Runnings: Digital transformation at the curb with Adobe AppBuilder
The challenge: Optimizing the pickup process
Runnings, a retail chain with nearly 90 physical locations across the US, wanted to introduce a curbside pickup option. Curbside pickup provides customers with a quick, convenient, and contactless way to collect their orders without leaving their vehicles.
They also wanted to optimize the in-store pickup process. The checkout flow required customers to walk into the store, verify their order, print and sign an invoice, and collect their items—making true curbside delivery impractical. If a customer declined part of their order, staff needed to adjust quantities, reprint the invoice, and repeat the process, often walking back and forth between the store and the parking lot.
This manual workflow caused frustration for both customers and store staff. It slowed down operations, created logistical headaches, and prevented the company from offering the convenient, contactless pickup experience shoppers expect today.
The solution: A composable, scalable mobile app
Runnings partnered with Vaimo to design and deliver a lightweight, flexible mobile application that would enable them to offer curbside pickup—without overhauling their existing Adobe Commerce platform.
Vaimo developed a custom Android application using Adobe AppBuilder technology, a platform for building and deploying custom cloud applications on Adobe infrastructure. This enables store associates to meet customers directly at their vehicles, verify orders, adjust quantities on the spot, and capture digital signatures—all in one smooth flow.
Key features include:
- Android tablet application for use at curbside
- AppBuilder-powered authentication with Adobe Commerce
- React Spectrum-based UI, an accessible, customizable component library for building consistent user interfaces, mirroring the Magento admin design for easy adoption
- Digital signature capture to eliminate paper invoices, which streamlines the process and reduces paper waste
- Dynamic quantity adjustments at pickup
By applying a composable commerce approach, Vaimo ensured the solution was decoupled and future-proof—enabling rapid updates while maintaining compatibility with Adobe Commerce APIs.
“Working with Vaimo has significantly streamlined our operations, improved customer experience, and positioned us to confidently expand our digital curbside delivery processes across all locations.”
Terry Kriz
Director, Information Services at Runnings
The results: increased efficiency and customer satisfaction
Since launching, Runnings has seen immediate improvements in both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The elimination of paper forms has saved time and resources, while the improved pickup process has made curbside delivery a viable, scalable option across store locations.
Moreover, Runnings didn’t just get a better curbside experience, they got it 42% faster than planned. Vaimo delivered the solution in just 350 hours, smashing the original 600-hour estimate.
These results underscore how custom app development can support innovation in physical retail environments by extending ecommerce platforms beyond the screen.
Shorter delivery
Vaimo delivered the solution in just 350 hours, down from the projected 600 hours
Time saved
Average pickup process time reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes
Happier customers
Increased operational efficiency and customer satisfaction
What’s next?
Runnings plans to roll out the mobile application to all in-store pickup operations across its retail footprint. The long-term goal: a fully digitalized, paper-free pickup experience—delivered through a composable architecture that can evolve with the business.
