Delhi-based start-up Smartbox, which provides ATM-like terminals for online shoppers to pick-up their ordered products, will soon start its operations in cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Pune as it looks to expand its footprint in the country.
The company, which currently has Paytm and Oriflame as clients, has an installed base of about 70 automated parcel-delivery terminals in Delhi-NCR. It is targeting 1,000 such terminals across the country by March 2018.
In talks with Amazon
The company is also in talks with e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart, said Amit Sawhney, CEO, Smartbox Ecommerce Solutions. Amazon runs a similar service is the U.S. called Amazon Lockers.
Mr. Sawhney said a delivery boy is successful in delivering only 25-30 parcels daily out of 40-45 attempts.
“With our automated parcel terminals, delivery boys can make up to 120 deliveries a day, increasing productivity and cutting costs. Logistics comprise nearly 75% of an e-commerce firm’s cost. With our solution, these costs can be reduced by about 25%.” This also brings down the cost of re-delivering when customers are not present when the parcel is delivered the first time.
While shopping online, if a customer selects the option of collecting parcels from Smartbox automated terminal, they are given an OTP using which they can collect their orders.
There is also an option to pay digitally once the order is collected.
In case the customer wants to return or exchange the products that can also be done using the automated terminal, saving e-commerce companies costs incurred on return logistics. Mr. Sawhney added the company is currently scouting for more locations to install the solution.
