Poststation: the parcel locker that offers the same service as a post office
DPDHL has begun trialling a new innovative machine at 20 locations in North Rhine-Westphalia that offers services similar to a small post office – around the clock.
Customers can use the Poststation to buy postage and parcel stamps and send letters and parcels. From the end of February, customers can also receive individual advice on the various products from a service employee via video chat. In a few months, customers will also be able to use them to receive parcels.
Customers can receive around 90% of the postal services that are normally requested in branches at the post office.
The test of the 20 post offices in North Rhine-Westphalia will take place in both urban and rural areas, including Cologne, Aachen and Euskirchen, for example.
“With the Poststation we would like to offer our customers our postal services at even more locations – and in the most convenient way possible.
This means that the new machine can be used around the clock and is easy to operate. This allows us to respond directly to our customers’ wishes who regularly report these needs back to us in surveys, “explains Holger Bartels, Head of Multichannel Sales Post & Parcel Germany at Deutsche Post DHL Group.
The new machines are operated with a touchscreen and, in addition to an integrated mailbox, have between 18 and 106 parcel compartments for sending and receiving parcels. Postage and parcel stamps can be purchased cashless at the post stations with all common EC cards, Visa and Master Cards as well as Google Pay and Apple Pay. There are no additional costs for using the post office and – with the exception of the future delivery of parcels – no additional registration is required.
The new machine offers a great opportunity, especially for rural regions. “Especially where there are no branches or only branches with short opening times, the post office can represent a real improvement in service for people. But the new machine can also supplement the branch offerings at other locations with round-the-clock service,” explains Holger Bartels.
” Today machines make our lives easier in many places – be it ATMs, ticket machines or our packing stations. We are therefore optimistic that our postal stations will also be well received by our customers. “
With this first test phase, Deutsche Post DHL hopes to get useful feedback from its customers. The machine will then be further improved on the basis of this feedback and the range of services may be expanded. In addition, it will then be decided to what extent and at which locations the post office will be used in the future.
The website www.dpdhl.de/post-paket-digital provides further information
