Royal Mail parcel pick-up scheme collects one million parcels in just five months

Royal Mail says it has successfully collected one million parcels in just five months via its parcel pick-up scheme, which was rolled out in October 2020. Parcel Collect affords UK online retailers and consumers the option to send or return goods without having to leave the house.

Collections, which can be up to five parcels at a time, are carried out Monday to Saturday and can be booked online or via the Royal Mail app. This can be done up to five days in advance or as late as 11.59pm the night before, for 72p per item or 60p for prepaid items.

Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, says: “The introduction of Parcel Collect has been incredibly successful, with one million parcels a fantastic milestone to reach in just five months. Parcel Collect is part of our commitment to continuously make our services more convenient for customers and makes it easier to use Royal Mail’s services than ever before.

“We understand the important role we play in keeping the UK connected at this challenging time. Our posties have always been a vital part of every community and that has never been truer than over the last year. Everyone at Royal Mail is proud to help keep the country safe and connected.”

Heritage and lifestyle brand, Barbour, is also working to offer flexible delivery options to its customers. Today, the retailer, which is ranked Top500 in RXUK Top500 research, announced its partnership with delivery management software provider Metapack which will lead its online shipping and returns operations.

By employing Metapack’s Delivery Manager, Barbour will have access to over 400 carriers and 4,900 delivery services. The company says by extending delivery options and improving the returns process, it hopes to to further optimise its distribution processes and future proof its business as it continues to scale and grow.

Gareth Dixon, group financial controller at Barbour, adds: “Having the correct technology in place is key for us as we continue to evolve our brand, ecommerce offering and fulfil on our delivery promise to our customers.

“By leveraging Metapack’s technology not only do we have a single gateway to different carriers and flexible services, we’re also able to automate key shipping process and reduce the reliance on our IT resources. Most importantly, we’re able to strengthen the buying experience for our consumers at every stage in their online journey – from checkout to delivery and even returns.”