Royal Mail launches nationwide locker network service with Quadient

As parcel locker networks continue to grow in popularity, Royal Mail has jumped on the trend by enabling its customers to send and receive parcels using lockers across the UK.

The post, which has partnered with parcel locker operator Quadient on the project, will launch its first lockers in Coventry, UK, in April, with 1,500 lockers expected by the end of the year. A further 3,000 lockers are planned for the rest of the UK in the future.

According to Royal Mail, the launch of the locker service is an important part of its strategy to “continue to make sending and receiving parcels as convenient as possible by adding more choice”.

The locker partnership adds to the recent announcement that Royal Mail customers will be able to use up to 5,000 Collect+ stores to drop off and collect parcels.

Martin Seidenberg, Royal Mail group chief executive, said, “Our expansion into lockers with 24/7 access will give our customers even greater choice of more than 21,000 locations to drop off parcels. We want to make it as convenient as possible for customers to send and return parcels, fitting it in around their daily routines with a range of options for different lifestyles.

“We are continually finding new ways to improve our services, including more online postage options through our website and app, 24/7 drop off at locations like our parcel postboxes, use of Collect+ stores and Post Offices, and collection from home through Royal Mail Parcel Collect.”

Geoffrey Godet, chief executive officer of Quadient, added, “We are honored by Royal Mail’s trust in our solution, including our award-winning drop box locker, and our business model. We take pride in seeing how quickly our open locker network has grown since we first announced it in the summer of 2022.

“The strategic partnerships in place are a testament to the success of our agnostic approach, addressing the needs of UK carriers and consumers as we serve one of the largest e-commerce markets in the world. Now partnering with the market leader for parcel delivery, we are more confident than ever that customer adoption and usage of our lockers will continue to accelerate, as more locations are installed, and more services are enabled.”