Lockers add convenience
An interesting trend in the local courier industry is the introduction of delivery lockers which are playing a role in disrupting the industry.
The Courier Guy was one of the first to introduce a smart locker delivery system. Called pudo — which stands for Pick Up Drop Off — the lockers have the advantage of being highly cost effective and convenient for customers. The company currently offers 1,100 lockers situated around the country with delivery locker to locker starting from just R50 for an extra small 2kg parcel.
To ensure the safety of packages, pudo lockers are located in monitored areas and have multiple security systems including video surveillance, anti-break locks and a package detection system.
To send a package, users login via the pudo website or app, make a booking by selecting a locker, filling in the online waybill and choosing the correct box size. Users have the option of sending locker to locker, door to locker or locker to door. All of these options are facilitated by The Courier Guy’s network of drivers and depots.
Once the package has arrived at a pudo locker, the recipient receives a text message and an e-mail with a unique pin and QR code, either of which can be used to retrieve the package. The receiver has 36 hours in which to collect the package from the locker, after which it is sent to the closest pudo kiosk or depot. Most lockers are open 24/7 — although ones located in malls adhere to centre hours — so packages can be collected whenever it’s convenient.
The Courier Guy is not the only company to introduce lockers. DSV has also introduced an anytime courier option called DSV Lockers which means that neither the driver, parcel, recipient nor sender needs to be at the same place at the same time. Strategically positioned at fuel forecourts — primarily Engen service stations — and other publicly accessible locations, they are a direct-to-consumer service which cuts costs and increases efficiencies. Similar to pudo, customers are sent an SMS and email notification when their parcel is ready for collection and are given 48 hours to collect the parcel.
“The introduction of lockers is an exciting new development in the logistics space,” says Saepa CEO Garry Marshall. “It offers an additional layer of convenience for recipients who aren’t sure where they are going to be at a given time of the day.”