Cargus lockers, an innovation and a game changer for the ecommerce market

In September, Cargus launched its own network of lockers in Romania, an important step in its strategy to invest in the “out of home” (OOH – proximity) delivery solution, under the SHIP & GO brand, with important benefits for online stores and their customers.

Cargus lockers are produced by SwipBox, international supplier of automated parcel machines (lockers), with a presence in over 60 countries, and represent an innovation on the Romanian market. The lockers can be accessed contactless, through the Cargus Mobile app, they work on bluetooth and do not need power from the electricity network – the lockers are equipped with batteries, which have a lifespan of up to 10 years.

We invited Allan Kaczmarek, founder of SwipBox, to tell us more about the benefits of these lockers for online shoppers and the ecommerce industry.

Since SwipBox started, 10 years ago, how did lockers change the delivery industry – e-shops’ and e-shoppers’ behaviour?
When we introduced our first parcel locker, SwipBox Classic, many end users were already familiar with this kind of technology – i.e. entering an SMS code on a screen to open the locker.

Our screenless, Bluetooth-operated Infinity locker, which we introduced in 2019, was a different kind of game changer because end users had to learn a new way of operating a parcel locker, something they were quick to do. Today, any reservations about the new technology are quickly overcome once customers see how simple it is to use, even for non-tech-savvy people.
The COVID pandemic massively increased online shopping worldwide – and along with that we have seen an increase in end user requirement for convenience. This means that web shops have realised the need to offer diverse, convenient delivery options, including parcel lockers close to end users.

The easy integration of our solution in customers’ systems has made it easy for web shops and logistics providers to add this convenience.

How did the lockers evolve? What did the first SwipBox locker look like and how different was it from the ones you produce now?

• Operation – from screen to app
  Our first locker was, as its name suggests, a classic screen-operated locker consisting of a base module and add-on modules, which were operated via the base module. The Infinity lockers, on the other hand, are individually powered and app operated.
• Height – from three variations to one
  The Classic lockers, which are indoor-only, are available in three different heights to fit into different types of shops. In contrast, all four Infinity models have the same height, allowing operators to mix and match different models on the same location.
• Power supply – from wiring to battery module
  Classic lockers require both a power outlet and an internet connection, which is not an issue in most indoor settings. Once we started looking at an outdoor solution, we also looked at factors that could potentially limit location options, such as the need for power supply and an internet connection. Our solution was to develop a locker that communicates via Bluetooth and runs on a battery, which means the locker can be placed anywhere. This flexibility also means that Infinity is easy to relocate or scale up to increase the capacity on a location if needed.

SwipBox is present in many countries, but some of them are very different in terms of culture and background. Which countries are the most „advanced” when it comes to locker adoption, and what do you think is the reason for the high rate?

We certainly see the Nordics among the most advanced countries, which have been quick to adopt smart lockers. However, we’re also seeing an increasing number of countries outside the Nordics establishing parcel locker networks because of their convenience, low TCO and user friendliness.

What is the sustainability impact of the lockers – CO₂ and power consumption?

Our lockers can run on the same battery module for a minimum of 10 years. That’s impressive in itself. When you look its actual power consumption over a 10-year period it becomes evident just how big of a feat this is. In fact, running an Infinity locker for 10 years uses the same amount of power as brewing a pot of coffee or doing just 1/4 of a dishwasher load.

In addition, dense parcel locker networks enable couriers to deliver parcels to the entire network using green transport. The Infinity lockers, designed for dense networks, are already part of the green strategy of some of our partners.

What other benefits can such a delivery solution bring?

The numbers we have seen, e.g. from running our own network, showed that placing a locker outside (or inside for that matter) a shop leads to increased sales from customers picking up parcels.

When we talk about convenient locations seen from an end user point of view, we therefore not only include residential areas but also shops to offer end users pickup points in places that are convenient to them whether they’re at home, out shopping or commuting to and from work.