Cooperative infrastructure for sustainable delivery: Carrier-agnostic parcel locker stations (No. 505)

This study looks at carrier-agnostic automated lockers as a delivery option for parcels. In Germany, automated parcel stations are primarily known as DHL-Packstation, carrier-agnostic systems are hardly represented, in contrast to other European countries like Austria and Sweden. Against this background, the study analyses the reasons for the low presence of agnostic providers in Germany and discusses the potential for reducing emissions on the last mile through this delivery option.

Carrier-agnostic parcel lockers can represent a low-emission delivery option on the last mile. One prerequisite for this is that recipients use sustainable means of transport for collection, otherwise this delivery option can also cause more emissions than delivery to the door. Lockers at decentralised locations or at highly frequented hotspots create different incentives for collection by car, on foot or by bicycle. Compared to proprietary networks, agnostic lockers have the advantage that they can also be used by parcel services that do not have the financial resources to set up their own stations. As a result, this potentially more sustainable delivery option would be available for a higher proportion of parcels. Provider-neutral stations can also be operated economically in areas where a proprietary network cannot be utilised to capacity.

The qualitative evaluations in this study indicate that the parcel locker providers have a major influence on recipient behaviour and the resulting emissions through their choice of location. In order to validate these assessments, empirical studies on the sustainability of provider-neutral parcel stations are required.

Three factors are hampering the success of provider-neutral parcel lockers in Germany: firstly, the strong position of Deutsche Post DHL for this delivery option and its early market entry with the DHL Packstation. Secondly, finding a location for neutral providers is difficult, especially when working with local authorities due to a large number of bureaucratic requirements. Thirdly, the digital skills of Germans and their willingness to utilise innovations are relatively low by international comparison. Driving factors are a competitive parcel market with many players without own locker networks and the cooperation between locker providers and online retailers to integrate the option into online shops.

Carrier-agnostic parcel lockers are an opportunity for parcel delivery operators without proprietary locker networks to utilise the advantages in terms of emission reduction on the last mile. In order to make better use of the sustainability potential of this option, the legal framework for approval at municipal level could be reviewed and decision processes made more efficient. The partially low level of knowledge about the concept of carrier-agnostic parcel lockers and the advantages and disadvantages from a municipal perspective could be addressed by knowledge transfer measures. More detailed monitoring of developments by the Federal Network Agency, following the practice of regulatory authorities in countries such as Sweden or the Netherlands, would contribute to improved market transparency.