Parcel locker

A Døgnpost station in Denmark

Paczkomaty 24/7 in Poland

Packstation is a service run by DHL Parcel Germany, a business unit of Deutsche Post's Mail division, in Germany and elsewhere (e.g. in Italy). It started as a pilot project in 2001 and was quickly expanded. There are 3,000 Packstation machines in Germany[1] and 90 percent of the people living in Germany were within ten minutes of a DHL Packstation.[2] Only ordinary parcels and letters delivered by Deutsche Post can be delivered to Packstations. Moreover, Deutsche Post allows its subsidiary DHL Express Germany to insert a limited number of express parcels. Packstations were originally manufactured by the Austrian company KEBA with newer stations developed by DHL Paket in conjunction with Polygon.[2]

Austria's Österreichische Post introduced a virtually identical service called Post.24-Station in November 2006. The booths are manufactured by the same company that makes the packstations, KEBA. In Vienna, Stations have been erected in supermarkets, petrol stations, and post offices that can easily be reached by public transport.

In the Republic of Ireland, ParcelMotel is owned by the Nightline courier company. ParcelMotel has operated since 2012 and has 124 locations providing over 10,000 locker spaces throughout the Republic of Ireland. ParcelMotel also offers a UK address for parcel delivery which allows customers in Ireland to take advantage of free UK delivery. They also offer free/business paid return services, motel-to-motel delivery at special rates and a parcel sending service.[3]

A company called SmartPOST, run by the Finnish Posti Group runs a network of self-service parcel terminals in Finland and Estonia. The terminals are located in shopping centres and other public premises. They enable clients to send and receive parcels and pay for them at the collection point. There is a terminal for every Estonian in a range of a 15-minute drive. The parcel terminals were introduced to Finland in 2011.[4] The parcel terminals and the software running the system are manufactured in Estonia by Cleveron.[5]

Also, Latvian company, PostService, runs a network of 39 self-service parcel terminals in Latvia, called Mana pasta stacija (English: My Post Station). Terminals are located in 27 cities and towns in Latvia. The terminals are constructed and manufactured in Latvia by PostService itself.[6]

Polish company InPost runs a network of almost 20,000 self-service parcel terminals[7] in Poland called Paczkomaty 24/7. Terminals are located in shopping centres car parks and gas stations. The terminals enable clients to send and receive parcels.[8] In the United Kingdom, they operate lockers branded as 'InPost', which are found in various locations including on fuel station forecourts and at supermarkets. According to the company, they are "strategically located in urban areas where people work, shop and play".[9]

API Smart locker in Costa Rica.

Canadian company BufferBox, which was acquired by Google in November 2012, operates a similar system in Ontario. However, the service has since been suspended, and a message on their homepage shows the company is focusing on Google Express Checkout.[10] When the pandemic arrived in early 2020, retailers scrambled to find ways to meet consumer demand for their products while simultaneously managing last-mile delivery costs, overall margins, and maintaining contactless solutions. Parcel lockers began to fill this need with companies such as ParcelPort Solutions, based in Toronto, ON, by using technology to reduce logistics costs and provide a frictionless, and contactless option for customers.

Amazon Lockers are a similar service specific to deliveries fulfilled through online retailer Amazon.[11]

The United States Postal Service launched a similar service called "gopost" (in lowercase) with the August 2014 installation of 17 lockers in New York City and Washington, D.C.[12]

Correos de Costa Rica offers a similar service with automated delivery machines located in various supermarkets.[13] The test program started in July 2017. The machines are manufactured in Costa Rica.[14] In 2018, the operation of the smart locker system known as API was started. The Api lockers are manufactured by Correos de Costa Rica itself. The network has 102 locations throughout Costa Ríca. With further expansion in the near future.[15]

A courier company called Parzel Express introduced automated delivery machines in United Arab Emirates in 2011 manufactured by KEBA.[16]

Australia Post offers a similar service with facilities located in or near various post offices.[17]