DHL is taking its residential parcel delivery boxes indoors with a deal to install the self-servicemachines inside large apartment blocks in Germany.
The parcel boxes were launched last year for installation outside residential homes in thesame style as traditional letterboxes. The number of parcel delivery boxes installed to date hasnot been disclosed.
DHL Parcel said on Friday that it has teamed up with Deutsche Annington, Germany’s largesthousing company, to install the boxes in blocks managed by the company from April onwards. Thefirst boxes will be installed in Berlin and Dortmund in a pilot project.
The DHL parcel box will allow renters to receive their parcel items at any time regardlessof whether they are home or not. The locked box also ensures that parcels remain protected againsttheft. In addition, customers can not only receive parcels using the parcel box, but can also sendreturns or other stamped parcels directly from home, DHL pointed out.
The pilot locations in Berlin and Dortmund will be fitted with parcel boxes with multiplecompartments similar to the DHL Packstation. Delivery personnel simply place parcels in one of theparcel box compartments and the customer receives an additional notification in his/her regularmailbox.
This next generation version of the parcel box is the first solution for entire apartmentbuildings, according to DHL. Renters simply go to www.paket.de to register and receive their uniquedigital key for the parcel box in their building. They can be accessed conveniently via RFIDchip or hand scanner, and can be used free of charge by all renters. The personal parcel box keychip ensures that only the renter and parcel deliverer have access to the respective compartment.
“When our renters come home their parcels will be there waiting for them. We pride ourselveson the service we provide our renters, and we want to continue providing these kinds of extraservices into the future,” says Konstantina Kanellopoulos, Head of Product Management at DeutscheAnnington.
“As the innovation leader in the German parcel market we have successfully established anumber of innovative solutions over the last several years – all designed to improve conveniencefor parcel recipients,” added Andrej Busch, CEO DHL Parcel Germany and DHL Parcel Europe. “Whetherwe deliver to the Packstation, the parcel box or the doorstep, our goal is to respond to ourcustomers’ needs and make receiving parcels as simple and convenient as possible.”
