El Corte Inglés and Planet improve Tax Free shoppers' experience
At a glance
- Increased efficiency with Tax Free vouchers issued and processed in the same place, providing a better customer experience.
- Flexibility for shoppers with attended or self-refunds given in cash, by credit card or gift card.
- Better match rates by offering detailed information about the validation process and refund volumes.
"I believe that the evolution of the company together with Planet as a partner in the Tax Free service has made us go from a weakness in the way we do things to being a leader or one of the leading companies in Europe in this process, and that is what our clients tell us."
Javier Fernández Andrino
El Corte Inglés, Director of International Retail
The challenge
Aware of the importance of the international shopper and the attraction that tax free has for luxury shopping, El Corte Inglés aimed to offer these customers a VIP service that would encourage them to spend more. At the same time needed to free up its in-house customer service to improve its efficiency when providing non Tax Free related support.
The solution
International shoppers enjoy a VIP service that includes the issuance of Planet Tax-Free invoices at El Corte Inglés stores, refunds of tax-free vouchers from Planet merchants, expert advice from Planet professionals, a rest area with complimentary water and coffee, and automatic refund kiosks to speed up transactions. Additionally, a private area is available for a more discreet refund process, offering an added incentive for this customer segment. El Corte Inglés further encourages repeat spending by offering a 10% bonus to shoppers who choose the El Corte Inglés gift card and reinvest their VAT refund in the store.
The result
As a result of Planet's technical solution and dedicated space, El Corte Inglés was able to issue higher volumes of tax-free voucher and process VAT refunds quickly, leading to a better in-store customer experience. Thanks to Planet's expertise in top-class service for department stores, El Corte Inglés provided a better shopping experience for international shoppers, impacting in higher match rate and refunds.