Anyone who shops online – and more and more people are doing so – expects fast delivery. Logistics service providers such as DHL Freight do everything they can to guarantee this. However, their efforts are wasted if the recipient is not at home and there is no alternative drop-off point or delivery option. Parcel lockers offer flexibility here: for customers and service providers. At the same time, parcel lockers increase efficiency and are thus an effective lever for improving the sustainability of the last mile.
The Last Mile Requires Many Resources
Last-mile delivery is often the most resource-intensive and polluting part of the supply chain. The more miles vehicles travel on the road to make the final delivery, and the more stops they make for individual shipments, the more CO2 emissions are generated. And if the destination has to be visited more than once or an alternate pickup location is required for an unsuccessful delivery, the carbon footprint of that delivery becomes even larger. With the growth of e-commerce, businesses and consumers are increasingly looking for greener delivery solutions.
E-mobility may be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about sustainability on the last mile, and it is playing an increasingly important role for smaller delivery vehicles, especially in urban areas – and the e-fleet is growing accordingly in all divisions of the DHL Group. This avoids direct emissions, but until all vehicles can be powered by electricity from sustainable sources, the emissions are generated elsewhere, albeit on a smaller scale.
However, e-mobility does not help if the delivery is not possible. This is also true for last-mile delivery alternatives such as delivery drones, autonomous transport vehicles, or delivery bikes. And when it comes to autonomous delivery, whether in the air or on the road, there are still many technological, safety, and regulatory issues that need to be addressed. Last-mile AI, on the other hand, can mitigate the problem by improving customer interaction, but not eliminate it entirely.
After all, it’s not just about environmental resources, it’s also about people. Labor shortages are a major issue in the logistics industry, and every unsuccessful delivery, every re-sorting, every extra trip increases the pressure on our people in the cabs or in the logistics centers.
How Parcel Lockers Work and How Customers Benefit
A parcel locker, with its numerous compartments, is an automated pick-up and drop-off system where customers can securely receive and send parcels or oversized letters. A dense network of parcel locker stations allows people to pick up or drop off their shipments around the clock near their homes or workplaces.
Easy to Receive …
For collection by the recipient, the service provider delivers a package to a designated parcel locker. Once the parcel is placed in the compartment, the consignee is automatically notified via digital tracking by email, SMS, or smartphone app. To collect the parcel, you simply go to the parcel locker at a time of your choosing. Parcels are typically picked up using a provided access code, by scanning a QR code, or through the app. Upon successful authentication, the locker door unlocks automatically.
… Easy to Consign
Shipping and returns work the same way, only in reverse: senders can use parcel lockers to handle their shipments or returns. This is usually done by scanning a barcode on the package label. The label is usually included with the consignment for eventual returns or is available online for first-time shipments. Placing the shipment in the compartment activates the shipment tracking function and notifies the service provider, who can take the inserted parcel on the next round.
No More Missed Parcels
The advantages for customers are evident: no one has to worry about being at a specific place at a specific time to receive a parcel. And for the vast majority of people, there is a parcel locker in the immediate vicinity of their home or workplace: in public spaces and increasingly also on company premises, such as supermarket customer parking lots. Then you can do some shopping at the same time.
Parcel Lockers Offer a Win-Win-Win-Situation
And that means consumers, businesses, and the environment. Because (and we won’t hide this fact) retailers and logistics service providers also benefit from parcel lockers. Traditional door delivery involves numerous stops, often resulting in inefficient routes and high fuel consumption – and that’s not even counting the extra trips after unsuccessful deliveries.
With parcel lockers strategically located for the shortest route, drivers need to cover fewer destinations and can deliver several shipments at each stop. This naturally increases the efficiency and productivity of the service, saving costs and resources.
Despite the increasing number of parcels in e-commerce, parcel lockers can limit the additional miles that must be driven, as well as the energy and materials required to do so – thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of delivery vehicles and logistics services. The environmental potential increases as parcel lockers become smarter and more connected to other advanced technologies, such as real-time tracking systems and Internet of Things applications.
It’s All in the Mix: Integrated Solutions for the Optimal Customer Experience
Not everyone is able or wants to use parcel lockers – while everyone desires a personal choice of delivery options. That’s why it’s important to have a well considered combination of different pick-up and delivery options. DHL Freight is demonstrating this in Sweden. Unlike in Germany, DHL Freight Sweden is not only responsible for LTL, PTL and FTL road freight, but also for B2B and B2C parcel services. This means that DHL Freight also covers the Swedish e-commerce business and the last mile.
With the right mix of innovative solutions, DHL Freight is well prepared for the growing Swedish e-commerce market. Doorstep delivery, parcel stores, parcel lockers: a good balance of customer-friendly delivery solutions makes the difference in the customer experience, and not just in the Swedish market.
