Smart Lockers: Secure Shopping

What is a smart locker? In a nutshell, smart lockers are a new development in the field of e-commerce to ensure a secure handover of goods to end consumers.

– They function as “drop boxes” for e-commerce delivery agents, often located in easy-access public spaces.

– As the name suggests, smart lockers come with additional digital systems to prevent tampering, vandalism, and theft of the products stored inside.

– Smart lockers are being rolled out in countries like Singapore, China, and Germany since 2020.

How Do They Work?

What makes smart lockers any better than your average pick-up spots & delivery depots? That’s where the ‘smart’ digital component comes in.

– If you select smart locker pickup as your delivery option, the delivery agent will drop your product off at the smart locker nearest to your location.

– You will be notified once the product has been dropped off, receiving instructions to make your way to the smart locker.

– Once at the smart locker, the vendor app on your device will walk you through unlocking the storage, usually through QR code or SMS OTP generation.

– This additional layer of security in the final leg of e-commerce logistics guarantees foolproof and secure delivery.

Smart Lockers: Worthwhile Investment?

We’ve taken a look at why smart lockers improve the end-user experience for online shoppers. What’s in it for the vendors, though? Is it worth funneling the money and infrastructure into a smarter delivery system? The answer is a resounding yes, for the valid reasons below:

– Convenience: Smart lockers make for convenient product handover on two counts. One, the delivery agent doesn’t need to haggle with your neighbors if you’re not available. Two, you can pick up the parcel at your convenience, without needing to put other plans on hold!

– Safety: We live in an ongoing global pandemic, where safety measures are of paramount importance. Deploying smart lockers at specific sites can facilitate contactless delivery, staying within safe distancing protocol. This aspect makes smart lockers a sustainable method even within the context of a pandemic!

The Current Market Players

Now that you know the appeal of smart lockers firsthand, let’s assess the current global scenario concerning smart locker implementation.

– As one might expect, market giants like Amazon, FedEx, and DHL are implementing smart lockers on a large scale. 70,000+ active drop boxes are shared among these e-commerce titans worldwide.

– Recent market projections show that the smart locker global market size will boom to 1,144 million USD by 2025.

– The global e-commerce field is also considering further development of smart locker technology. Autonomous ground vehicles (AGV) will roll out the same service with more mobility. For the delivery of perishable goods, lockers with built-in refrigeration are being conceptualized.

e-Commerce Delivered, The Smart Way

All the signs point to the clear evidence that smart lockers are one of the next big things in the field of e-commerce. In the coming years, smart lockers are set to be far more prevalent and mainstream in major cities worldwide. At Ravenan, we offer comprehensive services to those looking to make their mark in the e-commerce world. Ready to launch your online business? Get in touch with us today!