Parcel Pending by Quadient, a provider of package management solutions, has announced a partnership with Freedom Leisure, which runs over 120 leisure, cultural and entertainment venues across the UK, to host its carrier-agnostic parcel lockers.
Under the new agreement, selected Freedom Leisure venues will host Parcel Pending by Quadient’s parcel lockers, as part of the Open Locker Network.
The lockers will provide convenient out-of-home (OOH) delivery and returns options with up to five of the major UK carriers. They will be self-service and feature a built-in printer allowing users to print and attach labels at the locker before depositing their parcel.
The service will be available to all in the community, not just members of Freedom Leisure.
The Freedom Leisure partnership is a further step on Quadient’s journey to roll out 5,000 open locker locations across the UK. Other recent partnerships include Homebase, Royal Mail, Stonegate Group, UPS and Motor Fuel Group (MFG). The Open Locker Network is also used by DHL, DPD UK, and Evri.
Consolidating deliveries
With the rise of online shopping, more and more consumers are concerned about the impact of home deliveries, according to Quadient research. 42% believe the number of delivery vehicles each day makes their neighbourhood less safe, and with reports to police regarding parcel theft increasing more than 500% in the past four years, parcel security is also an important factor.
By consolidating multiple deliveries into one location, the partnership is helping to reduce the time delivery vehicles spend on the road, while ensuring that parcels are delivered securely on the first attempt, rather than being left on doorsteps and at risk of theft.
“Services for everyone”
“At Freedom Leisure, we believe in offering activities and services for everyone, regardless of age or ability,” said Matt Wickham, Chief Operating Officer at Freedom Leisure. “We welcome all members of our communities to our centres, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide this additional parcel service.
“By helping to reduce the number of delivery vehicles on the road, we’re making a positive impact on our environment and our neighbourhoods. We’re excited to see how this service will help our community interact with our facilities, combining parcel pick-up with their child’s swimming lesson, dropping off a package before joining an exercise class, or just stopping by to check out our other services,” he added.
