Alternative delivery models needed to ease capacity by Mark Garritt, Managing Director ByBox

Traditional parcels carriers risk damaging service levels to B2B clients in their quest to make home deliveries profitable, according to a new report on the express parcels market.

Frank Proud, the author of a new report by Apex Insight – "UK Express Parcels: Market Insight Report 2013" – says that parcel operators have been striving to develop a model to serve home deliveries profitably "without damaging their overall economics and impacting service levels for premium business-to-business customers".

This very real danger – a second-class service for B2B deliveries – could be averted if companies choose alternative delivery models, such as that offered by award-winning ByBox.

ByBox delivers mission-critical parcels pre-8am to field-based engineers across the UK and Europe. ByBox’ distribution network operates 24/7/365 and delivers to locker locations around the UK and Europe. ByBox has the highest first time delivery success rate (pre 8am) in the industry at 99.77%. The result is that companies can maintain high service levels.

By using ByBox, businesses get secure, guaranteed deliveries. Many companies love the fact engineers are able to pick up parts at the beginning of the day, ending the inevitable wait for a parcel delivery or travel to a depot.

ByBox Managing Director Mark Garritt highlights the capacity problem and the consequences for business. "The rise in internet shopping is putting a strain on the UK’s delivery system," he says. "After all, if there are more parcels and less capacity, something has to give, and that something will be reliable, timely deliveries. And many businesses cannot afford to accept a second-best service. That is why they are turning to alternatives such as in-night, pre-8am delivery to locker networks. They know the parts will be there in the morning for an engineer to collect before the start of a day’s work."

The secure locker model is one that works well for retailers and online sellers too. ByBox is changing the face of online shopping by helping retailers give their customers simple, easy delivery – an advantage over competitors who fail to address this problem. Now, online customers no longer need to wait in for their internet orders. They can collect them from one of over 500 conveniently located lockers- in railway stations, supermarkets and petrol stations.

For example, Hermes recently teamed up with ByBox to launch a new locker service for its myhermes.co.uk consumer delivery solution. The Parcel Locker service will allow customers to drop their parcels in the lockers at a time and place that suits them. The new service offers added convenience, flexibility and choice to myHermes customers wanting to send a parcel.

"Our solution appeals to forward-thinking companies who want to offer their customers alternative delivery options." adds Garritt.