Factsheet

Pick-up Points

This paper was prepared by: SOLUTIONS projectThis project was funded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission

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The graphic design was prepared by Barbara Lah

Berlin, 2017

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UEMISOLUTIONS

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Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI) was initiat-ed by UN-Habitat and the SOLUTIONS project and launched at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014 in New York. UEMI aims to help phasing out conventionally fueled vehicles and increase the share of electric vehicles (2-,3- and 4-wheelers) in the total volume of individual motorized transport in cities to at least 30% by 2030. The UEMI is an active partnership that aims to track international action in the area of electric mobility and initiates local actions. The UEMI delivers tools and guidelines, generates synergies between e-mobility programmes and supports local implementation ac-tions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

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SolutionsSOLUTIONS aims to support the exchange on in-novative and green urban mobility solutions between cities from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The network builds on the SOLUTIONS project and brings together a wealth of experience and technical knowledge from international organisations, consul-tants, cities, and experts involved in transport issues and solutions.

The overall objective is to make a substantial con-tribution to the uptake of innovative and green urban mobility solutions across the world by facilitating di-alogue and exchange, promoting successful policy, providing guidance and tailored advice to city offi-cials, fostering future cooperation on research, devel-opment and innovation.

SOLUTIONS_UEMI supports urban mobility imple-mentation actions that contribute to the Paris Agree-ment and the New Urban Agenda.Sustainable energy and mobility can make positive contributions to a number of policy objectives, nation-ally and locally. In particular in cities there is a great potential to create synergies between for example safety, air quality, productivity, access and climate change mitigation. A UEMI resource centre will pro-vide opportunities for direct collaboration on projects focusing on sustainable urban mobility and the role e-mobility can play in it. The UEMI will pool expertise, facilitate exchange and initiate implementation orient-ed actions. UN-Habitat, the Wuppertal Institute & Climate Action Implementation Facility jointly host the resource cen-tre for the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative, aiming to bridge the gap between urban energy and transport and boosting sustainable transport and urban e-mo-bility.

Aims

In brief 5

Examples 6

Results 7

Technical & Financial considerations 8

Policy/Legislation 9 Transferability 9

Case Study:LP Express - Lithuania 10

In action 11

Results 12

Table of Content

In briefThe growth of online shopping and the increasing-ly complex delivery operations in cities has led to the global development of pick-up points - secure loca-tions where customers can collect parcels they have ordered, instead of having to wait for the delivery in person at home.

Today there are pick-up points in Asia (Japan), Eu-rope (France, Germany, UK, Netherlands) and North America. They help reduce distribution costs, ease congestion and cut the number of kilometres traveled by delivery vehicles.

In brief

5

ExamplesLocker boxes are the most well known type of pick-up point, used mainly by post companies and their subsidiaries. Local businesses - such as convenience stores, video rental shops or cafes – also serve as pick-up points. They allocate space to store packag-es temporarily and then serve as local depots where customers can pick up their parcels.

Some locker-box services, such as the German Post’s Packstation, allow businesses and private individuals to collect and return their parcels, free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In France, there are collection-point networks consisting of high street shops, online retail-ers, and carriers, some of which share their services or have merged.

To use the system, a customer buying products online simply adds the postcode and selects the option for a store or locker pick-up when placing their orders. Customers receive an email or SMS informing them that their package is ready to pick up, and containing a code with which they can retrieve their parcel.

Examples

6

ResultsMany national post services, distributors, and ex-press delivery services have introduced pick-up points. Their main objective is to minimise distribution costs. They also reduce the distances needed for de-livery vehicles visiting each customer and eliminate the need to reschedule failed home deliveries.

This approach has advantages for retailers, cus-tomers, carriers and for the environment. When local stores volunteer to serve as pick-up points, this can help them increase their revenue and, in some cases, keep their business alive.

Results

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Technical and financial considerationsIn the case of local stores, the partnerships with shopkeepers are crucial. The first step is to choose businesses that answer the carrier’s expectations best (such as favourable opening hours), and which have enough space to store parcels. An investment is nec-essary to implement the network of pick- up points but no investment is required from the shopkeeper who receives personalised support and may earn revenue (a small amount per parcel) from the network, and from customers that visit their business to pick up their deliveries.

Technical & FinancialConsiderations

8

Policy and LegislationLegal issues concerning who is responsible for parcels may be an obstacle to implementation: cur-rently, the legal system is generally missing such reg-ulation, and concerning digital authorisation related to registered parcels.

TransferabilityThis solution is transferable to any region, partic-ularly where e-commerce is developing fast, such as cities in Europe, Latin America, the Mediterranean and Asia.

PolicyLegislation

9

Transferability

Case Study: LP Express 24 (Lithuania)

ContextLP EXPRESS, an innovative urban distribution system of self-service terminals, is a branch of the Lithuanian state- owned Lietuvos paštas (Lithuanian Post). It is the latest addition to the company’s service, providing terminals that are available - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - in 41 cities and towns in Lithuania.The terminals allow users to drop-o their parcels, send them abroad, and choose other delivery options (e.g. couriers).

Case Study:LP Express Lithuania

10

In actionPreviously in Lithuania, parcel deliveries took sev-eral days and post-office working hours were incon-venient for people wishing to pick-up parcels. Both dropping-off and picking-up parcels involved visiting post offices. Moreover, because post offices provided various services, for which people had to join a single queue, many customers were dissatisfied with the ser-vice.

To improve postal services, the Lithuanian Post in-stalled pick-up points for small parcels in cities around Lithuania. Originally, the points only allowed parcel collection, but locals requested further functions. This lead to the introduction of a self-service terminal sys-tem, together with various options for dropping-o and picking-up parcels at the terminal.

The charge for diverting a postal item to the self-ser-vice parcel terminal is €1, which the recipient can pay with a bankcard at the terminal when collecting the item. A unique IT system supports the new functions, which also allows users to send parcels anonymously. Senders ll out parcel delivery information on a web-site or using the terminal screen and an SMS or email informs the recipient about the parcel. Parcel tracking is also available on the service website. LP EXPRESS terminals are emptied every day and parcels are de-livered within 24 hours.

In action

11

ResultsLP EXPRESS is an efficient service that offers tai-lored services, and is transferable around the country. The terminal system is popular with businesses and private customers. The unique technological features give it additional value and provide opportunities for the self-service terminals to be introduced more wide-ly. Integrating the terminals with other delivery services has given it a competitive advantage. The service is successful because delivery distances in Lithuania, a small country, are relatively short, and collaborating with online shopping businesses has been beneficial.

Results

12

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