The APC parcel delivery network has agreed to partner with Parcelly to give recipients the option of picking parcels up at one of 1,250 “safe and convenient” pick-up points around the UK.
This will form part of the company’s APC Choice solution, aimed at giving recipients alternative delivery options if they aren’t going to be in to receive a parcel at the time of delivery.
This is especially important as 87% of UK consumers reported that having convenient options to accept parcels is crucial, according to a 2021 Statista survey. In the same survey, 84% claimed that it is important that they can feel comfortable in the knowledge that a parcel will be left in a safe place if they are not available to accept it themselves.
The APC’s Chief Executive, Jonathan Smith, commented: “In a world where people have increasing flexibility around their working day and environment, we are striving to accommodate the evolving habits of consumers and the needs of our customers.
“Our new partnership with Parcelly will enable us to continue delivering exemplary service and offer enhanced delivery service options, ultimately providing more convenience and choice for consumers.”
Parcelly’s pick-up and drop-off (PUDO) solution allows parcels to be left in a location where they can be collected or stored for another delivery attempt at a later date. Parcelly currently operates over 3,500 PUDO locations in more than 150 cities across the UK.
Sebastian Steinhauser, Chief Executive of Parcelly, added: “We are truly excited to be able to announce our partnership with The APC, and continue building on our ever-growing network of pick-up locations.
“Working with The APC to offer this solution will provide choice, convenience, and control to consumers across the UK, while also reducing the environmental and operational impact of failed deliveries.”
To hear more from Sebastian Steinhauser about the benefits and challenges of urban logistics, make sure to check out this feature from the August issue of Logistics Manager Magazine!
Following this news, the launch of a ‘Leave Safe’ option within APC Choice will allow customers to express a preference of a safe location in which parcels can be stored if no-one is around to take in the package. This service is expected to be available from October.
Smith explained that the driving force behind this new feature is the desire to make things “simpler and more convenient for both customers and recipients”. He explained: “The new Leave Safe option will give our customers control to manage their own settings, whilst giving recipients the flexibility and choice when their parcel is on its way to them.”
Ensuring that deliveries are successful on the first attempt can save time and money. Crucially, offering flexibility can lead to significant improvements in customer satisfaction.
Loqate’s 2021 ‘Fixing Failed Deliveries’ report found that 68% of businesses surveyed stated that failed or late deliveries are a “significant cost” to their operation. It also found that in the UK, 6% of deliveries failed, costing an average of £11.60 per attempt.
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