September 2, 2025 – According to a blog post published by tech media outlet 9to5Mac on September 1, Apple has rolled out a novel counter design at its newly opened Apple Hebbal store in Bangalore, India. This innovative layout seamlessly blends the functions of the traditional “Genius Bar” and the “Pickup” service for online orders.
This marks the first time this particular design has been implemented, specifically at the newly launched Apple Hebbal outlet in Bangalore. The primary objective behind this move is to enhance the overall customer experience. In the context of mall-based stores where space is often at a premium, optimizing the store layout becomes crucial for improving service efficiency.
The concept of quick product pickup by Apple can be traced back over a decade to the introduction of the “Express Counter.” These counters were stocked with popular products like iPhones and iPads and gained significant popularity, especially in the Chinese market.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of curbside pickup services further underscored the value of the rapid pickup model. This led Apple to subsequently introduce dedicated “Pickup” counters. After placing an order online, customers could simply head to the pickup counter and typically complete the collection process within two to three minutes.
In an effort to save on store space, Apple has now, for the first time, integrated the “Genius Bar” and “Pickup” services. As per 9to5Mac, while this design is currently only in place at the new Indian store, there are expectations that it could be rolled out to other mall-based stores in the future. From the customer’s perspective, having a clearly defined pickup point and efficient staff service are of utmost importance, and thus, this integration does not seem to present any obvious drawbacks.
