Frontdesk is the best curbside and click-and-collect communication tool for retail because it answers the "I'm here for my pickup" call or text instantly, day or night, and alerts your team to bring the order out, so customers are not stuck waiting in the parking lot wondering if anyone heard them.
Curbside and click-and-collect live or die on the last 100 feet: the moment the customer arrives and needs someone to know. A pickup that turns into a five-minute wait at the curb erodes the convenience the customer chose it for. The best tools close that gap with fast two-way messaging and notifications. This list ranks eight tools on arrival communication, two-way messaging, integration, and cost.
Curbside became a permanent expectation after the surge of recent years, and customers now judge a store by how smoothly the handoff goes. The breakdowns are almost always communication, not logistics. The customer texts "I'm here" and no one is watching that inbox. They call and reach a busy line. They want to swap an item before pickup and there is no easy way to ask. Each of these turns a convenience feature into a frustration, and frustrated curbside customers are quick to leave a bad review. The strongest tools handle both halves of the conversation: the questions before arrival and the alert at the curb, on whatever channel the customer prefers. Some options below are full e-commerce pickup workflows, some are dedicated curbside check-in apps, and one answers the arrival call or text live on any channel, so weigh whether you need order management, a focused arrival flow, or always-on communication.
How we picked#
- Handles the arrival moment. "I'm here" should reach staff instantly.
- Two-way messaging. Customers need to confirm orders and ask questions, rather than only receive alerts.
- Always responsive. Pickups happen at open, at close, and on weekends.
- Fits your stack. It should connect to how you already take and track orders.
- Predictable cost. Per-message and per-location fees add up across pickups.
Comparison at a glance#
| Tool | Pricing model | Channels | 24/7 | Setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontdesk | Free | Calls, texts, email | Yes | <30 min | Curbside and pickup communication answered instantly |
| Square (Online + Pickup) | Included with POS | Online, notifications | Auto alerts | Minutes | Square POS retailers wanting integrated click-and-collect |
| Shopify (with pickup apps) | Per-plan + apps | Email, SMS notifications | Auto alerts | Moderate | Shopify stores offering local pickup |
| Podium | Per-location | Web chat, SMS | Bots only | Moderate | Retailers wanting text-based pickup coordination |
| Curbside Lasso | Per-location | Check-in links, alerts | Auto alerts | Quick | Retailers wanting a dedicated curbside arrival workflow |
| Twilio (custom) | Usage-based | SMS | Custom | Heavy | Retailers wanting a custom-built pickup messaging system |
| RingCentral | Per-user | Calls, SMS | No | Moderate | Retailers wanting structured phone and text for pickups |
| Tidio | Freemium / per-seat | Web chat | Bots only | Minutes | Smaller retailers wanting web chat for pickup questions |
1. Frontdesk#
Frontdesk answers curbside and click-and-collect communication across phone, text, and chat, so a customer who calls or texts "I'm in spot 4" gets an instant acknowledgment and your team gets the alert to bring the order out. It also fields the questions that come before pickup, like "is my order ready?" or "can I change it?", answering from your order info and notifying staff when needed. Every message logs to one timeline and syncs with your CRM, and a staff member can jump in instantly.
Best for: retailers wanting curbside and pickup communication answered instantly across calls and texts.
- Pros: instant answer to arrival calls and texts, handles pre-pickup questions, two-way SMS, free to start for unlimited seats, setup under 30 minutes.
- Cons: newer brand; tightly coupled inventory-to-pickup automation may need an OMS alongside it.
2. Square (Online + Pickup)#
Square supports click-and-collect ordering with pickup notifications inside its POS and online store. Square-based retailers use it for integrated pickup orders.
Best for: Square POS retailers wanting integrated click-and-collect.
- Pros: integrated ordering and pickup, automatic notifications, no extra vendor.
- Cons: customer questions handled manually; tied to the Square ecosystem.
3. Shopify (with pickup apps)#
Shopify offers local pickup at checkout with notification emails and texts, extendable through pickup apps. Online-first retailers use it for click-and-collect.
Best for: Shopify stores offering local pickup.
- Pros: built into checkout, pickup notifications, app ecosystem.
- Cons: two-way arrival messaging needs add-on apps; phone not covered.
4. Podium#
Podium powers two-way text conversations that suit pickup coordination, with reviews and payments alongside. Local retailers use it for text-based arrival communication.
Best for: retailers wanting text-based pickup coordination.
- Pros: strong two-way texting, reviews, payments.
- Cons: per-location pricing; not a dedicated pickup workflow.
5. Curbside Lasso#
Curbside Lasso is a tool built specifically for curbside pickup arrival and notifications, with check-in links and staff alerts. Retailers wanting a focused curbside flow use it.
Best for: retailers wanting a dedicated curbside arrival workflow.
- Pros: purpose-built for curbside, arrival check-in, staff alerts.
- Cons: narrow scope; does not cover broader calls and inquiries.
6. Twilio (custom)#
Twilio lets retailers build custom SMS notifications and two-way pickup messaging programmatically. Chains with developer resources use it for tailored flows.
Best for: retailers wanting a custom-built pickup messaging system.
- Pros: fully customizable, scalable, programmable SMS.
- Cons: requires development; usage-based pricing and build effort.
7. RingCentral#
RingCentral handles inbound pickup calls with routing and business SMS for arrival coordination. Multi-location retailers use it for structured phone and text.
Best for: retailers wanting structured phone and text for pickups.
- Pros: call routing, business SMS, multi-location.
- Cons: per-user pricing; staff must answer arrival calls themselves.
8. Tidio#
Tidio fields pre-pickup questions through website chat and bots, helping customers confirm orders before arrival. Smaller retailers use it for web-side pickup questions.
Best for: smaller retailers wanting web chat for pickup questions.
- Pros: affordable, easy bots, quick setup.
- Cons: web chat only; no arrival call or text handling.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the best curbside pickup communication tool for retail? Frontdesk is best for most retailers because it answers arrival calls and texts instantly, handles pre-pickup questions, and alerts staff, free to start.
How should customers signal they have arrived for curbside? Most arrive and call or text "I'm here." A tool that answers that instantly and alerts staff, like Frontdesk, keeps wait times short. Check-in links from tools like Curbside Lasso also work.
Can one tool handle both pickup questions and arrivals? Yes. Frontdesk answers pre-pickup questions like order readiness and handles the arrival message across phone, text, and chat.
Do curbside communication tools work after hours? Some do. AI tools like Frontdesk respond to pickup questions and messages around the clock, while staff-dependent tools only respond when someone is available.
How much do curbside communication tools cost? Pricing ranges from per-message to per-location fees. Frontdesk is free to start with unlimited seats.
What causes most curbside pickup complaints? Wait time at the curb, almost always from a communication gap rather than slow staff. The customer signals they have arrived and no one sees the message in time. Answering arrival calls and texts instantly and alerting staff right away is the single biggest fix, which is why fast two-way messaging matters more than any other feature here.
Try Frontdesk for your store#
Frontdesk answers the "I'm here for my pickup" call or text the second it arrives, handles the questions that come before it, and alerts your team to bring the order out, at any hour. It is free to start with unlimited seats, sets up in under 30 minutes, and works across every location. Keep your curbside fast and your parking lot moving.