French B2C parcels operator Relais Colis and mailroom equipment provider Neopost have launched anew network of self-service parcel terminals called ‘Packcity’ for pick-up and drop-off of parcels
in France.The pilot phase of the project has already started in the Paris region with the lockers beingplaced at convenience stores in urban centres and within shopping malls. The first of theselockers, manufactured by the Austrian firm KEBA with the capacity to accommodate about 110 parcels,has just been installed at the Monop’ store in Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris and is alreadyoperational. Other terminals are due to be installed before the upcoming Christmas period.
Similar to parcel terminal networks in other countries, French online shoppers who work or arenot at home at the time of delivery will now also be able to profit from their parcels beingdelivered to the self-service pick-up points of their choice. As soon as their parcel has arrivedat the Packcity locker they have chosen, they receive a pick-up code via e-mail or text message sothey just need to go to the locker and pick it up. Shoppers can also return their purchases madeonline via Packcity.
Among retailers who have already signed for Packcity are Nespresso, Carrefour, GoSport, Fnac,Mizuno, Bouygues Telecom and Pixmania.com. Relais Colis serves a large number of participatingretailers, with most of them already offering their customers the option of delivering theirparcels to a Packcity locker.
In 2012, Neopost partnered with InPost in a strategic partnership to expand the ‘easyPack’automated parcel terminals on a global basis. “Packcity is the logical next step-on from ourpositioning as a ‘facilitator’ of parcel management through all stages of the Supply Chain. NeopostID has already rolled out the largest network of secure postal lockers in Australia,” Alain Férard,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Neopost ID, said.
“The strength of our existing partnerships with leading carriers and shippers in France makes usall the more enthusiastic about the idea of launching the first Packcity units. We firmly believethat this provides a new solution which will contribute to the development of e-commerce by makingthe key issue of receiving parcels much simpler,” he added. “Our aim is to offer an open networkthat allows all those involved in the sector – carriers, retailers and e-commerce customers – toaccess new services.”
Neopost highlighted the positive impact of Packcity on the environment in view of the run-up toChristmas with thousands of parcels delivered each day making it difficult for online shoppers toreceive them on time. With fewer missed deliveries and fewer tours for the delivery staff, Packcitylockers thus help reduce the CO2 emissions of last-mile shipments.
Neopost said that even though the size of the market in France is difficult to assess due to thewide range of operators and calculation methods, the volumes generated by mail order and e-commercecan be estimated at 350- 380 million parcels per year.
Relais Colis delivered a total of 29 million parcels to its Relais service points and 2 millionitems as home deliveries across France in 2012 which equals a 12% increase compared to 2011, in adifficult time in economic terms.
Founded in 1983, Relais Colis has an integrated network of three national hubs in France, 26regional depots and 4,200 partner retailers across the country. Its delivery service is known by73% of the French population, with 52% of the consumers already having used it.
