2021-10-12
Parcel lockers have become a familiar and common way of delivering various products, and now the success story of a new innovation, grocery lockers, has begun in Europe. The temperature in them is controlled, and the seller needn’t worry about the quality of the food, even if the buyer is late with the pick-up. At the same time, the buyer doesn’t have to go to the shops, or plan for a visit from the courier.
At RIGA COMM, on 14 and 15 October, the retail business tech company StrongPoint will present a solution that already enjoys recognition abroad, and is still something new for the Baltics: mobile grocery lockers.
Quick and easy
In our hectic day-to-day lives today, there isn’t always time to wait for the food courier to deliver the products we order, which creates the need for a grocery locker that allows the customer to pick up their order quickly and at a time they find convenient, such as going home from work, school or the gym. The procedure only takes a minute: the customer enters the code received in a text message, picks up their products and goes about their business. This is also a safe way to receive goods in the context of the pandemic: no direct contact between the seller or courier and the customer takes place.
Alternative to shops
The speed of the service is a major advantage for both the client and the retailer. The courier needn’t travel long from one customer to the other, because all orders are left at the same location. In turn, the customer can get their order faster. Grocery lockers can be installed both inside and outside shops, near shops, at petrol stations, at bus and train stations, at business centres etc. In less populated areas, they can even serve as a replacement for a shop.
Temperature variations
This special grocery locker has three temperature zones: one with ambient temperature, intended for any product; one with low temperature for fresh foods, such as meat, fish, dairy products, and one with a freezing temperature for ice cream, frozen meat, seafood, vegetables etc.
Very popular in the Nordics
Almost 20 of such grocery lockers are available in Estonia, both in Tallinn and in sparsely populated areas. In Lithuania, Barbora has set up three grocery lockers in Vilnius, one near a store, and two at petrol stations. This solution is especially popular in Sweden, where it came out a few years ago, with their number now reaching almost 200. Private individuals and businesses in Norway and other European countries also actively use this solution.
Easily moved based on demand
The mobile grocery locker offered by StrongPoint in the Baltics is easy to move. In addition to the functions of a regular grocery locker, it can be moved to another location at any time, and it does not require a special building permit. Putting one into operation only takes power and an internet connection. Retailers can try grocery lockers in different locations and see where this solution works best, where the demand and the number of orders are the highest.
The use of mobile grocery lockers can also vary based on the season. For example, in summer, they can be set up in summer house areas, on the seaside and in other frequently visited locations, while in winter the grocery lockers can be moved to another place with a lot of people. StrongPoint’s experience already shows a few examples of mobile grocery lockers being set up in ports and mountainous areas the Nordics.
Try a grocery locker in Ķīpsala!
Mobile grocery lockers are yet to be introduced in the Baltics; however, visitors of RIGA COMM 2021 will enjoy the opportunity of trying a mobile grocery locker themselves and maybe even finding something nice inside it!
Business tech fair and conferences
As previously reported, the annual business and IT industry event RIGA COMM will take place on 14 and 15 October: its guests will find out more about the latest in business development technologies and tools. Developers and providers of company resource management, document management, human resources management and security systems, providers of cloud services, online and digital marketing services, developers of web solutions and mobile apps, ICT product manufacturers will come to Ķīpsala to offer standardised and custom solutions for companies of various sizes working in different fields, as well as for municipal institutions and organisations, in order to boost their operating efficiency.
RIGA COMM 2021 will take place on an in-person basis, and will be open to those who have been vaccinated, or have recovered from COVID-19
Only those with an EU-valid digital COVID-19 certificate, a personal identification document and a ticket to the fair will be admitted to RIGA COMM 2021. More information about the rules of attendance.
The BT 1 International Exhibition Company organises the event, in conjunction with its partners: Cognizant, Intelligent Machines Riga, Riga TechGirls, SmartHR Latvija, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mailigen by Pipedrive, Promoty, Finance Latvia Association, A.W.Olsen & Partners, and others.
Time and venue:
International Exhibition Centre in Ķīpsala (at Ķīpsalas iela 8 in Riga)
14 October, 10:00–17:00
15 October, 10:00–17:00
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