Pitney Bowes and ByBox have successfully installed parcel lockers for bpost in Belgium and aregearing up to deliver more machines in the months ahead.
Bpost decided to contract the US firm in partnership with the British locker box company inMarch 2011 to supply 24/7 secure lockers as an alternative parcel delivery solution under the name ‘ bpack 24/7’, ByBox said.
Following a successful trial, and in order to be ready for the commercialisation in 2013,ByBox is producing and installing 32 bpack 24/7 parcel stations by this month. Moreover, an orderfor an additional 40 units was confirmed to be rolled out before the end of the year.
The news follows comments by bpost’s head of parcels and international business, PeterSomers, at the World Postal Business Forum at Post-Expo in Brussels last week where he revealedthat the company wants to expand the number of parcel terminals to 175 over the coming 18 months.
ByBox said that Pitney Bowes decided to form a partnership in order to provide around-the-clock parcel delivery and return service to enable bpost’s customers to pick up anddeposit parcels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ByBox now provides the complete solution to PitneyBowes, consisting of hardware, software, IT infrastructure and the installation of locker banks,and Pitney Bowes is in charge of the daily maintenance and servicing of the system.
ByBox said it brings a wealth of experience, having worked with other major postal companies,and was thus able to develop a completely tailored solution by closely working with Pitney Bowesand bpost.
The UK company claimed it offers significant unique advantages over other companies,especially the variety of options it offers; from the user interface on the locker banks, thedifferent functionalities available, the sizing flexibility and the ease of installation.
Guido Rietti, Regional General Manager Italy, Spain, Portugal, Benelux and Partner Channels,Pitney Bowes, commented: “Our vast postal sector knowledge enables us to source expert partners tofulfil specific solution requests. The ByBox partnership brings precisely the level of innovation,convenience and security that bpost demanded.”
Jan Vandenneucker, bpost’s Managing Director of Parcels Europe, added: “ByBox proved to be atrue partner when we presented our 24/7 service for sending and receiving parcels via electroniclockers. Their experience and expertise matters when it comes to developing the solution as well asmaking it work”.
