DPD, GLS and Hermes have set up a joint firm under the name ‘ParcelLock’ to launch a network of carrier-neutral ‘parcel boxes’ for residential delivery in Germany in competition to DHL’s exclusive network.
The three parcel operators decided to team up to create a joint alternative system after market leader DHL Parcel, which launched its exclusive ‘Paketkasten’ system last spring, refused to open up its network to access by competitors.
The ‘ParcelLock’ solution, which will be open to all parcel operators, is currently being tested and will be publicly presented in October before being rolled out. The ‘final-mile’ solution will help all three companies to raise their residential delivery success rates significantly, thus reducing costs for repeat delivery attempts or alternative delivery solutions, according to experts.
The joint scheme, which the three companies have been working on over the last year, has been approved by the German competition authority as not impacting negatively on competition.
The operating company ParcelLock GmbH, in which DPD, GLS and Hermes have equal shares, said in a press release that it would provide ‘secure and provider-neutral’ access to the alternative parcel box system. The company, based near Frankfurt, emphasised that DPD, GLS and Hermes believed parcel boxes are most effective when open to all delivery companies since people receive parcels from different delivery companies.
ParcelLock managing director Dirk Reiche, an experienced start-up manager whose former jobs include heading Munich-based same-day delivery portal Tiramizoo, said: “Parcel boxes which are not restricted to one service provider can simplify parcel receipt for many people. Therefore the aim of ParcelLock GmbH is to create and run industry-wide parcel box access through an appropriate IT infrastructure.”
Operational details of the boxes were not disclosed ahead of the public presentation next month. Over the last year several start-up companies have tested various ‘parcel box-style’ solutions for residential deliveries. These included ‘OneBox’, a code-controlled box system, and PAKNO, a similar system.
Deutsche Post DHL has not disclosed the number of its installed parcel boxes or the volumes involved, although executives have repeatedly referred to strong demand from home-owners who can buy or rent the boxes, which are installed outside their homes similar to traditional standalone mailboxes. In March this year DP DHL announced it would also install indoor parcel boxes inside large apartment blocks for shared access by residents.
Jürgen Gerdes, head of Deutsche Post DHL’s post, e-commerce and parcels division, memorably described the parcel box as "the greatest invention since the mailbox" since parcels can be simply delivered directly into the parcel box, avoiding failed delivery attempts.
