Self-service Devices

Part of Smart fitting room technology

Size-lookup vs staff-routed product request features

Compare size lookup and in-room product requests by how reliably each produces a useful staff action.

Desk Store Systems · · 3 min read

A size lookup gives the shopper an availability indication; a staff-routed request asks an associate to act. The choice is whether the shopper needs stock information or needs another item brought to the room.

Choose lookup-only when an availability indication answers the question. Choose a routed request when the shopper wants another size, colour or item brought in and associates can complete the hand-off.

Crave Retail documents both models. Its Crave Engage puts store inventory lookup across sizes, colours and locations on digital assistants at fixtures. Crave’s Smart Fitting Rooms recognise what the shopper brought in and let them request another size, colour or item without leaving the room, with requests handled by the store team through Crave Assist.

Size Lookup vs Staff-Routed Product Request: Key Differences

Purpose
Provide availability information for the shopper
Action Required
Shopper checks inventory; no staff involvement needed
Best For
When shopper only needs to know if an item is available
Staff Involvement
None
Technology Example
Crave Engage at fixture-level digital assistants
Purpose
Request another size, colour or item be brought to the fitting room
Action Required
Associate receives request and retrieves item
Best For
When shopper wants a different variant or item brought in
Staff Involvement
Required – associate must act on request
Technology Example
Crave Smart Fitting Rooms with Crave Assist integration

Test the lookup first

On the lookup side, Crave Engage lets shoppers browse, compare, check availability and request help at the fixtures that matter. When the exact item is not available, it can surface alternate sizes, colours, nearby availability, online options or similar products. Test whether that answer is enough for your shoppers without staff involvement.

Dynamics 365 Commerce POS has a named inventory-lookup example: it shows product availability across stores and warehouses. It is a cashier operation, not an in-room fitting-room screen; cashiers enter a product number and can select dimensions or other values to check a specific variant.

The POS list view labels Inventory as available physical quantity, Reserved as physical reserved quantity retrieved from headquarters, and Ordered as ordered in total quantity retrieved from headquarters. If adapting lookup for a fitting room, decide which stock state the shopper needs to see and make its meaning clear.

Lookup-only suits a retailer when an availability indication is enough and the feature should not create a staff task. The named POS example shows how variant and location information can be presented, but does not establish that it is connected to a fitting-room screen.

Trace the request to completion

Crave Retail’s fitting-room feature lets a shopper request another size, colour or item. A staff-routed request therefore depends on an associate receiving the request and being able to find and bring the requested item.

In Crave’s design the receiving end is Crave Assist on the team’s devices: size, item, SKU and room details land directly with the team, and requests are accepted, tracked and closed so shoppers know help is on the way. Service times, fitting room traffic and missed requests show on the device.

Before choosing this option, confirm which associate receives a request and whether it identifies the room, item and requested variant. Decide how the shopper will get an answer if the item cannot be found.

A staff-led alternative can also extend beyond the selling floor: an associate may show an example when the requested size or colour is out of stock and offer to get it online.

The practical distinction is information versus action. Choose lookup when the shopper needs an availability indication; choose a routed request when they need an item brought to the room and associates can complete that hand-off.

How a Staff-Routed Request Travels from Fitting Room to Associate

  1. Shopper Requests ItemUses smart fitting room screen to request alternate size, colour or item
  2. Request Sent to TeamDetails (SKU, size, colour, room number) sent via Crave Assist to associate devices
  3. Associate Accepts & ActsAssociate views request, locates item, and brings it to the fitting room
  4. Status UpdatedRequest marked as accepted, tracked, and closed in system
  5. Shopper InformedShopper receives confirmation that help is on the way

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