Spanish apartment buildings get package machines

Lockers at your home

The “locker” system has been around for a while: they are closets that delivery services use to deposit online orders in. The customer can then access these with a secret code, but he doesn’t have to be there at a specific time or stay home until the delivery has arrived. Belgium has Bpack 24/7, package machines that have already been installed at dozens of shopping centers, supermarkets and train stations.

The Spanish postal services are taking it one step further with HomePaq machines, which are smaller (1 sqm floor space) and contain six differently sized lockers. Packages can weigh no more than 20 kg and the lockers are only accessible through a bar code sent to the customer. Likewise, the customer can deposit packages that have to be sent back and the courier will be able to pick them up at a HomePaq.

Pilot programme in Madrid

The first HomePaq machines have been installed in Madrid, in the lobby of several apartment buildings. In total, the Spanish postal services will place 500 machines for this first phase.

Javier Cuesta, Correos’ president, has told Spanish media that it “wants to offer its customers a solution that will improve their quality of life. At the same time, we will help the e-commerce players as it will not only serve as a distribution channel, but as a marketing instrument as well.”