InPost, the largest global operator of a 24/7 parcel locker network, has installed the first automated parcel lockers at Buckhurst Hill Station on the Central line, opening up flexible 24/7 parcel collection and dispatch opportunities to commuters in London. Customers will be able to use the lockers from Monday 9 June 2014.
Following TfL's announcement in January 2014 that it would be working with commercial partners to deliver products and services through 'click and collect' facilities at London Underground station car parks, InPost installed its first parcel locker on 30th May 2014. This means that collecting or sending parcels on the move, any time of the day or night, for commuters in London is now a step closer.
The InPost system is ideal for consumers, the retail sector, business-to-business applications and other markets, where ease of parcel collection and dispatch is crucial. The lockers are all installed in well-lit locations and constantly monitored by live CCTV cameras, enabling customers to place orders online from a range of different retailers which they can then collect safely and securely from a local site, at a time that suits them.
Provided by InPost, the collection point houses 47 individual lockers of varying sizes and the Buckhurst Hill installation is conveniently located in the station car park, allowing local shoppers to collect their parcels at their own convenience any time of the day or night.
Michelle De Pasquale, commercial director at InPost UK, said: "Consumer buying
habits are changing. With the rapid expansion in e-commerce and mobile retailing, the role of parcel delivery has been thrust firmly into the limelight recently, as today's busy consumer does not want to, indeed cannot wait at home all day waiting for a parcel. As such, the market is crying out for more flexible delivery options.
"We are delighted to be working with TfL in order to deliver an exceptionally high level of service to our e-commerce and retail client base, as well as to the end consumer. We are currently reviewing an additional 40 TfL sites to assess their suitability and we look forward to continuing this partnership in order to provide a fully flexible parcel collection service for London Underground customers."
Graeme Craig, director of commercial development at TfL, said: "It's fantastic that InPost has launched its first parcel lockers on our network at Buckhurst Hill Station, making it easier for our customers to order an item online and then collect it on their way home. We are increasingly working with a range of world-class retailers to provide the goods and services that our customers want, generating revenues for us to reinvest back into our transport network."
Since launching in April 2013, InPost has seen rapid growth and is now the largest network of its kind in the UK. The world's leading provider of automated, 24/7 parcel collection locker facilities, InPost now boasts close to 1,000 collection points across the UK and this rapid expansion is set to continue with the company intending to achieve in excess of 1,500 sites by the end of the 2014.
Andy Taylor, managing director at InPost, said: "We have very ambitious plans for the growth of the business in the UK and the parcel locker installation at Buckhurst Hill station enables us to further develop our network. With parcel collection or dispatch taking a matter of seconds, InPost lockers provide a convenient and flexible collection service and are the ideal solution for the busy London commuter."
InPost continues to lead the way with modern delivery methods. The company has signed a recent partnership agreement with Morrisons Supermarket, which will see locker terminals placed at a number of sites across the UK, further developing a 24/7 'click and collect' network.