Parcel delivery company Evri (formerly Hermes) will introduce parcel locker provider Quadient’s drop box and printer feature to its UK smart lockers.
The drop box and printer functionalities come as a unit that can be added to new or existing configurations of the modular lockers. This module enables consumers to place packages directly into the drop box by scanning a barcode label. This is intended to maximize parcel volume while minimizing the locker footprint. Users also have the ability to print standard shipping labels directly from the built-in printer. Quadient’s cloud-based monitoring technology captures each step of the process and gives carriers visibility of the parcel’s status at any time.
According to the partners, Evri will be the first carrier to offer the drop box and printer capability to its customers. Evri’s open locker network accounts for about 300 locker stations in operation in the UK, with plans to reach 5,000 units in the coming years at the pace of about 200 new locations per month. In the coming months, Quadient will also make the drop box and printer available to retailers and other carriers across Europe and in North America.
Kath Gill, head of out of home at Evri, said, “We’re delighted to expand our out of home network with Quadient’s smart locker network, taking advantage of new locker technology. It will increase the convenience of sending by allowing customers to print a label directly from the locker 24/7, which is great for customers who can’t print at home and means that Quadient’s locker network offers the same services as our ParcelShops. The Drop Box functionality provides a quick and simple way for small businesses to send multiple parcels in one go and maximizes the number of parcels that can be handled at a single locker location each day.”
Ian Caminsky, senior vice president and managing director of parcel locker solutions, DACHIT-UKI, Quadient, commented, “The introduction of our fully integrated drop box with optional printer in our carrier-agnostic network makes us unique to the market. Quadient is leveraging its long-standing experience in Japan, France, the USA and the UK to bring to market innovations that focus on creating operational efficiencies and eliminating time-consuming processes. We are honored to have Evri as our first integrated carrier to use this new feature to easily manage their first-mile flows and deliver exceptional customer experiences to online shoppers.”