Package Lockers Surge in Popularity Across Central Europe

Convenience and cost drive consumers to opt for out-of-home delivery.

Across Central Europe, consumers are increasingly favoring delivery options beyond their homes. Package lockers and pickup points provide a convenient and often cheaper alternative for receiving online purchases. This trend is reshaping the e-commerce landscape in countries like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland.

Rising Preference for Locker Delivery

Data indicates a significant percentage of customers in the region now prefer deliveries outside their homes. In Slovakia, 72% of customers choose this option, while in Hungary and Poland, the figures stand at 64% and 67%, respectively.

According to Ondřej Luštinec, a spokesperson for Packeta, one of the major players in the Czech parcel locker and delivery point sector, “People are increasingly choosing the possibility of picking up the shipment when it suits them.”

Cost-Effectiveness

Not only is delivery outside the home more practical, but it’s also easier on the wallet. According to Packeta data, delivery to a home address is, on average, 44% more expensive than delivery to a dispensing point or locker, considering the 188 largest e-shops.

Popular Purchases

Czechs frequently purchase items such as electronics, clothing, household equipment, cosmetics, and shoes via online retailers. These goods are well-suited for delivery to parcel lockers, adding to the convenience factor.

Regulation and Production

The expansion of dispensing boxes continues throughout the Czech Republic. Cities like Prague and Olomouc are developing regulations for box placement to ensure they don’t obstruct pedestrians or disrupt public spaces. Recently, there was an incident in Hradec Králové where boxes were inappropriately installed near a sculpture.

Companies like OX POINT from Pelhřimov and BlockBox from Hranice in the Přerov region are among the domestic manufacturers of these dispensing boxes in the Czech Republic.

Evolving Delivery Landscape

The rise of parcel lockers reflects a broader trend toward greater convenience and efficiency in e-commerce logistics. As of 2023, there were over 15,000 locker locations in the United States alone, demonstrating a similar trend of growing adoption (Statista).