PostNL and Polish supplier InPost are introducing automated parcel lockers at Dutch train stations and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to improve services for local online shoppers.
The ‘Pakketautomaten’, as they are branded locally, have been installed at the main railway stations in Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Breda, Eindhoven, Leiden, Almere as well as at Schiphol Airport.
These locations are transited by over 400,000 travellers per day, and the automated machines enable customers to collect their parcels from these locations 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Rafal Brzoska, CEO of Integer.pl Group, the owner of InPost, commented: “We are confident that parcel lockers will be very popular in the Netherlands. Cooperation with PostNL reaffirms the effectiveness of the solutions offered by InPost and gives us crucial experience for fulfilling our plans of further expansion in foreign markets. The Dutch Post Office is amongst the largest players in Europe and a partner we really value. The contract with PostNL includes rental of terminals, which will operate under the brand Pakketautomaten.”
Meanwhile, Integer.pl Group has announced a 27% revenue rise to PLN 153.5 million (€38 million) in the first quarter of 2015, and reported PLN 8.11 million of net profit attributable to parent company shareholders and PLN 11.42 million of consolidated EBITDA.
Brzoska stated, “The first few months of 2015 were very fruitful for Integer.pl Group. We concluded the fundraising process for easyPack, the owner of the InPost parcel locker network worldwide, announcing our prestigious new shareholders: Templeton Strategic Emerging Markets and PZU. Debt financing for InPost parcel lockers in Canada was also secured from the Polish state bank BGK.
“We also signed an agreement with Polish Post for paid access to postal infrastructure and expanded our locker network in Poland by a further 200 new terminals. In coming months, we plan to introduce several innovative services based on our highly developed logistics infrastructure throughout Europe. I am certain that we will offer unique integrated solutions not provided by any other operator.”
A further €115 million has been secured in the latest fund-raising for the easyPack network. Templeton Strategic Emerging Markets and Polish insurance company PZU will join the easyPack shareholder base and contribute to a combined €81.7 million equity investment in the company. In parallel, Polish state-owned bank BGK is providing a US$36.7m debt arrangement specifically focused on the roll-out of parcel locker machines in Canada.
