Russian express firm SPSR to create B2C parcel terminal network

SPSR Express, one of the largest Russian express delivery companies, has signed an agreementwith the Estonian logistics company SmartPOST to create a consumer parcel terminal network across

During the first year of cooperation, it is planned to install at least 100 parcel terminals inlarger Russian cities. The first machines will be tested in Moscow and St. Petersburg. One of thetargets is also the operational connection of Russian and Estonian networks enabling parcelshipping between the two countries. SPSR Express (also known under its Russian abbreviation CPCRExpress) offers its services in 3,000 cities and towns all over Russia.

Vladimir Solodkin, General Director of SPSR Express, said that this is an important postaltechnology breakthrough for Russia. “This is a revolutionary step in Russian postal servicestechnology and a good example of how private capital can produce remarkable innovations ineffectiveness for the general public. It also enables the world’s largest e-commerce companies toenter the Russian market.”

A functioning parcel terminal network will boost the rapidly growing e-commerce and mail-orderbusinesses in the Russian market, SmartPOST stressed in a statement. “Much like ATMs help peopledeal with cash more comfortably, parcel terminals situated in shopping centres and other publicplaces enable customers to send and pick up parcels quickly and effortlessly.”

“This deal is an important step for SmartPOST since it will help us to set up our concept in anew market and in addition to Estonia’s success will prove that this is the way forward in postaltechnology,” SmartPOST’s CEO Arno Kütt stressed.

He explained that the company aims to export the technology along with a tested business model. “ The technology that has been developed since 2007 has been operated in Estonia as a network forone year. Successful network operation helps us to provide our technology customers, like SPSRExpress, services with proven and tested quality,” Kütt added.

SmartPOST focuses on delivery of goods purchased over the internet and through mail-ordercatalogues across Estonia via parcel terminals located in shopping centres all over the country. Ithas been running a network of 36 parcel terminals in Estonia for one year. The service gained rapidpopularity in 2009 when already 5% of the population used it while the average number of parcelssent quadrupled. SmartPOST also received the Logistics Deed of the Year 2009 award in Estonia.