Last Mile Brief 17/01/2023: Parcel Motel to cease operations in Ireland
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In today's Last Mile Brief, we've news of a parcel locker service ending in Ireland, Amazon launching a new service in India, and a new FedEx scheme for returns coming next year.
Today’s headline story: Parcel Motel to cease operations in Ireland
UPS-owned parcel locker service Parcel Motel has told its users that its service in Ireland will cease operations at the end of this month.
In a statement issued to users on Friday, Parcel Motel said:
“We are writing to inform you of a change that will impact all your Parcel Motel activities. Please be informed that as of January 31st the Parcel Motel services and brand will cease to exist. We are closing all Parcel Motel operations and you can no longer use the lockers for pick-up or deliveries after this date.”
The announcement comes just under 5 years since UPS acquired Parcel Motel.
As explained in the press release that accompanied the announcement of that acquisition, Parcel Motel’s service worked by offering users a ‘virtual address’ at a parcel locker that allowed online shoppers to pick up their goods at their own convenience. The service was described as being similar to UPS’ Access Point lockers.
Much like OohPod, which is run by John Tuohy, the former owner of Parcel Motel by Nightline, Parcel Motel’s model saw customers subscribe or pay a one-off fee for access to a locker. This differs to AnPost, whose lockers can be selected as a desired delivery location without any additional charge.
It isn’t known what will happen to Parcel Motel’s lockers, nor is the picture clear regarding the scale of job losses, reports the Irish Times.
Europe round up
- 61.5% of UK shoppers experienced delivery issues in December 2022, according to a report by Doddle.
- Packfleet had 83% more customers in December due to Royal Mail strikes.
- A drop in footfall could lead to a Royal Mail customer service point in Bournemouth’s closing.
- Analysts say Deliveroo could be undervalued ahead of company’s Q4 trading update.
- Figures from the PA agency Rodeo, show that pay in 2022 dropped between 0.3% and 6.1% year-on-year for UK drivers working for Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Stuart and Just Eat.
- Royal Mail seeks workaround solution amid cyberattack hitting international deliveries.
- Sainsbury’s has signed a deal with Just Eat to offer rapid distribution of groceries from 175 stores.
- A Peterborough couple have launched a local food delivery service hoping to rival Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
North America round up
- Amazon is expanding US market presence while making staff cuts in India, writes Forbes.
- In 2024, retailers will be able to partner with FedEx to allow consumers to bring their unwanted e-commerce orders to FedEx Office stores without a box or a shipping label.
- Uber and Visa have announced a new program designed to support small-and medium-sized businesses in their transition to sustainable packaging.
- More retailers are packing up goods in stores for delivering e-commerce orders, writes the Wall Street Journal.
- An Amazon Fulfillment Center in Sioux Falls has now officially opened for business.
News from the rest of the world
- Amazon is testing a 'Prime Lite’ membership in India that offers slower delivery times compared to Prime.
- Jokr has shuts down operations in Colombia just 2 months after also leaving Chile.
- Swiggy has rolled out ambulance services for delivery partners and their dependents in India.
- Flyby, a Dubai-based smart delivery box and mobile digital out-of-home (OOH) advertising company, has raised $1 million in a seed round led by FHS Capital.
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