subject: How Much Can The Process Of Parcel Delivery Be Automated? [print this page] Customers in the United Kingdom have got used over many years to collecting their parcel from another pair of human hands at the end of its journey. But many might be surprised to learn that, in many countries across mainland Europe, parcels can be collected from a machine, sited at a suitable central location.
The latest models are manufactured by an Austrian company which claims to be the world leader in developing automated industrial equipment, bank cash machines and other types of self-service terminals.
The company has to date installed more than 3,000 of its automated parcel-handling machines in countries including Germany, Denmark and Norway, and the latest client is Estonian Post. It has had a machine installed in capital city Tallinns central bus terminus, and it is now undergoing a three-month trial.
Estonia Posts staff will drop off parcels there which have been nominated for later collection by the recipient. He or she uses the postal operators online service to book a convenient collection time, then goes to the machine in its central location to collect it. The machine is in operation 24 hours a day, and can be accessed by wheelchair users. There are also safety devices fitted to deter vandalism.
The machine is seen as an alternative way of offering a suitable parcel delivery service to customers who cannot guarantee being at home to receive their package, or would prefer not to disrupt their daily routine in order to do so. Having already been installed in a number of other countries, it means that nearly every aspect of parcel delivery can now be handled to a greater or lesser degree automatically.
The only part of the transit of a parcel which cannot be easily handled by a machine is its collection from its point of origin. And for many, this will be seen as a good thing, as it is the one aspect of the service which retains its human face, and makes customers feel as though they have a personal relationship with their courier company.
However, technology has made arranging a parcel delivery much easier and more convenient, as that collection time can be booked online. The customer can also use this process to specify their choice of courier company, including leading players such as Parcelforce and DHL, and choose a parcel delivery option which suits their budget as well as the required delivery schedule for the package.
