The verdict in three sentences
The pickup point is the last mile's anti-failure weapon: it costs 30% to 50% less than home delivery and halves failed drops. In exchange it shifts a small effort to the customer, who must collect within 24 to 72 hours. The right mix depends on your average basket, your zone and your cash-on-delivery (COD) refusal rate.
The cost-versus-experience match
Home delivery offers the best comfort but concentrates cost and failures: absent customer, vague address, payment refusal. The pickup point pools deliveries and removes the presence constraint, at the price of the customer traveling.
| Criterion (2026 order of magnitude) | Home delivery | Pickup point |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per parcel | 1,500 - 2,500 FCFA | 800 - 1,500 FCFA |
| Failure rate | 10 - 20% | 3 - 6% |
| Collection delay | Immediate | 24 - 72 h |
| Satisfaction (city) | 85%+ | 80%+ |
| COD refusal | High | -15% |
| Required density | Low | Key (network) |
When to switch to pickup
The pickup point shines when point density is sufficient and the basket is moderate. On low-margin or outskirts orders it turns a loss-making run into a profitable one. It also cuts cash-on-delivery refusals by 15%, because the customer commits by coming to collect.
| Situation | 2026 recommendation | Expected gain |
|---|---|---|
| Outskirts 18 km+ | Mandatory pickup point | Cost -40% |
| Basket < 10,000 FCFA | Pickup point advised | Margin preserved |
| Fragile/fresh product | Home, short slot | Quality |
| Premium customer | Home priority | Loyalty |
| History of COD refusals | Pickup + prepayment | Refusals -15% |
Mini case study
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Fatou sells clothing online, 300 orders/month, 30% to the outskirts. On full home delivery at 2,000 FCFA with 18% failure, she bears 300 × 2,000 + (54 failures × 1,000 FCFA return) = 600,000 + 54,000 = 654,000 FCFA/month. By routing the 90 outskirts orders to a pickup point at 1,200 FCFA (5% failure), she drops to about 210 × 2,000 + 90 × 1,200 + returns ≈ 420,000 + 108,000 + 25,000 = 553,000 FCFA, saving 101,000 FCFA per month with fewer COD refusals.
FAQ
How much do pickup points cut costs? By 30% to 50% versus home delivery in 2026, thanks to pooled deliveries and the near-disappearance of presence failures.
What is the home-delivery failure rate? Between 10% and 20% depending on zone and address quality. Each failure costs 500 to 1,500 FCFA in returns plus a second attempt.
Do customers accept pickup points? Yes in cities, with over 80% satisfaction, provided a dense network and a clear 24-to-72-hour collection window.
Do pickup points reduce payment refusals? Yes, by about 15%. Traveling to the point is a commitment that limits cash-on-delivery refusals.
Should I drop home delivery entirely? No. Keep home delivery for premium customers, fragile or fresh products, and pickup for the outskirts and small baskets.
Let's talk about your project. We design your pickup-point network and the automatic routing rules. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
