Austrian Post installs its 100th KEBA pick-up station

Almost a year ago to the day, Austrian Post decided to expand the facilities provided by its self-service zones with so-called parcel “pick-up stations”. Such a station recently became operational at the Leonding post office in Upper Austria and represents the one hundredth of 400 automats planned for installation nationwide. The challenge of the “last mile” with regard to parcel delivery still relates to recipient accessibility. A growing number of postal and logistics organisations are seeking to counteract this problem through a variety of services and solutions. These include new forms of delivery and the extension of delivery times. In order to offer easier parcel collection or returns, post offices are increasingly turning to the installation of self-service zones in their branches, or the opening of post shops in supermarkets and shopping centres.

Austrian Post is no exception and since November 2013, the receipt of parcels or registered mail has become a good deal simpler due to so-called “pick-up stations”. These are being supplied by KEBA, the specialist in the field of parcel automation.

The “pick-up stations” actually represent parcel automats that have been specially developed by KEBA for indoor applications – KePol LS. They have been optimised with regard to size and design for installation in locations such as self-service zones, shopping centres or post shops and are therefore ideally suited to Austrian Post’s self-service branches.

A typical Austrian Post pick-up station comprises seven modules and 90 boxes. But since, like all KEBA parcel automats, the “pick-up stations” are of modular design, they can easily be adjusted to local conditions and enlarged at any time.

All KEBA parcel automats and thus the “pick-up stations” for Austrian Post are manufactured in Linz at the company’s second production plant, which was newly opened in 2013.

In the opinion of Peter Umundum, a member of the Austrian Post Management Board and head of the Parcels & Logistics Division, “KEBA is an experienced partner, which has long been renowned for the quality of its products and the teamwork during rollout is excellent.”

Gerhard Luftensteiner, the KEBA CEO, is convinced that this is a critical factor in the acceptance of such self-service systems. And as he goes on to add: “Just like ATMs which enable us to withdraw money around the clock, self-service collection stations for parcels and registered mail will soon be an indispensable part of everyday life. In fact, they meet the needs of today’s society to perfection.”

An increasing number of people cannot be reached at home during the day and therefore are looking for flexible possibilities to obtain their anxiously awaited goods. Consequently, on both this account and the anticipated growth in global e-commerce in years to come, Austrian Post’s “pick-up stations” constitute a future-oriented solution.

Gerhard Luftensteiner: “We are naturally very pleased that Austrian Post has opted for KEBA. The company is one of our most important customers and we are proud of being able to jointly ensure that its customers can now obtain their parcels quickly and easily on a 24/7 basis.”

With over 3,500 KePol parcel automats, KEBA has the largest installation basis worldwide. Founded in 1968, KEBA AG is an international electronics company based in Linz/Austria and with branches worldwide.