Alsendo Insights: Poland’s Parcel Locker Revolution 2024-11-29 przez Anna Sztyk How Convenience is Driving E-Commerce Growth in 2024 In recent years, Poland has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its e-commerce delivery landscape, with parcel lockers emerging as the undisputed champion of last-mile delivery solutions. And, what’s interesting, the high-quality delivery processes may be actually driving the growth of e-commerce market, as it’s becoming an important factor that drives Polish customers to shop online. A comprehensive market study by Gemius concerning local e-commerce market in 2024 reveals insights into how Polish consumers are embracing this innovative delivery method and reshaping the future of online shopping. The numbers speak for themselves – in 2024 an overwhelming 81% of online shoppers in Poland now prefer parcel lockers as their primary delivery method. Leading this revolution is InPost’s Paczkomat network, which has captured an impressive 88% market share among parcel locker users. This dominance reflects not just market leadership but a fundamental shift in consumer behavior and expectations. Proximity Drives E-commerce Growth One of the most striking findings is how the accessibility of parcel lockers is actively promoting e-commerce growth. The study reveals that 84% of respondents are more likely to make online purchases simply because they have convenient access to a parcel locker. This suggests that the extensive network of lockers isn’t just merely serving existing demand. It is actually a pathway to creating new shopping opportunities and supporting the growth of local e-commerce market. However,this would not be possible without providing consumers with a high quality delivery experience efficiently combining offline and online worlds. And the expectations are high. The study highlights three key factors driving customer satisfaction: package tracking capability, weekend delivery options and mobile app management – 70-80% Poles consider those features very important. To put it simply, they like to be in control and have visibility over their parcels. Environmental and Safety Considerations The research reveals also an interesting intersection of convenience and consciousness among Polish shoppers. A significant 73% of respondents believe that parcel locker delivery is an environmentally friendly option. This perception of sustainability could be attributed to the reduced number of individual delivery attempts and optimized delivery routes. Additionally, in our post-pandemic world, 63% of consumers still value the contactless nature of parcel locker deliveries, suggesting that safety considerations continue to influence delivery preferences. The convenience of parcel lockers extends beyond deliveries to returns processing, with 36% of consumers preferring to return items via parcel lockers. Once again, InPost leads this category with 82% of parcel locker returns being processed through their network. This data suggests that easy returns are becoming an integral part of the e-commerce experience. However, while InPost maintains its leadership position, the market is seeing healthy competition. ORLEN Paczka has emerged as the second most recognized parcel locker network in Poland, indicating that there’s room for multiple players in this growing market. Business Responds to Fast Delivery Expectations High expectations of Polish consumers create significant challenges for e-commerce businesses. With delivery and logistics costs accounting for up to 35% of total e-commerce operating costs, businesses must find innovative ways to meet customer expectations while maintaining profitability. As Robert Steleżak, General Manager of Alsendo, points out, even industry giants like Zalando report logistics costs exceeding their marketing expenses, with fulfillment costs representing 23.2% of revenue in Q1 2024. This economic pressure is further complicated by geopolitical uncertainty and increasing competition from international shopping platforms, particularly from the Far East. To address these challenges, businesses are increasingly turning to specialized delivery management technologies. Companies like Alsendo, a CEE market leader in shipping software and services, offer solutions that help optimize delivery processes for both small and medium-sized online stores, as well as for larger players. From access to top courier companies, with pre-negotiated rates and professional guidance to AI-powered solutions like Alsendo Innoship that can automatically allocate different courier services based on variables such as delivery country, timing, and package weight – there are various opportunities.The businesses no longer have any excuse to not optimize their delivery processes – and smart optimization could incur savings of up to 20% on delivery expenses.* *According to Alsendo Innoship calculations This is important, especially considering the significant growth in cross-border trade. According to Alsendo’s internal data, approximately 20% of Polish e-commerce turnover in the past year was related to cross-border trade. This presents both opportunities and challenges for Polish businesses, with delivery emerging as both the primary issue and the tool to satisfy customer needs. The Future of Delivery The combination of convenience, environmental benefits, and digital integration has created a delivery ecosystem that aligns perfectly with modern consumer expectations. Looking ahead, two key trends are going to be further shaping the future of e-commerce delivery in Poland. First one is the proximity of pick-up points. Consumers increasingly expect delivery points to be conveniently located near their homes or workplaces. This demand is driving the continued expansion of parcel locker networks nationwide. A second significant factor is the market is growing demand for same-day delivery options, which pushes retailers and delivery providers to optimize their logistics networks further. As Poland continues to lead the way in parcel locker adoption, the rest of Europe watches closely. The success of this model suggests that we might be looking at the future of e-commerce delivery, where convenience, sustainability, and digital integration come together to create a superior shopping experience. This blog post is based on the “2024 e-Commerce in Poland Report” prepared by Gemius, Polish Internet Surveys Institute and IAB Poland. This report can be accessed here: https://gemius.com/documents/66/RAPORT_E-COMMERCE_2024.pd
Last-mile automation: How is delivery optimization evolving? 2024-01-22 przez iLabs - Kamil Automated vehicles and autonomous robots in warehouses Last-mile logistics is not just about delivery by courier. It is a multi-stage process that starts in warehouses, where is now increasingly common for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated mobile robots (AMRs) to replace workers.It is estimated that by 2030 the entire warehouse robotics sector will be worth more than USD 51 billion. Meanwhile, automated warehouse systems in the e-commerce industry can improve warehouse throughput by up to 40%2. Artificial intelligence in last-mile logistics The efficiency of last-mile logistics is heavily dependent on software. The future of the industry lies in artificial intelligence, which makes it possible to efficiently plan the loading and unloading of goods by analysing huge amounts of data on orders, returns, product availability and picking times. Today, algorithms can even be used to ensure that packaging is filled to the right percentage to save space. Expansion of parcel machines Parcel machines have become very popular in Poland, where they can be found not only in large cities but also in smaller towns. They provide considerable savings in last-mile logistics. This process will continue.An InPost parcel machine recently appeared at Warsaw Chopin Airport3. In Spain, a pilot programme has been underway for the installation of similar machines in metro stations4. The challenges of last-mile logistics are indeed difficult, but there is much to suggest that couriers and the e-commerce industry will be able to overcome them by automating the process. https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/a-com-migration/r3-3/pdf/pdf-148/accenture-sustainable-mile-pov.pdf#zoom=40 https://obserwatorlogistyczny.pl/2023/03/09/automatyzacja-dostaw-ostatniej-mili-jest-konieczna-dla-calego-lancucha-dostaw/ https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/paczkomat-inpost-lotnisko-chopina-warszawa https://www.mecalux.pl/artykuly-logistyczne/automaty-paczkowe-logistyka-ostatniej-mili
Value of the global e-commerce logistics services market 2022-2027 2023-09-01 przez iLabs - Kamil According to Statista.com, the value of the global e-commerce market reached USD 5.7 trillion in 2022[1]! And experts are forecasting its growth in the years to come. It is no secret that online sales have been driving the CEP industry for a long time now. The value of the global e-commerce logistics market is also set to grow significantly over the next five years. Close to EUR 700 billion in 2027 According to estimates by the research agency Transport Intelligence, the global market was worth more than EUR 418 billion in 2022, while the current year should close with a figure of over EUR 451 billion. The projected growth in the sector’s value up to 2027 is impressive. Worldwide customers are then expected to pay more than EUR 683 billion for e-commerce logistics services. This means that the market would have grown by as much as 63%[2]. Significant share of cross-border commerce logistics Retailers from different countries are looking for new markets abroad. Many online trading giants are now operating globally. In 2022, cross-border logistics services for the e-commerce industry totalled more than EUR 66 billion, which represented a share of almost 16%. In 2027, the figures are expected to look similar. The value of cross-border logistics services in this sector is to exceed EUR 114 billion, with a share of almost 17%. Logistics for e-commerce in Europe E-commerce is also the driving force of the European CEP sector. In 2022, the value of e-commerce logistics services in Europe reached EUR 81.638 billion. Interestingly, the share of cross-border operations in the region was lower than the global average, at just over 14%. The markets with the highest value are the UK (EUR 23.9 billion), Germany (EUR 16.49 billion) and France (EUR 12.14 billion), followed by Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Sweden and Turkey. Signs are that the booming e-commerce market will favour the logistics industry in the coming years. Sources: [1] https://www.statista.com/topics/871/online-shopping/#topicOverview [2] https://i.gremicdn.pl/image/free/5415d1479c2ba975ae2b79d259026680/krzysztof-oflakowski?t=crop:1714:1063:nowe:88:0,resize:fit:1920:1189
Green Last Mile – what is it and how does it affect T&L? 2023-08-04 przez iLabs - Kamil Green Last Mile – what is it and how does it affect T&L? There is no doubt that transportation has a negative impact on the environment. However, with the right changes to the logistics chain, its impact can be significantly reduced. Here we discuss one of the latest trends, namely the Green Last Mile, and how it affects the T&L industry. What is the Green Last Mile? The Green Last Mile is a reference to the Last Mile Delivery, i.e. the final leg of delivery. It is extremely important, as it has the greatest impact on delivery time and the recipient satisfaction. Estimates show that it accounts for approximately 40–45% of operational costs. With the growing awareness of the need to take care of the natural environment and the resulting changes to laws and standards, the T&L industry is striving to be more eco-friendly. This is because deliveries, both on a global and local scale, generate immense CO2 emissions. The Green Last Mile is an initiative to reduce the impact of deliveries to final recipients. Sustainable supply chains include better route planning, reducing empty runs, and reducing the use of paper and plastic (e.g. packaging, waybills, documents). However, if logistics is to be more eco-friendly, changes are necessary at the last mile. The Green Last Mile and eco-logistics – what are the new trends in T&L? Last year’s Report by Last Mile Experts showed that solving the last mile emissions problem is difficult. The growing popularity of electric vehicles in cities is set to become the dominant trend now. However, fleets will only be replaced gradually due to the high costs involved and the insufficiently robust infrastructure, most importantly the small number of charging stations. One of the most important issues is optimising deliveries in the B2C channel. The most efficient solution, which is also well-received by customers, is the option to pick up deliveries out of home, i.e. at parcel pickup machines and PUDO (Pick Up Drop Off) points. In addition, carriers are highly likely to warm up to the idea of introducing cargo bikes and micro-hubs, which is already happening in Austria.