KEBA confirms order of 1,500 parcel terminals for Neopost
Austrian parcel locker terminal manufacturer KEBA is about to begin rolling out 1,500 of its machines across France, as part of its partnership with mail giant Neopost. The company has now signed a collaboration agreement with Neopost and its logistics tracking subsidiary Neopost ID to install the KePol machines over the next two years.
Parcel locker terminals allow parcel recipients to collect items outside office hours, and make use of an alternative delivery point if they cannot be at home to receive a parcel such as an e-commerce order.
About 1,000 of the 1,500 machines will be reserved for exclusive use by parcel carrier GeoPost, which is part of the state-owned postal service La Poste, under its partnership with Neopost.
The first large-scale roll-out is starting this year, with the machines to be installed across France by 2016.
KEBA said Neopost intends to expand its “Packcity” network of parcel locker terminals in selected countries, offering new and alternative ways for the shipping of parcels.
Pilot
The two companies launched an initial pilot in Paris in November 2013 when the brand Packcity was unveiled.
KEBA said today that the pilot has been running successfully, with 60% of parcels being collected same day, and customer acceptance “above all expectations”. The Austrian firm said the pilot had proved the concept for Packcity.
Alain Férard, CEO of Neopost ID, said: “We chose KEBA as our partner as we believe in the high level of innovation and quality leadership of this Austrian firm. Having Keba as an industrial partner, we can concentrate our energy on the go to market and distribution areas”.
The 1,500 order of KePol machines represents a significant boost to KEBA’s business, which has so far installed 3,000 of the machines for various clients, including more than 2,500 for Deutsche Post DHL’s network of “Packstations” in Germany.
The Austrian firm will be manufacturing the Packcity machines at its Plant 2 facility, which was opened last year.
Franz Berger, Executive Vice President of Banking and Service Automation Division at KEBA AG, said: “With Neopost ID, we have found an experienced partner, whose vision is also based on high technology, innovative and high quality solutions with great potential on the commercial scope. KEBA and Neopost complement one another perfectly.”
