Bloq.it and UK parcel delivery company Evri have signed a multi-year agreement to deploy smart parcel lockers and returns drop-off devices across the UK.
The rollout will begin this month with installations at locations operated by East of England Co-op. Around 1,000 units are planned as part of the initial phase of the partnership.
Under the agreement, Bloq.it will supply its Next smart lockers along with its dedicated returns solution, Drop. The technology will be used to support Evri’s out-of-home (OOH) delivery and returns network.
The Drop system can be integrated into Next locker units or installed as a standalone device in locations with higher volumes of returns. Each unit includes a built-in label printer, QR and barcode scanners, and parcel compartments sized to match Evri’s typical parcel volumes.
The companies say the deployment aims to simplify returns for consumers while improving efficiency for couriers by consolidating collections.
Miha Jagodic, CEO of Bloq.it, said, “Our recently launched Drop devices bridge the gap between consumers and locations for drop-offs, just as our Next lockers do for parcel pick-up. The Drop promise is all about the user convenience. A major logistics company like Evri choosing to deploy these devices is an enormous vote of confidence in our technology and is part of our UK market consolidation efforts.”
Jagodic added that dedicated returns infrastructure is becoming an important part of modern out-of-home parcel networks.
Liam Rogan, head of out of home at Evri, commented, “We have an ambitious plan to significantly expand our ParcelShop and Locker network, and are committed to offering greater delivery choices for the consumers, retail clients and businesses that we serve.
“This major multi-million-pound investment will establish one of the UK’s largest pick-up, drop-off networks in the UK.”
The Drop system enables customers to return parcels without waiting for manual processing, while couriers can collect multiple returns in a single visit. Bloq.it’s Next lockers are designed to streamline parcel collection, enablig users to retrieve packages through a touchscreen interface and barcode scanner.
According to the companies, the modular approach enables Evri to deploy different locker and returns configurations depending on parcel volumes and foot traffic at each location.
Related news, Royal Mail parcel lockers go live in Northern Ireland
