DropBox24 negotiates the last mile
The "last mile" in the logistics chain is often the most expensive and complex leg:
couriers often have to return to base with the packets. because the consignees were not at home to receive them.
This is true in both the business-to-consumer and business-to-business sectors. However, there is now a solution especia liv for shipments of spare parts. which have to he delivered overnight or even during the night: the automated parcel dispenser.
Uni-Data tests the system Uni-Data AG. Schwaig (Bavaria. Germany), and the German system developer DropBox24 GmhH, Bad Vilbel, Hessen, successfully tested the system at the beginning of September 2001 for a leading PC hardware producer.
U ni-Data. a market leader in the segment of overnight express deliveries to technicians, supplies service teams throughout the country with the spare parts they need from the PC manufacturer’s central warehouse.
The huh in Bielefeld alone, which was chosen for the first trials, supports approximately 4() technicians with spare part supplies.
It’s not always possible to put the consignments into the trunks of our technicians’ vehicles. We have been looking for an efficient solution for quite some time now. which also guarantees security and reliability", said Umit Karakocek, deputy manager of the spare parts sector of Uni-Data.
"This is particularly the case for firms which don’t have company vehicles. We are not allowed to deliver to private cars.’>
"We gained valuable cxperieiiee with the prototypes
in order to refine the systems and processes", explained Drop Box24 cofounder Antonio Brissa.
The automated dispenser system works perfectly. Eve ry night the individual boxes are replenished by Uni-Data stalL The system will recognise automatically that the box has been replenished and will then notify the technician for exampie by an SMS short message on his cell phone. He can subsequently open the box with his magnet strip card and a PIN code.
“This double security reliably prevents tampering. Moreover, the I)rop Box24 is secured with an alarm system”, Brissa continued. "Overnight delivery of spare parts is a sector with especially large growth potential>’. Karaköcek added.
((Many companies flO longer handle their customer service orders directly through technicians. They are often assigned to technicians when the goods are already on their way.>’
The mail order industry is also interested Jointly with the mail order store Otto Versand. Hamburg (Germany). DropBox24 launched a pilot project in the private customer segment some days ago. Otto customers have the possibility to pick up the goods they ordered in their personal "OttoShop24" around the clock.
The automatic parcel dispenser is placed in the entrance lover of the shop. During the daytime, customers can access the store as normal without having to present any authorisation. Once the shop has closed, the parcel dispenser is sealed off from the store. and can only be accessed after a successful authorisation check. When the customers specific security number and other data is correctly entered, the locker opens and customer can take out his parcel.
Uermes. the logistics affiliate of Otto, is also sold on the new service. It regards the automatic delivery lockers as a customer-oriented complement to deliveries to private homes or via ParcelShops. Drop l3ox24 plans to cooperate with other large distributors in the future. There are plans to link up. other locations in Hamburg and Frankfurt in addition to the Ottoshop24 in Hamburg. Alternative locations for pick-up points could he filling stations, rail stations. company buildings or shopping centres. DropBox24 says that it has already signed some partnership agreements for this purpose.
