Nightline launches parcel terminal network for Ireland
Irish parcel carrier Nightline has launched the first phase of its new network of self-service parcel terminals to transform the last mile of ecommerce in the Republic. The company has invested EUR 5m in its plans, which will see 400 of the “Parcel Motels” rolled out across the island by the end of 2014.
The first phase has seen 20 Parcel Motels installed in the Dublin area so far, which will grow to 100 around the Irish capital by the close of this year.
Nightline, which claims to deliver one in four Irish parcels at present, said it is creating 50 jobs as a result of the expenditure on the parcel terminal network.
The company’s parcel terminals comprise 80 storage lockers into which parcels can be delivered or left for pick-up.
Consumers purchasing products on the Internet can have items delivered to their nearest Parcel Motel if they cannot be at home during the day to receive items. When parcels are delivered into a terminal, recipients are notified of their arrival.
Nightline’s parcel terminals are being provided by Polish company InPost, part of the Interger.pl Group, which has plans to establish a network of 16,000 machines across Europe over the next few years.
Flexibility
Nightline CEO John Tuohy says the new Parcel Motel terminals will help drive ecommerce volumes
Nightline chief executive John Tuohy said the new network was a “significant step” in Ireland embracing the ecommerce boom.
“We have conducted extensive research which illustrates the degree to which consumers are not just being selective about what they buy, but how they choose to receive it,” said Tuohy.
“Being able to offer greater flexibility to shoppers and the retailers which serve them is integral to those wishing to capitalise on the popularity of Internet retail. That idea lies at the heart of the Parcel Motel concept and is the reason why we’re so confident that this will help drive the volumes of items which we handle.”
Nightline, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in the parcel business in May this year, currently delivers parcels on behalf of retailers including Coast, Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen.
The firm has been considerably expanding its network in the last 12 months, extending three of its seven Irish depots.
Writing in the pages of Post&Parcel last month, Tuohy revealed that his company was intending its Parcel Motel network to be “carrier neutral” – other parcel carriers will be able to deliver items to Nightline for final delivery to the Parcel Motels.
