Parcel locker network boosts Nightline volumes to record levels
Irish parcel carrier Nightline has hailed the success of its parcel locker network, Parcel Motel, as its parcel volumes have reached record levels during this month’s peak. The company has had a “tremendously busy” start to the festive season, with its parcel volumes assisted by Ireland’s fast-recovering economy, which has been driving the continuing boom in online shopping.
Total package volume being moved by Nightline as a whole is 20% up on the busiest single day in the build-up to last year’s Christmas.
Group chief executive John Tuohy said the number of items being delivered by the Parcel Motel network, has been four times greater than during the same period last year.
“Irish consumers – and the Irish economy in general – is a lot more confident than at this time in 2013 and seemingly a world away from the uncertainty of four years ago,” said Tuohy.
“As our research during the year has shown, that growing confidence has been reflected in the frequency with which individuals are buying online and the amounts which they’re spending. They are also able to take advantage of a more mature and convenient delivery infrastructure, shaped around them and their use of e-commerce.”
Parcel Motel
Nightline launched its Parcel Motel network in 2012, and now provides local parcel lockers as an alternative delivery point for e-commerce consumers in all 26 counties of the Republic. Research suggests that the network now handles EUR 114m worth of goods each year.
The company said it is expecting the number of subscribers in Parcel Motel to reach 150,000 by Christmas.
Tuohy said that the “extremely strong growth” in traffic handled by Parcel Motel appeared to have been largely due to recommendations by existing customers.
According to the EU Commission, Ireland’s economy has recovered with “astonishing speed” from near-collapse in November 2010, when the Republic was bailed out by the EU and the International Monetary Fund to the tune of EUR 85bn.
Commission projections suggest Ireland will have the fastest-growing economy among EU Member States in 2015.
Nightline has been investing in growing the capacity of its network this year to match the growth in parcel volumes.
At the same time that it opened the largest parcel depot in the west of Ireland at Limerick to add to earlier launches of premises in Athlone and Tralee, the company revealed that depot and driver staff numbers had risen to more than 800 for the first time.
The company said its business with British retail brands looking to serve “eager” Irish consumers was a big part of its success.
Tuohy said: “Our growth has been consistent and is sustainable. The exchange in business with the UK has been noted as one of the central factors in Ireland’s rebound.
