In this article, we want to help you understand the basics of what consists of a parcel locker and also help you clear your head with all the different terminologies you might have heard beforehand. Chances are that if you are not in Europe, you might refer to parcel lockers differently.

Let’s start with an overview of the most used terms worldwide for this type of use case. 

Parcel Locker Expressions

Parcel lockers’ popularity goes beyond frontiers, but facts are that they might be more popular in Europe as they have been more widely adopted in countries like Germany and Poland. 

However, in Europe, they are not frequently called Parcel Lockers but Smart Locker instead. This term is more commonly used to refer to a fairly recent piece of technology. 

Contrary to Europe, Americans and Canadians do call them Parcel Lockers. On the other hand, England prefers the name Automated Parcel Machines (AMP) denomination.

In countries like India or UAE, the right way to call them is Electronic Lockers.

In South Africa and other countries on the African Continent, they rather call them Intelligent Lockers.

The truth is that regardless of the terminology, they all are the same product. Some differences apply, but before digging into the differences, let’s go through the definition and benefits that parcel lockers provide.

What is a Parcel Locker? – Definition

A parcel locker is essentially a smarter version of what we know as a conventional locker. These automated machines have become a key component in the digital development of the delivery sector.

Parcel lockers provide a safer storage option for parcels/package delivery; safeness is the key word, as porch piracy has always been a thread for us all. Hence, parcel lockers turned into a long-term solution to tackle this issue – no wonder why they have become the most popular out-of-home delivery in the last few years.

Parcel lockers adoption grows hand in hand with e-commerce-driven markets—no need to say that e-commerce reached unprecedented peaks in 2020.

Just to put things in perspective, in the UK alone, the digital parcel locker infrastructure is forecasted to hit 1 million pounds cumulative investment and go over 50.000 parcel machines. 

Parcel Locker Benefits

Now that we have answered our main question “what is a Parcel Locker?”, let’s explore why parcel lockers are gaining popularity among other delivery methods all around the world.

Simply put like this, they benefit all parties involved in the delivery logistics.

Parcel lockers help couriers by allowing bulk parcel drop-off rather than door-to-door delivery, reducing unnecessary last-mile costs and CO2 emissions, an enormous advantage for courier companies. 

On the customers’ side, parcel lockers offer convenience by freeing people from time restrictions retrieval, meaning they can be accessed 24/7 (if located in public spaces) and, even better, in a contactless way. Recipients no longer need to sign delivery confirmations and are in full charge of deciding where and when to get their parcels. 

By downsizing last-mile costs and requiring less personnel for the delivery logistics, parcel lockers network become a much more affordable method, which might be their primary advantage. 

Other than economic benefits, the hardware itself is a great marketing tool for delivery companies as it can be customized with the courier’s branding features, gaining higher visibility over competitors. 

Moreover, according to research, in countries like France, parcel lockers are claimed to score much higher in the net promoting score (NPS) than PUDO counters.

Parcel Lockers & Smart Lockers – Differences 

A complete understanding of the “what is a parcel locker” question wouldn’t be possible if we do not talk about the most common terminology of them all: Smart lockers. 

We could say that the smart locker expression encompasses all locker forms with integrated software. Thus, a parcel locker that counts with software or any API technology inside, can basically be considered a smart locker. 

People tend to use both terms as if there were interchangeable, but the truth is that not all smart lockers are parcel lockers, and not all parcel lockers are smart. 

For example, there are traditional parcel lockers, those ones you can find in a post office, that just works as a parcel box and do not count with any type or form of software technology; therefore, they can’t fall under the smart locker umbrella. 

Smart lockers are “basically” all electronics. They rely on a cloud to store data and communicate with operating systems. 

Under the smart lockers umbrella, we can find models for many different use cases. Just like pharmacy or refrigerated lockers; parcel lockers are explicitly for standard package exchanges between particulars or retailers/e-commerce and final customers. 

How Can Bloq.it Parcel Lockers Help Businesses Optimize Their Delivery Operations? 

The aim of this article was to clarify the most common interrogation people have: “What is a parcel locker”.

We hope we were able to shed some light on such a new form of logistics, but in case you are wondering how Bloq.it can help optimize your business delivery operations, please reach out to one of our industry experts, and let’s find the best solution for your business, together.

At Bloq.it, we are at the forefront of locker systems integration and development for various industries.

We strive to develop the smartest application interface that adapts to companies existing workflow, letting you gain full power over the service interface with 100% adaptability.

With e-commerce booming and the increasing pressure for parcels to arrive at final destinations on the same day, new delivery options needed to emerge: PUDO delivery.

Let’s start this article by explaining what this acronym stands for: PUDO refers to Pickup and Drop-off points. 

Why is PUDO Delivery More Efficient? 

The PUDO delivery concept came into place to solve a market need. 

PUDO points complement the traditional door-to-door delivery courier companies have been doing for decades.

In the early days of e-commerce, home delivery met all customers’ quality and speed requirements.

Still, this scenario is changing due to the high volume couriers have to handle and all the logistics and last-mile challenges that door-to-door deliveries bring.

PUDO delivery brings many advantages for clients, retailers, and logistics providers.

Let’s start by mentioning that failed delivery attempts are removed from the process, delivery times get exponentially reduced (thanks to batch delivery), last-mile emissions and costs are reduced, and reverse logistics get more flexible.  

PUDO for Reverse Logistics – Returns 

Another excellent use case and reason for PUDO counters and smart lockers gaining ground is their flexibility in terms of returns.

Consumers need choices, and PUDO locations release people from feeling the pressure to drop a package at a particular store and time constraints. 

PUDO Formats and Reasons for Scaling

PUDO points come in different formats. They can range from third-party facilities, like local stores or Parcel lockers. 

Whether talking about local stores or Smart Lockers, the vital point is to make PUDO points accessible to everyone.

Locations should preferably be in high-transit areas that allow people to retrieve and drop off their parcels, freeing them from restricted home delivery slots and helping retailers to comply with delivery dates.

This new delivery model has seen massive growth since mid-2019 and is expected to keep growing thanks to consumers’ demand. But what is driving the growth and quick adoption of alternative last-mile methods?

Below are some of the factors backing up PUDO delivery expansion:

• The insatiable demand for consumerism and the growth of e-commerce

• People returning to office and workspaces after the lockdown during the Covid pandemic

• Teens and young adults new consumer behavior patterns: 68% of consumers between 16-24 years old in the United Kingdom are more likely to use PUDO than the overall market – Verdict 

PUDO Delivery Adoption Worldwide

PUDO delivery adoption is more successful in some regions than others. Let’s explore the scenario of some countries regarding Pickup and Drop-off points.

Europe is by far the region with the most PUDO locations. According to research (carried out in 27 countries around Europe), more than 336,000 PUDO locations are available across Europe, from which 43.000 are Parcel Lockers. 

Germany, France, the UK, and Italy are taking the lead in PUDO points in this region. Nonetheless, regarding PUDO delivery points density (meaning PUDO points per habitant), Finland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are heading the list. 

The previously mentioned countries refer to PUDO points in general, but when it comes to Parcel lockers alone, Poland and Spain come first with around 11.000 and 10.000 self-service lockers, respectively.

Great news for Spain as this is an alternative method to tackle all the delivery issues this country faces.

Let’s now go to the American continent and focus on the US. Based on research, the US has approximately more than 77.000 PUDO delivery points provided by giant courier companies (FedEx, Amazon, UPS, DHL, and USPS), a pretty small number considering the massive population and size of this nation. 

The good news is that in the US, the number of parcels shipped to PUDO points steadily increased by 4% between 2019-2020.

This means that Americans are adapting to Smart Lockers and new delivery methods, and as you know, courier companies always react to people’s demands. 

Moving to the APAC region ( Western + Pacific Ocean), Australia seems ahead of its neighboring countries. Australia counts on diverse public and private companies offering PUDO or electronic parcel lockers, like the Australian post or Amazon. 

In countries like China or Japan, the story is different. In Asian countries, home delivery is still the norm. 

Statistics show that China counts on a massive lockers network (350,000 locations), and even like that, this number accounts for 30% of the 50 billion parcels that are shipped yearly, meaning that 70% of packages are delivered to homes. 

Bloq.it Smart Lockers for PUDO Delivery

At Bloq.it, we strive to develop the smartest application interface that adapts to delivery companies existing workflow, letting them gain full power over the service interface with 100% adaptability.

Our solutions are already being used by several companies across the world.

If you want to discuss more on how our technology can help your business optimize delivery operations.

Reach out to one of our industry specialists and let’s find the best solution for your business, together.

By the end of this article, you will be aware of the main concepts of this revolutionary industry and some of the technology-related solutions that are helping businesses tackle product distribution. .If you have a business that is related to or dependent on last-mile delivery, this article will be extremely helpful if you are looking to upgrade or expand your delivery methods. .

El Corte Ingles Smart Locker powered by Bloq.it, located in Lisbon – Portugal (Photo by El Corte Ingles)

What is the Last-Mile Delivery?

The most generic definition we can give to the what is the last-mile delivery question is the one associated with supply chain and logistics-related scenarios.

The last-mile delivery refers to the final step or final destination process of a product – whether it is from the warehouse, fulfillment center, or store to the final consumer’s desired drop-off address. 

Although the concept is very straightforward, the logistics behind any product transfer from point A to the final destination is very complex, turning the last-mile delivery into the most expensive part of any fulfillment chain. 

To understand what is last-mile delivery, let’s rewind to how the logistics involved in last-mile delivery were before e-commerce came to place. This will help us understand the challenges most businesses are facing these days. 

Waiting for parcels to arrive on doorsteps are a carrier method of the past.  (Photo by Polina Tankilevitch – Pexels)

Before the digital era, the last-mile transfer of products was expected to go from the manufacturers or warehouses to retail stores or other types of business.

The operations were more straightforward and deliveries were done in bulks keeping costs considerably. 

Once the e-commerce wave hit us all, the scenario changed completely. We are back to questioning ourselves again: what is the last-mile delivery?

Innovation can change an entire society. The dynamics and technologies that were once unthought of are now involved in every aspect of daily life. Take cell phones for instance. Individuals and businesses couldn’t think of a society based on a device. However, 10 years later, almost everyone has a cellphone. Receiving parcels and package deliveries are facing similar changes. 

Before going deeper into these new technologies, let’s cover the problem.

One of the many challenges carriers face: road delays.(Photo by Erik Mclean – Pexels)

The Current Last-Mile Delivery Problem

To complement our understanding of explaining the last-mile delivery, we need to point out some of the inconveniences we can easily find.

We have firsthand insight into last-mile expert claims that are affecting businesses in most industries.

However, if we had to sum them up into one central problem, we could say that the main challenge is the increasing demand customers impose in hopes for  more instant delivery. 

The first last-mile delivery problem we want to highlight is cost.

Last-mile deliveries in the e-commerce era involve single items dropped door to door, resulting in multiple stops. On the contrary, bulk delivery leads to congestion in urban areas and driving miles apart in rural areas.

The unnecessary resources in terms of labor and fuel (e.g., diesel) indicate that the door-to-door delivery represents substantial and avoidable monetary losses for businesses. 

Customers expecting more control and faster deliveries is the central and critical challenge for the last-mile industry. According to studies, instant delivery is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.3% from 2020 to 2027. 

This growing demand doesn’t just indicate rising costs but also traffic congestion and more pollution in both urban and rural areas. Door-to-door delivery and a more instant delivery demanded by customers limit the opportunity for courier companies to make the most out of their routes by optimizing and upgrading their methods.

The good news is that challenges always leave room for innovation, and to sum up this article we will list below some of the solutions technology can offer in this extremely dynamic and volatile industry. 

Smart lockers are an innovative solution to solve last-mile delivery issues (Photo by Shutterstock)

Innovative Solutions Taking on Last-mile Challenges

Having a clear understanding of what is the last-mile delivery and the challenges within the industry would be pointless if we didn’t address the following question:

How can technology optimize last-mile delivery operations to meet customers’ demands while avoiding delayed deliveries to comply with people’s high expectancy for fast delivery while keeping costs at a low?

Plenty of futuristic last-mile delivery trends indicate that Micro Fulfillment and Smart Lockers seem to be the most immediate solution for a variety of businesses, consequently driving a more automated delivery process in most urban areas.

Implementing Micro Fullfillment Solution

A new strategy most retailers are implementing is using stores and retail backrooms to fulfill quick-commerce demands.

According to studies, over 47% of consumers won’t recommend a retailer if they can’t get same-day delivery of products. 

In this competitive era, businesses can’t afford to lose customer loyalty. Therefore, using storefronts and shopping malls is one of the best strategies to facilitate quick deliveries. 

For retailers that are not located near their customers’ bases, parcel lockers seem to be the correct answer to solve the last-mile problem.

Smart Locker Solution

Some businesses cannot count on a location-based strategy of having their stores close to their customers.

Instead, they might need to ship products directly from warehouses.

If this is the case, self-service lockers help lower delivery times, failed first attempt deliveries, and even lowers costs by checking all the boxes to comply with their customers’ demands whilst keeping costs within profit margins. 

In fact, studies carried out by the University of Washington Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics Center have shown that Smart Locker delivery reduces the total delivery time by 78% compared to traditional delivery methods. 

Integrating a Smart Locker located in a metro station in Sao Paulo – Brazil (Photo by Clique Retire – Pexels)

How Can Bloq.it Smart Lockers Help Your Business?

At Bloq.it, we are at the forefront of locker systems integration and development for various industries, including last-mile deliveries.

We strive to develop the most innovative application interface that adapts to your existing workflow, letting you gain complete power over the service interface with 100% adaptability.

Our Smart Lockers, powered by Bloq.it technology, are already present in more than 10 countries around the world.

If you are still confused on what is a the last-mile delivery, let’s discuss more on how our technology can help your business optimize delivery operations.

Reach out to one of our experts and let’s find the best solution for your business, together.

With cannabis consumption booming new Cannabis distribution options are rising, especially in Europe where the cannabis industry is making a big push for its recreational use.

Studies are in the making, and countries like Germany and Switzerland are with a head start, which might signify a giant tidal wave of opportunities for entrepreneurs in this growing sector. 

This means that smart parcel lockers may have, in one way or another, a pivotal contribution to the success of this mission.

Do you want to know how? With Smart Lockers as the new Cannabis distribution alternative.

• Cutting down the cost of last-mile operations
• Optimizing the distribution operation & storage
• (24/7) cloud-based remote monitoring with data log

How to tackle the illicit market?

The Last Mile accounts for over 41% of overall supply chain costs in most industries, and the cannabis sector is no exception. 

An industry that wants to tackle the illicit market may compromise the victory lap over these unregulated side markets.

A recent poll published in Recreational Europe 2022 by First Wednesdays stated that tackling the illicit market is the most significant benefit of legalization by all European countries.

Cutting down costs in this expensive part of the process will allow for competitive pricing of the regulated market over the unregulated one.

Sustainability-wise, the line of the product and package manufacture communication will be protected and coherent reducing traffic on the roads and consequently CO2 emissions. 

New solutions within the cannabis distribution matter must follow such as Buying Online & Pick-up In-store (BOPIS) and PUDO (Pick-Up & Drop-Off) are starting to weigh into the conversation.

Adopting a hybrid model, with the installment of automated electronic locker hubs spread out across cities for the use of multiple couriers and customers, will be a significant play. Delivering in bulk is a lot more sustainable than a door-to-door one.

But, of course, there will be challenges.

Cannabis Distribution: Last-Mile Logistics

The cannabis distribution logistics should be compared to the money distribution use case. It’s valuable, and security is essential.

Europeans are very comfortable with any form of cannabis legalization but expect tight control policies in return.

A coordinated effort among platforms and delivery providers is essential to go smoothly over eventual legal barriers.

This means that the ordering process and the fulfillment must be in the same tune. Laws and regulations will vary from country to country, so in terms of logistics, the whole flow of the cannabis distribution compliance must be aligned, and some of the downsides that the US Market brought up must be avoided beforehand.

In the scope of the customer, convenience has to be a trademark in this type of service.

Yonatan Meyer, Partner at Casa Verde, told to First Wednesday for the Recreational Europe 2022, that “upon legalization and establishment of a regulatory system, Germany is set to become the single largest recreational cannabis market in the world. While the fragmented US market has enjoyed a half-decade head start, the industry’s growth/reach has been curtailed by the banking industry’s ongoing federal criminalization and de facto black listing.

“We think Europe has the potential to be larger than the American recreational market given that it has a population that’s more than double the size of the US. With that, according to BDSA, Europe had a total cannabis market of around $680m in 2021 and we see the continent with a potential addressable market of $229bn, so the room for growth is immense.” – BORIS JORDAN, Executive Chairman of Curaleaf.

Market Trends & Data

Access to market trends and consumer data is critical for success in a constantly more data-driven world.

This is where the “smart” comes in handy, as automated Parcel Lockers have this 24/7 capability of registering all the data log of the locker’s activities.

Talking about tax revenue, they are dependent on the legal market to override the illicit one. The success of one weakens the other and It’s a matter of domino effect. If any ancillary industries fail with the lack of professional services, technology, packaging, distribution, and delivery, the success rate decreases since convenience will be compromised.

For some, cannabis is simply an academic topic of debate, while others’ viewpoints are deeply rooted in emotion, from blanket adoration to genuine fear. Education will be vital in demystifying some of these fears.

Safe to say that these next 3 to 5 years will be extremely crucial and exciting for the progress of this industry!

How can Bloq.it smart lockers can help Cannabis distribution and Logistics? 

At Bloq.it, we are at the forefront of locker systems integration and development for various industries, and the Cannabis also industry is one of them.  We strive to develop the smartest application interface that adapts to existing cannabis distribution workflow, letting you gain full power over the service interface with 100% adaptability and an ideal perk for the Cannabis sector. 

Our solutions are already being used by several companies across the world.

Want to discuss more on how our technology can help your business optimize operations?

Reach out here on the website or to our industry specialist Bernardo Amaro and let’s find the best solution for your cannabis enterprise, together.

In this first section, you can expect an introduction of the return scenario in general, backed up with research figures from big players in this matter.

In the second part of this blog, we will look into a real eCommerce returns case from the giant retailer Inditex.

The intention is to show how eCommerce returns policies are changing in this post-covid era.

To sum it up, I will share with you some personal conclusions.

Customer return behavior is difficult to predict even under normal circumstances, and COVID19 has made it more challenging and dynamic. 

US$761 billion. That is the worth of returned goods in 2021 spent by consumers in the United States alone. Almost a 100% increase in comparison with 2020. 

But, to look for solutions, we need to spot the causes, so let’s dive into what makes people request returns more than ever.

Why do people return items?

High return rates directly affect companies’ profit margins. If we combine this issue with the increase in fuel, materials, and other supply chain costs, losses are too significant for companies to handle.

Let’s explore some figures below to understand the most recurrent eCommerce returns scenarios.

1) Reasons: There are many reasons for what customers might do a return. According to Shopify’s research, the #1 reason (+50%) for people to return online items is the size, either too small or too large. 

2) E-commerce vs. brick and mortar: Based on invespcro eCommerce research, there is a 30% return rate compared to only 8.9% for purchases made at brick-and-mortar retail stores.

3) Most returned items Category: Auto parts returns are leading the list with a 19% return rate, followed by apparel retailers with a 12%, and home improvement and houseware brands with an 11%. 

Ecommerce returns were aggravated by the Pandemic

Pandemic restrictions changed people’s purchase habits from one day to the other. Customers could not try clothes on themselves, so they decided to buy 3+ different sizes just to be sure, try them at home, pick one and return the rest.

This unnecessary overconsumption changed the return game, more items needed to be returned, harming the return operations. Naturally, new return policies took place.

But it is not all bad news. We have to see both sides of the coin here. On one side, we know customers do not feel any responsibility; they know they can get their money back just as quickly as they spend it.

On the other side, thanks to these flexible eCommerce returns policies, customers can shop more confidently and spend even more, which can be a competitive advantage for brands to use in their favor.

New emerging eCommerce return policies.

A new eCommerce returns policy and solutions have been introduced by Inditex’s Zara.

The company announced in May that U.K. customers will now be charged 1.95 pounds, or about $2.45, for customers to return online purchases to third-party drop-off points. However, customers still have the option to return online purchases at any Zara store in the U.K. free of charge. 

Charging customers is always an option, but it might decrease overall customer satisfaction, resulting in customers buying elsewhere.

Benefits of Ecommerce returns to store

Shoppers are more likely to shop online if they can return items to a physical store. The returned goods can be inspected and, in most cases, put back on the shelf. Also, this entices customers to shop more when they are already in the store, which helps with cross-selling. 

Long-term it creates trust with a specific brand for customers’ future online and offline purchase decisions.

42% percent of consumers say a negative return experience led them to never shop with that specific retailer again. On the flip side, 97% were more likely to shop with that retailer after a positive returns experience.

Ecommerce Returns personal Insights

After blending all this information together, I want to highlight the two possible impacts of this new “charging customers or return to store” solution imposed by Zara UK before jumping to my final conclusion:

1) It could either decrease customer satisfaction leading to a decrease in online sales due to customers buying from other competitors or

2) It will create a domino effect across the fashion industry, and other brands and customers will slowly need to adapt.

The return process is complicated. Reverse logistics always are.

I believe that one of the ways to optimize the whole operation is to decrease spending instead of just charging the customers directly, as ZARA did.

I dare to say that with the increased demand in eCommerce other brands will adapt, and customers will adapt to these new eCommerce returns dynamics and become more careful and strategic about their buying decisions.

Alternative Solutions for Ecommerce Returns

It’s not all black and white; there are middle solutions we can benefit from, like Smart Lockers.

Smart Locker software technology offers multi usability purposes and can help automate the return process while decreasing operational costs.

Aside from returns, lockers can also enhance Click and Collect, so customers can directly pick up their online orders.

The labor cost for a return via a smart locker is almost negligible. It is easy to operate, fast and efficient, and this can be confirmed with El Corte Ingles retailer use case. This giant retailer managed to reduce its operational costs by implementing Parcel Lockers. 

How can Bloq.it Help Businesses Improve Their Ecommerce Returns Operations?

At Bloq.it we provide parcel lockers with integrated API software, turning smart lockers into the perfect fit for eCommerce platforms to offer a much cheaper delivery alternative to clients and an optimized option for reverse logistics to carry faster and more affordable returns. 

To know more about all the solutions we offer, reach out to one of our specialists or connect with us on Linkedin. 

With the increasing demand for digital shopping and challenging customer expectations, logistics operations get compromised and can’t keep up with the pace of new trends and requirements.  

As experts in the last-mile field, we wanted to dedicate this blog article to some of the customers’ most demanded requirements in this new technological era, requirements that are creating very specific last-mile delivery trends.

Our objective is to guide retailers through some of the newest last-mile delivery trends and encourage them to explore all the aspects that should be incorporated into their delivery models.

All this to help them maintain delivery operations with a profit margin.

Sharp tracking technology

To begin this list of last-mile delivery trends, let’s start with the traceability topic.

Live traceability of packages is the bare minimum customers expect nowadays. Thanks to technology, almost all couriers and retailers can provide the pretty accurate status of orders; however, in many cases, tracking doesn’t meet final recipients’ expectations displaying errors or lack of transparency.

The trend in this era is to offer pinpoint accuracy in parcel tracking, and not just that, but a complete overview of parcels conditions – whether is temperature and exact delivery routes for customers to be as informed as possible, and all of this is possible thanks to sharp technology developments and Internet of Things (IoT).

Autonomous Technology

Going deeper into our last-mile delivery trends list, we have autonomous technology, tightly related to the labor costs area.

Labor and human-associated costs account for up to 60% of all last-mile expenses. As harsh as it might sound, most employees involved in last-mile delivery duties are replaceable with technological advancements. These costs opened the debate for retailers to consider other cheaper means of delivery.

Self-driving vehicles like drones and robots are getting attention as an alternative to reduce labor costs. These vehicles represent a huge potential to solve delivery issues, not just cutting out-of-pocket labor costs but relieving companies from unnecessary carbon emissions.

Smart Lockers Technology

Self-service lockers or more commonly known as Smart Lockers, click the third box of our last-mile delivery trends list.

The software and disruptive technology are now integrated into conventional lockers for various reasons. Let’s start by mentioning people’s increasing demand for one/same-day delivery. 

The acceleration of e-commerce and demand for rapid delivery challenges last-mile operations; hence, it is more doable to meet fast delivery customers’ expectations using smart lockers as it allows bulk delivery rather than door-to-door. 

Porch piracy is an unfortunate common threat in urban areas, especially in the US. Parcel lockers comply with all security aspects to keep parcels securely stored.

Lastly, and just to mention a few: Chain of Custody Record.  This is an aspect tightly linked to our precious “sharp tracking technology” that allows communication between all parties involved in the transportation.

A well-documented chain of custody reduces the chances of errors and delays in delivery, and this is possible with Intelligent Lockers. 

Mixed or Hybrid fleet management systems 

As for the last last-mile delivery trend, we have a new fleet management system.

Retailers worldwide are opting to reverse the conventional outsourcing of the last-mile delivery, meaning they are implementing an insourcing model. 

By insourcing delivery management, retailers gain better control of their delivery operations. This is executed with a mixed/hybrid fleet management in which the retailer owns some vehicles and partners with contractors, third-party providers, and freelance drivers.

This new last-mile delivery trend and fleet management works under demands and mitigates all the downsides of the traditional model, like deadhead miles. 

To keep the industry rolling, all companies in all sectors need to keep an eye on the future last-mile delivery trends and anticipate the emerging customers’ needs that can help their business afloat and operate under the most relevant technology models. 

How can Bloq.it API solution help your business?

At Bloq.it, we are at the forefront of locker systems integration and development of lockers’ software for various industries. We strive to develop the most innovative application interface that adapts to your existing workflow, letting you gain complete power over the service interface with 100% adaptability. Our solutions are already in over 10 countries around the world.

Want to discuss how our technology can help your business optimize delivery operations?

Reach out to one of our industry specialists, and let’s find the best solution for your business together.

This growing demand is strongly linked to the hectic lifestyle and life pace in which students live nowadays. Just like workers, students do not have time to wait for deliveries, whether we are talking about parcels, documentation, or the exchange of any items from the campus bookstore or student lab.

Most of those attending universities and colleges in this era are part of generation Z and millennials.

Generation Z alone is claimed to have a higher buying power that accounts for around $143 billion and makes up about 40% of all consumers.

High buying power, together with the new e-commerce growth trend and the adopted post-pandemic social distance habit, is making companies adapt their operations to ensure customers’ loyalty and profitability.

After analyzing college and university students’ consumption behavior, institutions spotted the need to offer better high package volume management. Hence, parcel delivery might be the most frequent use case students give to University Smart Lockers.

According to sources, in 2020, around 8.6 billion were spent only on online purchases, and as expected, with online retail shipping volume increasing, so will all the logistics operations involved.

This is why university smart lockers come into place to modernize and automate delivery processes.

Before focusing on university smart lockers use cases, let’s briefly introduce what Smart lockers are – for those unfamiliar with this technology.

What are Smart Lockers?

Smart lockers might seem from the outside like any other conventional locker. The difference remains in the smart computerized technology integrated into them.

Smart lockers work as a modern storage and collection solution allowing automated package delivery and exchange thanks to their integrated computer and API technology.

How can this API technology benefit and in some way better students’ lives?

Well, by simply minimizing failed delivery attempts, allowing safe storage, eliminating theft risks, and enabling the contactless exchange of items. It is fair to state that this innovation benefits students by providing some convenience in their everyday lives.

University Smart Lockers attributes that boost Convenience

Convenience is possible thanks to the integration of tech-related attributes. Let’s start by mentioning smart locker tracking systems.

Smart lockers tracking systems allow live notifications keeping all parties involved (students, courier companies, online retailers, etc.) updated at all times.

1 – Live tracking and constant communication is an essential and heavily demanded aspect by generation Z and young millennials nowadays; both generations are known for being constantly connected and driven by the need to be informed 24/7.

The second convenient attribute is faster deliveries. Smart lockers enable bulk delivery in predetermined spots/lockers’ hubs.

2 – Bulk deliveries translate into much quicker deliveries since the courier man does to have to go around door to door to drop a single package. This is particularly suitable for large campuses. Bulk deliveries also eliminate the risk of failed attempt deliveries. No more time wasted waiting for packages that hardly ever comply with expected delivery time windows.

3 – Ten-second retrieval/drop-off process: that’s all a student or university staff member would need to retrieve or drop off a parcel or document.

University smart lockers count on various digitized opening methods, all proven to operate in less than 10 seconds. The most used authentication and opening methods we can find in university smart lockers are QR codes, numeric codes, mobile apps, and tracking codes.

Benefits of Incorporating University Smart Lockers into Campuses

Offering a new delivery point to students rather than the conventional mail room enhances students’ experience and frees the campus staff to focus on different and perhaps more important tasks.

Analytics and data collections. With all processes backed up and computerized by the tracking software, operations can be optimized to reduce costs.

Incorporating electronic lockers into campuses helps institutions automate manual tracking tasks that are usually done the traditional way: pen and paper.

Eliminate theft risk. Whether intentional or a “mistake robbery” (e.g. due to the wrong recipient’s input of the address), self-service lockers provide a safer chain of custody where only the final recipient is authorized to access to retrieve the item.

How can Bloq.it Smart Lockers’ technology help University Campuses?

At Bloq.it we master the development of tailor-made software technology adapted to all types of educational institutions.

In the case of university smart lockers, the software is fully integrated into the university and campus platform. With it, the librarian, lab staff, student service administrators, external parties & students can have seamless communication at all times thanks to our Bloq.it OS and API technology.

With many different modular locker configurations and sizes available, our experts are here to guide you and discuss all available options. Our solutions are tailor-made for your business needs.

Reach out now to our experts and get a free consultation.

Although we know this massive continent cannot be treated as one homogenous land, we tried to compile the most generic information possible to have a solid overview of this specific market.

African E-commerce and Catching Up to the Digital World

Having the most remarkable online payment growth and the fastest-growing middle-class sector, the African continent is rapidly catching up on technological advancements, mobile adoption, and banking solutions.

This progress is reflected in sustained growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it an excellent target with enormous potential for all types of businesses that can embrace the Electronic Retail world.

Now diving into the e-commerce arena, Africa holds 281 million online shoppers, and this number is expected to rise to 520 million by 2025.

Even though the continent is going down the proper technology development path, some challenges still need to be faced.

Challenges in Africa in the supply chain ecosystem are not different from other parts of the world.

In fact, they can be summed up in the following: the impact of technology, overcoming deficient transport infrastructure, and pressure to keep costs down.

These three obstacles created a growing demand for logistics among retailers and couriers to expand their operations and improve their supply chains and transport networks.

According to recent research, the last mile industry grew up to 27.2 billion dollars in the African continent.

This growth is an apparent effect of rapid digitalization in the regions, although, there is so much more room for incorporating technological capabilities to expand warehousing and the delivery processes of online business.

Last-mile Delivery Problems in the African Continent

So how are companies coping with this new logistics demand? Most African logistics companies are focusing on improving the last-mile delivery services by incorporating intelligent devices into their delivery operations, like drones, and intelligent lockers, especially for retail and e-commerce.

A great example of an intelligent lockers use case is Jumia, an e-commerce giant which recently decided to adopt self-service lockers as a delivery method.

*Just as a side note: according to sources, the most developed regions are claimed to be the North region, with Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria having the highest production values. The West region with Nigeria, with its extensive metropolitan areas, Ghana and Liberia, and South Africa, which leads the economy of all the southern regions, followed by Angola.

Intelligent Parcel Lockers as a Delivery Solution

So how can e-commerce businesses guarantee their goods are getting to final customers without delays considering all the African lag in transit infrastructure?

Well, safe to say, this is where Intelligent Lockers come into place.

An Intelligent locker is not just a durable piece of hardware prepared to store parcels under the harshest weather conditions. Their key functionality provides 100% time-slot pick-up flexibility without time limitations and risk for failed attempt deliveries.

Failed attempt deliveries are one of the main challenges this innovation helps tackle and lead us to two other significant aspects of these electronic lockers.

The first one touches on a very beneficial economic angle for companies. Intelligent locker networks, if strategically positioned around city areas, represent an alternative to out-of-home delivery, cutting out last-mile costs for more couriers to up 90%.

The second aspect dives more into sustainability matters, even though this is not a significant concern for most African countries.

In those more developed cities of South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Nigeria, sustainable development projects have taken place in the last few years, and adopting Intelligent locker solutions might fit perfectly within these plans to reduce CO2 emissions coming from delivery transports.

How can Bloq.it Smart lockers help your business?

At Bloq.it, we are at the forefront of locker systems integration and development for various industries, including last mile. We strive to develop the smartest application interface that adapts to businesses existing workflow, letting you gain complete power over the service interface with 100% adaptability.

Our solutions are already being used by companies in Egypt, and several others across the world.

Want to discuss how our technology can help your business optimize delivery operations?

Reach out to one of our industry specialists, and get a free quote for the perfect smart locker solution for your business.

Now, let’s jump into some basic definitions for those unfamiliar with the term.

How Does API Technology Work?

API technology is a software intermediary that works as a middleman allowing two applications to talk to each other seamlessly. This technology is very versatile and can be used on web-based systems, operating systems, database systems, and computer hardware. 

Thanks to its versatility, it applies to industries scaling up the communication between businesses. Since we are talking about delivery optimization in this article, API technology enhances communication between retailers, e-commerce, and couriers.

API Technology and Data 

As our dependence on home delivery rises, retailers, e-commerce, and carrier companies are working hard to reduce inefficiencies in the last mile.

Where to begin when trying to optimize delivery operations? The key to better last-mile delivery is giving retailers and carriers more and better information. 

With “more and better information,” we don’t (exclusively) refer to the full address delivery information. The full address info provided by the customer, in fact, represents the most crucial bit of information, as missing or wrong data input from shoppers/customers is the leading cause of delivery failures, which consequently implies extra costs to businesses.

However, even when the address is fully detailed and provided, deliveries can face delays, often lengthy ones, frustrating and annoying customers, and increasing the chances of losing brand loyalty. 

With “more and better information,” we also refer to the proper use of technology to gather key data points, such as the best delivery times, people’s availability for pick up, best routes to avoid congestion, etc. 

Open data is the critical component of delivery optimization. It allows constant tracking and tracing of parcels, communication through an online cloud platform, and live notifications of the delivery process, eradicating all operational inefficiencies. 

Acknowledging data like this can help businesses optimize operations by delivering smartly at the right time, with suitable routes, exchanging communication with all parties involved, and consequently, cutting unnecessary costs. 

API technology and Smart Lockers

How do these two terms correlate?. When integrated into traditional lockers, API technology software systems can help remove the most common problems encountered in the last leg of the last-mile distribution. 

How? Faster, cheaper, and more sustainable delivery is attained when smart lockers hubs are used as the drop-off destination. The risks of failed attempt deliveries and unnecessary last-mile itineraries are taken out of the formula.

Now that we know that the “smart” part of the locker is in its software and API technology integration, it is easier to see how this innovation is taking parcel delivery to a new level of convenience for customers and business profitability.

How Do Smart Lockers Work?

Electronic lockers participation in parcel delivery is simple. It does not get any more complicated than this:

• The customer orders online and selects the desired location for pick up. Using smart lockers removes the inconvenience of staying at home waiting for the delivery man in a specific time window.

• The customer can pick up the order by getting an arrival notification of the parcel from the multi-user & single-user applications.All this retrieval process is done in under 10 seconds. 

The challenging part of smart lockers is not how to use them, as it is a very intuitive mechanism; the challenge is how to get used to this new delivery model, as some people might still be reluctant to use this technology or just too used to traditional home delivery methods. Luckily some countries like Poland and France are significantly ahead and have extensively adapted to parcel lockers. 

Smart Lockers: An Alternative to Home Delivery

Even in emerging countries, the growth of e-commerce is undeniable. According to research, this industry is expected to hit  $4 trillion by the end of this year, 2022. Hence the need to start adapting to API technology and new home delivery alternatives that allow companies to do bulk deliveries, saving time and last-mile costs. 

Thanks to the integration of API technology into traditional lockers, the idea of smart lockers was born, changing the delivery game and dodging home delivery issues.

How Can Bloq.it API Solution Help Your Business?

At Bloq.it, we are at the forefront of locker systems integration and development for various industries. We strive to develop the smartest application interface that adapts to your existing workflow, letting you gain complete power over the service interface with 100% adaptability.

Our solutions are already being used by several companies across the world.

Want to discuss how our technology can help your business optimize delivery operations?

Reach out to one of our industry specialists and let’s find the best solution for your business together.

No doubt libraries are some of the most “hush” and “contactless” places out there, and one of the few premises we can find where people have a more “self-service” attitude – human contact is barely zero, and personal assistance is required if only really needed.

This makes it the perfect fit for smart lockers to fit in by being an excellent curb-side option for pick-up and drop-off of books, encyclopedias, journals, and any other related materials.

But why is it so hard to find self-service lockers in libraries? Why are smart library lockers a new thing on these premises?

Innovation in times of the Pandemic: Library Lockers

As with many other industries, the demand for library lockers is a new trend that arose during the pandemic days – just to put things into perspective, the smart locker market stood at USD 644.8 million in 2020 and although this increase is mainly attributed to e-commerce demand, libraries also faced enormous challenges with the restrictions imposed.

Library users experienced inconveniences with exchanging books and media material, and once some of the restrictions were lifted, university, private and community libraries realized they needed to work on a better system.

Social distancing limitations were indeed a huge setback that opened a window for smart lockers innovation to fit in libraries. However, the key factor that pushed libraries to openly adapt to this new material exchange and management system was the need to incorporate more technology, and a technology that would optimize users’ and staff time – in a contactless way.

How can Smart Lockers technology apply to Libraries?

Smart Lockers software can facilitate the borrowing and returning process of any library regardless of the operating system used, allowing users to skip queues at the reception or the reckless action of dropping books into a basket without leaving a proper record or evidence of return, which can become detrimental for both parties: the user and the library.

Library lockers provide a convenient and safe way for library users and even staff members to borrow and return library material 24h per day – no time limit applies with this new method.

But how can librarians keep track, control, and monitor return deadlines and related information?

Up to now, library operations have kept the same standard and workflow and this system seems to be working.

Smart locker’s objective is just to improve the pick-up/drop-off process without interfering with the back-office operations.

Hence, the recording workflow of users/material ID, dates, times, and related matters would stay the same.

Advantages of integrating Smart Lockers into Library operations

Besides all the time flexibility that these hardware and software combo offers to users, it is also a highly efficient method for self-check-out, convenient for those smaller libraries with a limited number of staff members or for those university libraries that run 24/7. 

Let’s not forget that this innovation is not just convenient for users. Automated lockers also improve library staff members’ daily tasks of sorting and reshelving material. 

Undoubtedly, the need for a non-face-to-face methodology in times of Covid-19 has changed the library experience in many cities around the world, and it is just a matter of time for the rest of the private and community libraries to adapt to this new demand.

How can Bloq.it Smart Lockers’ technology help Libraries?

At Bloq.it we master the development of tailor-made software technology adapted to the business nature.

In the case of library lockers, the software is fully integrated into the library platform. With it, the librarian and users can have seamless communication at all times, and the user can confirm lockers’ modular availability from their phones thanks to API technology.

With many different modular locker configurations and sizes available, our specialists are here to guide you and discuss the differences between all available options. The idea is to work on a personalized solution that accommodates your business’ demands.

Reach out now to our experts and get a free consultation.