Nextbox is a digital platform that allows small, medium and large-sized businesses to reserve compartments in parcel lockers for their company or customers, in order to receive or deliver a parcel. Thus, recipients have the possibility to pick up their parcel 24/7 and are not bound to any opening hours by the company itself.
These companies can use a standardised system to access all parcel lockers operated by the connected parcel locker operators. All of these parcel lockers are so-called ‘white label’ lockers, meaning they are available for a variety of uses by interested companies.
This additional service for customers is primarily aimed at supporting local/regional businesses by allowing them to extend their opening hours, as all parcel lockers are publicly accessible day and night.
In order to offer all existing and future users a simple and uniform way to book a compartment, as many white label parcel box operators as possible are being integrated into the Nextbox platform.
In the course of surveys, developments and pilot projects with partners directly on site, solutions in the Lower Austria-Vienna region were initially addressed. The findings and results are being incorporated into national initiatives accordingly.
At the organisational level, representatives of the WKW and the City of Vienna have been nominated to the project’s stakeholder advisory board, where the findings from the overall project are periodically presented and communicated at an international level. This ensures far-reaching and tailor-made placement.
SUCCESS FACTORS
White label solution for inclusive access to an urban infrastructure: The Nextbox platform centralises access to all white label parcel lockers in Austria and offers companies the opportunity to book and manage compartments in over 1,400 parcel lockers throughout Austria.
Real time processing and connectivity: The Nextbox platform allows real-time information from parcel lockers to be accessed so that specific available compartments can be booked. To use the Nextbox platform, you can connect to the NextBox software interface (API to the Nextbox platform) or use the platform via the web portal.
Click and Collect for every business size: With the Nextbox solution, retailers offer their customers the option of conveniently picking up ordered products from a parcel locker in their neighbourhood – at any time, according to their personal schedule. Whether in the evening, at the weekend or early in the morning on the way to the office, pick-up fits conveniently and individually into everyday life – perfectly in line with today’s needs.
Drop-off and pick-up service regardless of opening hours: Companies that process items (e.g. cleaning, repairing, sewing) can use parcel lockers to offer a drop-off and pick-up service regardless of opening hours. This saves waiting times and is practical when the processing is clearly defined or standardized – flexible and customer-friendly. Rental shops using parcel lockers offer a convenient additional service: customers can conveniently borrow or return equipment outside of opening hours, e.g. after office hours or at weekends. This saves waiting times and is particularly helpful for equipment that is already known.