The Royal Mail subsidiary Parcelforce Worldwide has signed a three-year contract with BusinessDirect Group, the British in-night distribution provider and operator of the ParcelXchange
intelligent “drop-box” logistics solution, for in-night drop-off services.Under the deal, Parcelforce will use the ‘ParcelXchange’ network of more than 4,200drop-boxes at locations such as supermarkets and petrol stations to deposit urgent parcels forcustomers requiring an early morning delivery ahead of normal business hours.
Nick Landon, Head of UK Marketing and Commercial for Parcelforce Worldwide, said: “This dealwill allow sectors such as High Tech, Utilities and Medical Industries, or any field-basedtechnician or engineering industries to have their deliveries made to any of Business Direct’sParcelXchanges and PUDO’s located throughout the UK. The addition of the well establishedParcelXchange network facility gives Parcelforce Worldwide greater competitive advantage, byextending our supply chain capability in Pre-8am secure field delivery and collection point.”
Business Direct said the ParcelXchange network, backed by the web-based ‘Softlocker’ ITmanagement system, provided customers with full end to end visibility. Parcelforce Worldwide spentseveral months researching the market to determine the strongest and most compatible UK player whocould provide the additional Pre-8am In-Night delivery service to their existing portfolio beforeawarding the contract, it added.
Paul Carvell, CEO for Business Direct Group, added: “This agreement has brought together twoof the strongest players in the B2B marketplace and I am confident that Business Direct’sParcelXchange service will perfectly complement Parcelforce Worldwide’s existing range of UK andInternational express delivery services.”
Business Direct Group also aims to extend the ParcelXchange network into Europe. In Ireland,it has signed up DHL Same Day as a user of drop-boxes. The new parcel stations being tested byItella in Finland and Estonia are also licensed from BDG.
