InPost has announced a new partnership with supermarket chain Tesco Plc, which will see its automated parcel machines (APMs) deployed across Tesco’s entire large-format store estate in the UK, potentially up to 500 sites, by the end of November.
This new partnership adds InPost’s lockers to Tesco’s concession offering, increasing the range of services and facilities Tesco has to offer its customers at stores and further maximising the value of its commercial real estate.
With Christmas fast approaching, the new parcel machines will bring extra convenience and much-needed postal services to existing community hubs, providing shoppers with a fast, convenient and greener way to collect their online orders or send parcels.
They will also be able to drop off returns in seconds thanks to InPost’s market-leading paperless Instant Returns service, whilst 24/7 accessibility provides a vital service to key and shift workers in the community.
Importantly, this partnership allows Tesco customers to ‘trip-twin’ and save time by combining these errands with their regular grocery shop, instead of waiting in for online deliveries at home or making a special journey to post goods or send returns to retailers.
The deal continues InPost’s rapid growth in the UK, bringing the total number of InPost lockers in the country to approximately 2,500. InPost aims to have the largest automated parcel machine networks in the UK, with ambitions for around 3,000 APMs by the end of 2021 and over 10,000 by 2024.
“People are always looking for new ways to access essential amenities and convenient services that fit in around their busy lives, saving them time and effort,” commented Jason Tavaria, CEO at InPost UK. “Our lockers do just that. And by reducing the number of deliveries needed, the new lockers will reduce local traffic, helping create more sustainable, greener communities.”
“The new partnership will enable customers to collect and send parcels alongside their weekly shop,” confirmed Louise Goodland, Head of Strategic Retail Partnerships at Tesco. “We know our customers are always looking for ways to make their lives easier, and to save time and effort. The new lockers will help them do just that.”
In a clear sign of Tesco’s commitment to the new partnership, more than 200 lockers are already installed, with the supermarket chain opting to go straight to a national rollout of these, rather than a pilot scheme.
Once the InPost APM network is fully operational across all of the planned Tesco locations, it has the potential to eliminate 250,000 last-mile deliveries, reducing carbon emissions by up to 70% per parcel versus home delivery. This will help reduce congestion in local areas by reducing the number of deliveries needed, and create healthier and greener local communities. It also supports Tesco’s ambition to become a zero-carbon business by 2050.
