The coronavirus has turned most people’s lives upside down. We had to learn how to live in a new normality, based on measures and actions which aim to limit the further spread of the epidemic. We wear masks, disinfect our hands, stick to the limits in premises, and above that all, we maintain the so-called “social distancing”.
However, regardless of the restrictions, life goes on. We still need to eat, dress, maintain hygiene, take medicines, work. It would not be possible without shopping. So how can we combine these two opposites? The answer is obvious – the Internet.
The increase in e-commerce sales in 2020 for Central and Eastern Europe amounted to as much as 21.5% on an annual basis. According to the study “Internet trade in Poland 2020. Analysis and development forecast for the e-commerce market for 2020-2025”, it was estimated that Poland is above this average with the result of 26% y/y.
The pandemic changed the last mile
As the share of e-commerce in retail sales grows, so does the number of parcels required to be shipped. Their delivery, which we have known for years, has always been associated with interpersonal contact. Handing over a parcel between the courier and the reciever, signatures, collection reports, cash on delivery payment. In the era of the raging coronavirus, all these activities may pose a potential risk of infection, so it is recommended to avoid them.
The result is a huge increase in the popularity of automatic, smart parcel stations, which provide a very simple, convenient and, above all, 100% contactless parcel pickup. The benefits of using them are visible especially in the current situation, but the proper, hygienic habits that we acquire thanks to them will become invaluable also after the end of the sanitary regime.
Parcel lockers in the service of hygiene
So what are the most important benefits of switching to non-contact delivery via automatic delivery machines?
- limiting direct contact – during a pandemic, social distance is the basis for keeping the disease under control. We are social creatures, therefore such behavior is not natural for us. The use of non-contact delivery enforces social distance in its most effective form, preventing physical contact with other people;
- cashless payments – parcel locker gives the possibility of paying for the shipment or the goods without cash;
- safety of employees and customers – thanks to the forced reduction of interpersonal contact, it is easier to maintain good health condition of couriers, without exposing companies to staff shortages;
- reducing the risk of spreading the infection – with such a contagious disease as we are currently dealing with, the effects of non-contact delivery may influence not only a micro scale, so the people directly involved in the delivery process, but also on a macro scale. Stopping one person from getting infected can, in fact, prevent dozens or even hundreds of people from getting sick.
Not only security
In addition to the benefits resulting directly from the non-contact form of delivery, there are also a number of indirect advantages resulting from the use of this type of solution. Due to the fact that contactless delivery is carried out using parcel terminals, we can indicate many other side benefits, such as:
- reduction of the distance traveled by couriers – installation of a parcel machine in the vicinity of a larger housing estate saves the employees of courier companies a lot of time, and significantly reduces the costs of the delivery process. In this case, the courier does not have to visit each house separately, but all parcels are delivered to one properly located place;
- flexibility of picking up the parcel – a parcel left in the parcel locker can be picked up by the addressee at any time. It gives a great sense of freedom and reduces the hassle of having to be at home during the courier’s visit. This solution is extremely comfortable.
- the ability to precisely check the condition of the package – each package may be damaged during transport. With traditional delivery, the presence of a courier may be embarrassing for some, and it imposes time pressure. Damage to the parcel can then be omitted, which causes problems with a later return. During collection in a locker, we can freely and accurately see if the goods we ordered are intact. If they are not, the machine gives you the option of immediate return of the package.
It’s time for click & collect
This summary shows that changing the way of delivering parcels to a non-contact one will result in a noticeable improvement in safety and comfort of life on many different fronts. Both for customers and suppliers, but also for shop owners – those online as well as traditional ones. No wonder that the click & collect market has seen enormous increases in recent years, reaching up to over a dozen percent per year. One of the factors supporting this trend is the current epidemic situation, however, research shows that the habits acquired today will survive and the entire industry will systematically develop. This is the best time to consider an investment in automatic parcel lockers that will benefit you and your customers in the coming years. Let us convince you of this in a face-to-face meeting.
