Every year, the back-to-school period is a crucial time for e-commerce businesses operating in the stationery, school supplies, children’s and teenagers’ clothing, and electronics sectors. Demand explodes in a matter of weeks, volumes soar and customer expectations rise: fast delivery times, flexible reception and easy returns become determining factors for conversion and loyalty. In this scenario, rethinking last-mile logistics is not only a strategic choice, but a competitive necessity.
In this article, we explore why integrating Out Of Home solutions such as Lockers and Pick-up Points can make all the difference for an online store during the back-to-school season. Up-to-date market data, logistical challenges and concrete advantages: here is everything eCommerce businesses need to know to tackle Back to School 2025 in a more efficient, sustainable and customer experience-oriented way.
E-commerce for school products is growing: the figures for 2025
The global Back to School market – comprising clothing and accessories, stationery and electronics – reached $205.4 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach $278.2 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.04% over the period 2025-2033. In Italy, the value of the Back to School market exceeded $4.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $5.9 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 3.8% from 2025 to 2030.
The online channel is also continuing to grow: sales of school products via e-commerce will grow at an annual rate of 6.1% between 2025 and 2030. Online stores offer a wide range of products, allowing parents to meet their shopping needs quickly and efficiently, without the stress of crowded shops. Through e-commerce sites, consumers can easily compare prices and product reviews, often obtaining significant discounts. Online retailers often implement attractive promotional strategies, such as discounts, combined offers and special offers, specifically designed for the back-to-school period, thus encouraging buyers to complete their purchases before the start of the school year.
The data therefore confirms the growing importance of e-commerce in the school sector, a trend that makes it crucial for online operators to adopt efficient and sustainable logistics solutions.
The logistical challenges of back-to-school for e-commerce
The back-to-school period sees a huge number of orders concentrated in just a few weeks – those preceding the reopening of schools – creating additional pressure on e-commerce supply chains.
Online stores have to manage a large number of last-minute orders and ensure that they are delivered in time for the first bell of the school year. In this context, maintaining high standards of punctuality often becomes complex and costly, with the risk of failed deliveries negatively impacting the customer experience.
In addition, customers – often families with little time to spare – are increasingly demanding in terms of speed, flexibility and ease of returns. Meeting delivery windows therefore becomes a priority in order to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty.
But is there a practical, sustainable and flexible solution that allows you to optimise deliveries, meet all customer needs, and reduce costs and pressure for eCommerce businesses? Fortunately, the answer is yes!
Why integrate Out Of Home collection into your school e-commerce
Offering the option to collect online orders outside the home, at lockers and collection points, is a solution that simultaneously meets the logistical needs of online stores and customer convenience. Let’s find out more about how and why.
A more sustainable and scalable logistics solution
Out-of-home collection allows eCommerce businesses to tackle the seasonal back-to-school peak with a more resilient logistics strategy. Instead of relying exclusively on home delivery, which involves a high number of individual journeys and the risk of missed deliveries, the OOH model allows multiple shipments to be consolidated into a single collection point. This significantly optimises routes and reduces the number of kilometres travelled and vehicles used.
From an environmental point of view, this translates into lower CO₂ emissions and more environmentally friendly logistics, in line with European sustainability policies. For logistics operators and merchants, it means being able to scale volumes without a proportional increase in operating costs. This is a real advantage when managing thousands of orders concentrated in a few weeks, as is typically the case between August and September.
Greater efficiency for e-commerce
From the merchant’s point of view, the integration of Out Of Home deliveries translates into more efficient, predictable and less expensive logistics. One of the main benefits is the drastic reduction in failed delivery attempts, which in the case of home deliveries generate additional costs, delays and complexity in customer care management. Collection from lockers or collection points, on the other hand, guarantees a much higher percentage of deliveries on the first attempt, with complete traceability and fewer incidents of loss or disputes.
In addition, the OOH system also facilitates the returns process, which is often critical for school products. Returns at a collection point are quick, automated and often more appreciated by customers, reducing the operational burden on the online store.
Strategically, e-commerce businesses can also leverage the OOH channel to offer special deals, such as discounts and reduced delivery costs for customers who opt for out-of-home collection, thereby encouraging the choice of a more efficient method for both parties.
Greater satisfaction for the end customer
During the back-to-school period, families are often struggling with hectic schedules, work commitments and lists of materials to purchase. Offering a flexible and autonomous collection option responds precisely to these needs. Thanks to an extensive network of lockers and collection points, customers can choose the most convenient location for them – whether it’s near their home, their children’s school or their office – and collect their order in complete freedom, without having to stay at home waiting for the courier.
The 24-hour availability of lockers and the extended opening hours of many affiliated businesses represent a real added value, especially for those who place last-minute orders or need to collect their purchases in the evening or at the weekend. This more convenient and controlled shopping experience has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty, while reducing the risk of complaints or negative feedback related to logistics.
How to integrate Lockers and Collection Points with GEL Proximity
GEL Proximity offers plug-and-play technology compatible with leading eCommerce CMS, marketplaces and logistics software. Integration is simple and customisable: from the user experience at checkout to centralised management of shipments and customer notifications. Thanks to APIs and pre-configured modules, OOH collection can be quickly implemented without disrupting the existing infrastructure.
With over 300,000 lockers and collection points across Europe, GEL Proximity guarantees widespread coverage even in suburban or less well-served areas, making it ideal for e-commerce businesses selling school products that want to serve families in cities, suburbs and smaller towns. This extensive presence means that collection points are always close to the customer, encouraging adoption of the solution and, above all, end customer satisfaction. In addition, the system also supports out-of-home returns, simplifying reverse logistics and increasing customer confidence in online shopping.
The back-to-school period is a strategic window of opportunity to increase sales, loyalty and visibility. By integrating GEL Proximity’s Out Of Home technology into your online store, you can immediately offer a sustainable, efficient alternative that your customers will appreciate.
Find out now how to integrate GEL Proximity into your eCommerce to improve the customer experience and optimise deliveries and returns. Contact us for a personalised demo and get ready for the success of the next ‘Back to School’ season!
