PostNord and DHL Express will both deliver parcels to SwipBox lockers in a large-scale test of carrier-neutral ‘close-to-customers’ parcel terminals that launched today in Denmark.
DHL has already been delivering items to the existing network of several hundred Swipboxes in retail locations such as supermarkets across the country for several years.
Now PostNord and the Danish supplier have formed a joint company called Nordic Instrastructure which will operate a network of ‘Near-Boxes’ (called ‘Nærboks’ in Danish) that will be located in convenient locations close to customers and will be open for deliveries by all postal and logistics operators.
In an initial test due to run for six months, 200 of these lockers have been installed in the town of Kolding, enabling private customers to collect parcels delivered by the two different carriers. This dense network is mostly located in the city centre and larger residential areas, according to an online map. Returns are not available during the test phase.
If the test provides positive results, there will be a rollout of parcel boxes throughout Denmark. The pilot and possible rollout will then form the basis for further expansion in the other Nordic countries, PostNord said.
For the postal group, the conveniently-located lockers are an additional delivery option to complement deliveries to homes or postal partner agencies (which effectively operate as parcel shops).
“For some time now, we have recognized the need for new infrastructure for the delivery of parcels, with the aim that this increases convenience, provides flexibility for recipients and complements our existing delivery locations, i.e. delivery via partner outlets and home delivery,” explained President and Group CEO Håkan Ericsson.
“During the last few years, PostNord has tested various types of future delivery options, such as delivery to the trunks of cars and home deliveries to locked containers. The pilot project in Denmark is another step in this development,” he added.
Recipients of PostNord deliveries will be able to use the PostNord App (a smartphone app that communicates with the parcel box via Bluetooth) to open the box and retrieve the parcel at a time that suits them. Similarly, customers receiving a DHL parcel can use the DHL app for the same purpose.
Swipbox, which is both a software and hardware supplier, has installed and operates differently-sized parcel lockers for retailers and logistics companies in Denmark and various other countries, including Finland, Poland and France.
