Doddle is harnessing the power of the sharing economy as it looks to extend the reach of its parcel collections beyond its stores in train stations, shopping centres and universities.
The company is recruiting individuals and small businesses in London to take in parcels for local people, as it launches Doddle Neighbour. Currently the model is being rolled out in west London areas including Richmond, Wimbledon, Paddington and Ealing.
Doddle says that the scheme will remove traffic from the streets: whereas in 15 minutes, a driver can deliver four deliveries to four homes, it can make 50 deliveries to one Doddle store.
Tim Robinson, Doddle chief executive, said: “Doddle Neighbour formalises the concept of taking in parcels for your neighbours, something thousands of Brits do every day across the UK. The difference is Doddle is going to pay them to do it.
“Doddle is about making it easy to send and receive parcels and Doddle Neighbour is the next frontier in this mission. Neighbour is about bringing Doddle services to local communities, taking parcels the final metre, not just the final mile, so that customers can send and receive parcels at a time and place that’s most convenient for them.”