute of Labor and Economics of the Germán Abdala Foundation.However, there is a sales channel that has been dodging this recessive panorama: electronic commerce. According to the chamber of the sector, it showed more than interesting data for the first semester:- Billing amounted to $ 153,000 million, a figure that represents a 60% increase over the same period of 2018- 56 million products were sold ( 7%) and processed 42 million purchase orders ( 21%)- Half of those purchases were made via cell phones and seven out of 10 searches were carried out via mobile"E-commerce has been consolidating at an accelerated pace. The consumers themselves are the ones who are marking the way forward. The great challenge of companies is to correctly interpret these changes and continue innovating in the way in which their products and services are offered" , says Alberto Calvo, President of CACE.As part of a context that shows e-commerce capable of dodging the crisis, new alternatives began to emerge that can take advantage and expand this favorable trend.In this sense, platforms oriented to solve one of the most recurring inconveniences when buying online: the withdrawal of orders. And they do (paradoxically) relying on physical stores. In fact, it allows them to move towards a better use of their surfaces and even monetize them.Nearby withdrawal pointsThe concept of "efficient logistics" is crucial. Moreover, if you take into account the enormous potential of the Internet sales market. Speed, practicality and transparency to reach the final consumer are becoming increasingly fundamental variables when projecting the growth of an organization.One of the players who stomps in Argentina is Pickit. It is a logistics services company for the so-called "last mile" that, thanks to its network of withdrawal points throughout the country, allows users to choose where and when to look for their packages."Pickit was born to provide an innovative solution to the problem generated by deliveries. As the consumer is in constant movement during the day, delivery is difficult and that he completes a pleasant and agile experience, similar to online shopping," he says. iProUP Martín Machado, Commercial Manager of Pickit.Currently, the firm has more than 1,200 "Pickit Points" in coffee shops, paint shops, stores and gyms throughout the country, including large chains such as Staples, Walmart, Chango Más, Havanna and The Coffee Store, among others.The firm aims to reach 2,000 points by the end of 2019 and has already faced its regional expansion, with operations in Mexico, Colombia and Uruguay. Its growth has been exponential: it exceeded one million shipments, its volume of operations increased 300% year-on-year and records 300,000 transactions every month.Much of that performance lies in its alliance with large online stores, such as Mercado Libre. Users who make purchases online can opt for this solution to withdraw their products at some point of convenience.In this way, they solve the problems of many people who can not receive the purchase at home or do not have time for delivery in branches of conventional mails."It is a win-win solution. Pickit has a 99% effectiveness in the first withdrawal attempt, generating a virtuous circle for the seller," Machado said.As a highlight, it also has a return service that uses the same network of points, but with the inverse process from the user-buyer to the online store. And, if required, it also offers home delivery.Smart, expanding lockersPickit's alternative is complemented by various logistic solutions that seek to adapt to each user. Among them, the growing proliferation of "smart" lockers in the main urban centers stands out.In this segment there are two players that stand out:- Pudo, the Swiss firm that has its own subsidiary in Argentina and already operates in various cities- Packasap, a network of locker of local origin that is expanding throughout the countryBoth proposals have 7x24 format: sellers (private users and also large firms) access the e-lockers, leave the items there and buyers can withdraw them at any time. The operation is as follows:- Once the purchase is completed, the seller places a QR code in the e-locker reader (it will be sent by mail by the company)- With that QR code you can open the locker and deposit the package- At night, that product will be transferred (by company personnel) to another locker chosen by the buyer- When this happens, the latter is notified via e-mail or by SMS- For its withdrawal, it also has a QR code that allows you to unlock the e-locker and take the order- One of the two parties pays for the service, as agreed. The price depends on the size of the e-locker and is paid with credits acquired on the platformCurrently, Pudo is the most important network of "smart" lockers in Argentina, with a presence in Córdoba and Buenos Aires. Its goal is to expand its services in the Federal Capital, Greater Buenos Aires, Neuquén, Mendoza, Córdoba, Rosario, Tucumán, Resistencia, Mar del Plata, Bahia and Comodoro Rivadavia. To this end, it signed an agreement with the Axion Energy service stations and the Open 25 kiosks, as well as other businesses with high concurrency and geographical capillarity."We have our own platform with software adapted to the needs and particularities of local customers," Fernando Carlino, commercial director of Pudo Argentina, tells iProUP. He adds that the levels of reliability in Europe are not the same, so "we had to work on both software and electronic security of the locker."In this sense, the units integrate the ability to demand an electronic signature on the screen, as well as the reading of the DNI code of the person responsible for removing the product. In addition, it has internal sensors that detect if the package is in place.Its competitor, Packasap, was born as a Boxeway spinoff, which provides e-lockers to firms throughout the region. "We launched this network of our own because we saw what users were looking for globally," Noelia Jurisic, the company's commercial director, tells iProUP.For its first stage of expansion, it signed agreements with major brands: Carrefour, IRSA and Sportclub are some of them. In addition, it is extending its network to the YPF and Shell stations in the Buenos Aires suburbs. This model meant an increase of 30% year-on-year in its operations.In both cases, companies work with their own logistics and allied operators to comply with deliveries in a timely manner.Ascending trendA crucial point of these proposals is the possibility of having real traceability in the purchase of products, as well as new ways to purchase items online."We want to install the habit of using the e-locker. Everything that is received at 6 pm can be removed the next day. By making it available immediately we try to generate high satisfaction in the shopping experience," says the spokesperson for Pudo , who adds that the whole process is autonomous.Executives agree that this type of proposal facilitates the maturation of the local ecommerce market. "There is a land already won and a growing demand for solutions. This is seen by brands: it offers a better experience at the points of withdrawal and always betting on user satisfaction," they say from Packasap.According to Machado, from Pickit, nine out of 10 people have already bought online. Solutions of this type prevent them from having to "get stuck" waiting, since they can define the time and place of withdrawal. In addition, they gain in security, not being home deliveries.These advantages make these platforms add adherents to accelerated steps and become a strategic ally of sellers. "In addition, elockers generate benefits for physical premises, as companies pay a rent for the use of spaces. The rate depends on each client, on the location, available area and influx of public that has the trade.With a segment in full transformation, such as retail, and an impressive growth of ecommerce, the logistics segment finds in these proposals real solutions when approaching customers and dispatching merchandise.