Venipak, an international parcel service, is expanding in the Baltic States. With plans to set up a network of almost 200 contactless parcel terminals in Latvia by the end of the year, the company is close to completing the setting up of the first five innovative terminals in Riga. As the pandemic continues, buyers who use the services of e-businesses will now be able to pick up parcels in a safe, contactless way in just a few seconds.
January 20th, 2021. With the increased online sales due to the coronavirus pandemic, an international parcel service Venipak, operating more than 90 parcel pickup points in Latvia, has announced an innovative solution. The company is nearing completion of the first five contactless parcel terminals in Riga—a solution allowing customers to collect their parcels in as little as 3-5 seconds without even having to touch the terminal screen.
The integration of Venipak’s own QR code system-based terminals into the infrastructure of parcel pickup points in Latvia will help to better manage the volumes of parcels that have grown significantly due to the e-commerce trends: compared to 2019, the company has delivered 25 % more parcels during the last year alone in Latvia. In the meantime, this will give consumers more options in choosing a convenient and safe method of parcel delivery.
“The pandemic has undoubtedly changed consumer habits—up to 90 % of parcels are preferred to be delivered to parcel terminals, e-commerce businesses report. This fact alone has been a strong motive to start our own network of contactless terminals,” said Dace Spandega, Head of Sales at Venipak Latvia. “The expansion in Latvia marks a move towards our main corporate goal of this year—to create an easy-to-use, convenient-to-access and safe network of parcel pickup points throughout the whole country, striving to be everywhere our customers are.”
The contactless parcel terminals will resolve the issue of safety and reduce the lines of customers waiting to pick up their parcels. After the parcel has reached the terminal, the buyer will receive an SMS with the link to the QR code. To pick up the parcel, the customer will simply need to hold the code in front of the camera and the door will open instantaneously. This innovation means there is no touching of the terminal screen and it will also shorten the pickup time from 30–45 to just 3–5 seconds.
This contactless terminal network is the first of its type in the Baltic States. In December, Venipak installed the terminals controlled by the QR code system in the largest cities of Lithuania. Justas Šablinskas, General Manager at Venipak, said that the company had a network of 60 terminals 11 years ago in Lithuania; however, at that time, this step was premature—consumers were not ready for this innovation and thus the parcel terminals were withdrawn.
“We like to add that the terminal network is like a second comeback to the Baltic market. We took the changing needs of e-commerce businesses and their buyers into account and ensured that the most up-to-date innovations relevant for the market should be installed for the provision of this service. We are ready for active expansion of parcel pickup points in all Baltic States and for development of safe and technologically progressive services for an even broader circle of consumers,” Mr Šablinskas said.
Besides the contactless terminals being set up, Venipak’s infrastructure in Latvia comprises more than 90 pickup points in the shops of the company’s partners.
By the end of 2021, Venipak plans to set up about 200 contactless terminals in the main cities of Latvia and, in addition, to expand the network of pickup points to 500. The company also plans to continue expanding in Estonia. Venipak intends to manage a network of almost 2,000 terminals and pickup points and to become one of the largest parcel pickup networks in the Baltics within the next few years. Venipak plans to invest more than EUR 6 million in this infrastructure.
The updated map of Venipak’s terminals and pickup points is available on the company’s website.
About Venipak Group
Founded in 2004, international company Venipak provides parcel delivery, transport and logistics services all over the world. Due to continuous investments in technology and innovations, the company is also able to offer also offer smart management of business logistics processes, from parcel collection to delivery to recipients. Seeking to ensure increasing customer reachability, the company is rapidly expanding its parcel pickup network that now comprises almost 600 delivery points in the Baltic States. With annual revenues of up to EUR 40 million, the company also operates in Poland, Germany, USA, and China.
