Austrian Post has installed 13,000 parcel collection boxes, mostly in apartment blocks, across the country ready for the current peak Christmas period and is also expanding its food delivery services.
In April 2012, the postal operator installed the first collection boxes in Vienna in a pilot project which proved successful and has been gradually expanded over the country. Some 400,000 Austrians now benefit from this convenient delivery solution, and up to 95% of all shipments reach customers even if they are not at home.
If the recipient is not at home, the delivery person puts the parcel and larger mail shipments in the collection box, often installed near the letter box, so the recipient can take it out at his convenience. The postman also leaves a delivery notification card with an RFID chip in the letter box which the recipient uses to open the collection box.
Austrian Post said the collection box has been well received by all customers as it eliminates the need for them to go to the post office or to a Post Partner shop and saves valuable time during the busy Christmas period. The collection box is mostly used in urban areas with 80% of all boxes being installed in Vienna. However, rural areas are also due to be equipped with the boxes.
For those getting many shipments and not wishing to share their box with others, Austrian Post is now working on collection boxes for individual flats which will be introduced next year.
In addition, just in time for the upcoming holidays, Austrian Post has strengthened its cooperation with Hermes simplifying returns for customers. It enables online shoppers to hand in their return shipments including the return label at one of the 1,600 Hermes parcel shops in Austria, in addition to the 500 post offices, 1,300 Post Partner shops and 200 OMV petrol stations with VIVA stations.
While the postal operator handles on average around 250,000 parcels daily, this figure rises up to 400,000 in December. On some days, Austrian Post handles even 50% more parcels than during the rest of the year. To make sure all parcels are delivered on time, Austrian Post has introduced extra working shifts including Saturdays and Sundays when necessary.
This month, Austrian Post also launched its 300th self-service station placed in one of the 500 post offices where customers can send letters and parcels by means of a shipping box any time of the day or night. In addition, two thirds of the self-service areas feature a pickup station where parcels and larger or registered letters can be deposited for customers to pick up any time at their convenience.
Meanwhile, Austrian Post has further expanded its grocery delivery services with a new cooperation project signing up direct sellers from the Steiermark region. This makes it possible to deliver regional products from farmers to consumers, hotels, restaurants etc. within 24 hours using cool boxes to maintain the quality and freshness of the food.
About 6,000 out of the 38,000 farmers in Steiermark sell around 50,000 products directly to consumers and businesses, Austrian Post explained.
In the initial phase of this project, selected direct marketers from Steiermark can now use the cooling logistics tool from Austrian Post just in time for Christmas, and send their products to restaurants, hotels or end-customers. From 1 December onwards, a range of quality products is available online at www.genuss-abhof.at. Fresh products such as vegetables, bio cheese made of cow milk, pork, poultry and game specialties, various domestic fishes and many more can be ordered from the partner companies.
As a special Christmas incentive, Austrian Post delivers the regional food for free during the pilot phase until March 2016.
Peter Umundum, Austrian Post board member and director for Parcels & Logistics, said: “With the food delivery service, we offer customers in Austria what they want: service-oriented, climate-neutral home or restaurant delivery and fresh products, which can be kept cooled up to 48 hours thanks to an effective shipping system.”
