February 2002

ByBox, the company developing an unattended delivery solution based on electronically-controlled locker "banks", is working with Baker Rose, the property specialist, to develop a network of such locker banks around the country. The two companies aim to have up to 200 active locations by the end of this year.

Baker Rose aims to use its property industry expertise to identify host locations for ByBox locker banks. It will also help develop commercial relationships with parcel carriers and the logistics industry, and introduce additional funding to speed up the roll-out of the network.

Baker Rose executive Peter Hunt told e.logistics Magazine: "Two years ago we did our own research into unattended delivery solutions, but concluded that it was then too early to develop the concept. However, that exercise means we already know the market, and now see real opportunities opening up."

 

ByBox is one of five suppliers chosen by Consignia for trials of unattended delivery solutions, and has set up working locker banks in Manchester, Milton Keynes and Oxford, as well as one serving the estate where it is based in Wantage. The trial is expected to be extended in due course to cover a more densely-populated area.

Meanwhile, ByBox director Stuart Miller says the company aims to roll out its own network independently of that exercise. "In the short term, the business-to-business sector is likely to provide the biggest growth potential," he says. In pursuit of such opportunities, the company is now specifically targeting the field service market. But Peter Hunt adds: "In the long run, the B2C sector is the big prize."

Payment models vary. Carriers can rent a nominal quantity of "doors", or alternatively hosts such as business estates or individual companies can rent entire locker banks. In either case, lessees can "sub-let" access to other nominated users. But outright purchase is ruled out.

ByBox makes strong play of the fact that its solution requires no integration with users' IT systems. It also has the advantage of using proven locker hardware and control software developed over many years by French manufacturer Logibag, which has 4,000 left-luggage lockers in the UK alone. ByBox has bought out the intellectual rights to the system, and could eventually take full control of the company itself.

The precise working relationship between ByBox and Baker Rose has not been revealed, but Baker Rose says its normal approach is to seek recompense through a combination of equity and fees.