'Doddle' parcelshop trials at mainline stations

[Budfrog]

http://www.shdlogistics.com/news/view/d ... e-stations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Network Rail is to test the concept of a parcel collection and delivery service at its mainline stations to capitalise on the booming online retail market.

It is the only one of its kind that has an open access approach, meaning it is available to every retailer, e-tailer, parcel carrier and shipper, creating a network of single points for the collection, return and sending of parcels.

Following over 12 months of researching and monitoring the sector, Network Rail has decided to initially test the concept at Milton Keynes Central station with its 3,000 employees. This will be followed closely by trials at London Paddington and Woking stations, with other stations to follow throughout 2014 once the concept is proven, creating up to 4,000 new jobs.

The new business initiative is called Doddle and is a joint venture with leading entrepreneur and philanthropist Lloyd Dorfman CBE. He is best known for creating the Travelex Group which is now the world's largest non-bank foreign exchange business.

These dedicated parcel shops will be open seven days a week, early until late, to fit with people’s busy lifestyles, and enable them to choose exactly how, when and where they send and receive parcels. There will be an easy-to-use transactional website and advanced touch point notifications through a Mobile App, SMS and email.

Doddle will enable parcel carriers to increase their home delivery capabilities in a cost effective manner without serious infrastructure investment whilst maintaining service levels to help address the challenge of rising volumes. With online retail sales expected to increase by 69% by 2017, it will provide added choice and capacity, especially during peak trading periods, to meet the precise needs of retailers and their customers.

Doddle will also help parcel carriers to reduce the issue of failed first time delivery that is affecting 100m parcels each year and costing the industry around £1bn annually, by providing an alternative collection and drop off point for collections and returns.

The service will also benefit from safe and secure premises, professional and friendly staff and leading technology solutions. Added-value solutions such as quality checks, technical swaps, loan replacements and high security services will also be offered.

Peter Louden, project director, said: “Our initial conversations with both leading retailers and carriers have been extremely positive with many indicating a desire to become an early adopter. They are excited by the fantastic locations and the guaranteed footfall which is expected to increase by 30% by 2020.

"There are around 1.5bn passenger journeys taking place every year plus a large proportion of the UK population lives within five miles of a railway station. This makes it a highly convenient solution for many consumers.”

[martin the green]

I had to look at the calendar as I thought it was April 1st.

1 why did Royal Mail leave the rail network.
2 have you tried getting a seat on a train.
3 will they ensure that the right leaves fall on the track so that the trains get through.
4 24 hour service "my ass" try getting a train at/to the outreaches of the British isles. after a certain time.
5 there are not enough staff on platforms now, we all no the ones that are there will be made to do this work.
6 the only jobs created will be in India or Bulgaria.

[wandle]

a parcel collection and delivery service at its mainline stations

[tincatinca]

It's the start of a new and significant way of doing parcels, one that I carn't believe has taken so long to start.

In my view it won't be too long before there's a "parcel point" store on every highstreet acting as agents for most of the couriers, giving them a shared network the same as Royal Mails but without all of them having to build a separate one for each of them. It's basically a post office but giving access to all the couriers and a greater choice. If some business decides to go for such a scheme I think it would grow quickly and massively, taking a large portion of Royal Mails parcel business in very quick time.

[Budfrog]

In my view it won't be too long before there's a "parcel point" store on every highstreet acting as agents for most of the couriers, giving them a shared network the same as Royal Mails but without all of them having to build a separate one for each of them. It's basically a post office but giving access to all the couriers and a greater choice. If some business decides to go for such a scheme I think it would grow quickly and massively, taking a large portion of Royal Mails parcel business in very quick time.

Not quite their business model but Local Letterbox are planning a nationwide network of dedicated parcel shops and Hermes are expanding their shop based network.

http://localletterbox.co.uk/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://internetretailing.net/2013/10/he ... this-year/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;