Australia Post has signed a partnership with an ecommerce technology company used in the UK by global businesses including Amazon and ASOS, as it faces rapid growth in parcel delivery fueled by online shopping.

The partnership with order fulfilment provider Doddle allows shopping to be collected at a location near the consumer rather than being home delivered, will improve customer experience and extend Australia Post’s collection and return locations, the government-owned corporation says.

Australia Post plans to launch the new collection and return network in early 2020.

During checkout, customers will be able to select a location to collect their online order from a map, and will be notified via their phones when their parcels are ready to be picked up.

“(It makes) it easier to choose alternative delivery options and enhances the online shopping experience for consumers, which helps increase overall online shopping volume, and with that drive increased number of parcels moving through our network into our post offices and Licensed Post Offices,” an Australia Post spokesperson told Government News.

Growth in parcel deliveries

It comes as Australia Post experiences increasing demand for parcel delivery driven by online shopping, with 90 million parcels delivered through its post office network last financial year.

Revenue in the parcels and services business was up 7.7 per cent to $4.8 billion from the previous year, driven by strong performance in the domestic parcels business, its annual report shows.

The corporation invested $423.9 million across strategic projects in 2018-19, with the majority of the capital  directed towards equipping its operational network to manage future parcel growth.

An expanded network of pickup locations

Doddle’s technology will also make it easier for consumers to return items, allowing them to register returns online, Australia Post says. This generates a barcode, which they can then use to present in-store to be scanned by post offices or retail partners.

CEO of Doddle Asia-Pacific Justin Dery said Doddle’s technology platform will connect Australia Post and end consumers with online merchants’ checkouts and retail host locations via its app and communications platform.

“The demand for alternative delivery and pick up locations is increasing, and while many consumers still prefer the post office, some online shoppers also want more options for after-hours collections,” he told Government News.

“The Doddle technology enables Australia Post to offer an expanded network of locations for consumers to pick up and drop off their online shopping.”

The new network will allow shoppers to collect and return online shopping from post offices, 24/7 Parcel Lockers supermarkets, pharmacies and department stores around the country.

“This partnership will further extend our extensive network of collect and return locations and help promote Australian eCommerce by making online shopping even easier by building on our existing network,” the Australia Post spokesperson said.

Booktopia and Peters of Kensington will be the first retailers to come on board, with more expected to be added through the year.

Their products will be available from pick-up partners including IGA supermarkets, Priceline pharmacies, Aventus Group shopping centres and selected assets managed by 151 Property Retail, as well as Australia Post post office and parcel lockers.

Australia Post currently has parcel lockers in more than 350 locations, over 4,300 post offices and 15,500 street posting boxes.

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