Austrian start-up myflexbox has now rolled out more than 800 carrier-agnostic parcel lockers across its two markets of Germany and Austria, as it works towards increasing the sustainability and efficiency of last mile delivery throughout Europe.
The 800th locker was installed in Munich, Germany, as part of a new partnership with real estate firm Eisenbahner-Baugenossenschaft Muenchen-Hauptbahnhof eG (ebm). Myflexbox has also recently announced a partnership with Neuland in Germany, which saw three new locations open in Wolfsburg.
According to myflexbox, its parcel locker network is “constantly being expanded” in both Germany and Austria, with new locations and partners being added “all the time”.
News of the 800th locker milestone follows an announcement last month that myflexbox is now present in 40 cities in Germany and is “approaching 50”. The firm now has more than 250 smart parcel stations in the country. These figures were achieved less than two years after the first myflexbox was rolled out in the country in Munich.
About myflexbox
Myflexbox was founded in Austria in 2018 with the aim of minimizing last mile emissions and reducing congestion in Europe, caused by unsuccessful door-to-door deliveries, while cutting delivery times and improving customer service.
With myflexbox, end customers can receive, send and return packages and goods “conveniently and contactlessly” 24/7.
“Our parcel stations, which are cost-neutral for location partners, make the first and last mile of delivery more sustainable,” said Lukas Wieser, Co-CEO and Founder of myflexbox.
Carrier agnostic
The firm’s lockers are also carrier agnostic meaning they can be used by more than one delivery provider. In Germany, for example, they are used by UPS, FedEx and GLS. More parcel service providers will be added in the future, myflexbox noted.
Speaking about the new lockers in Wolfsburg, Hans-Dieter Brand, spokesman for Neuland, said: “Finally being able to pick up packages from major service providers such as UPS, FedEx and GLS conveniently and around the clock – this is now possible at three locations in Wolfsburg.
“Together we looked for places in our inventory that are suitable for this and are easily accessible. Together with myflexbox, we are thus ensuring that the CO2 footprint is reduced and that this is accompanied by a significant increase in service for the people of our city,” he added.
According to Jonathan Grothaus, Co-CEO and Founder of myflexbox, the firm’s “inclusive, neutral white label approach” has other benefits in addition to bundled delivery traffic.
“Retailers and e-commerce companies can, for example, operate click and collect and optimize their out-of-home deliveries. Cities and municipalities relieve the cityscape with “one parcel station for everyone” and use myflexbox as a smart city building block. Locations at intersections, train stations, bus stops or the cycle path network promote a wider use of sustainable means of transport and strengthen emission-free mobility,” he concluded.
