It may be a delivery solution that has yet to take off in any significant way in the UK, but globally the parcel locker systems market is worth almost $800 million, according to a new report from Apex Insight.
Parcel lockers, or secure locker banks, typically consist of between 20 to 100 plus electronic lockers with a control unit that allows each compartment to be opened by someone with the correct credentials and offer a valuable alternative for customers and carriers to get parcels delivered or returned.
Located in areas that have extensive opening hours – such as shopping centres, supermarket car parks and petrol station forecourts such systems usually have a real-time data link that allows instant updating of collections or deliveries and means that goods can be delivered first-time.
The report points out that the last mile element of parcel delivery which such solutions address, typically accounts for between 35 to 50% of total costs. The opportunity then to reduce fragmented home deliveries into a single consolidated drop and pick-up option makes them attractive as a more cost-effective solution, argues the report.
China currently leads the market with the greatest number of installations in any one country whilst in Europe it is Germany that leads with Deutsche Post DHL’s Packstation network, which has 2,750 lockers across the country.
The Apex Insight report says that the main benefits that locker systems offer will see their growth continue. The benefits include:
– Retailers: potential for increased sales from better delivery services
– Carriers: cost savings from better consolidation and improved delivery success rates
– Consumers: increased convenience
– The environment: benefits from reducing the number of delivery van miles driven
Image credits: Fotolia
