PUDO, also known as pick-up and drop-off refers to any type of designated space for customers to take and drop off parcels. Typically, they pick up orders from online stores and dropping off return items. In general, PUDOs locations are either open counters with staff in established establishments, or lockers that are not staffed that can be found anywhere.
HOW DOES PUDOs WORK?
A logistics company can deliver large quantities to an PUDO place where the parcels are then stored. Every shopper is informed when their parcel is ready to take home. When they reach the address, they can utilize a code to unlock the locker, or ask an employee of the store to retrieve their parcel, based on the type of PUDO location.
If a client needs the item returned, they can book the return via the carrier’s or retailer’s digital interface. This generates a unique code to enter into the locker interface. It opens an locker door to drop off their item to be collected by other customers. In the case of those who are staffed PUDO locations, customers might not have to book their return as returns labels can be scann by store staff in the front counter.
WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?
Self-service PUDOs lockers are available everywhere from car parks in supermarkets as well as gym receptions. The trick is to make them accessible to a lot of people. This is why PUDO is very popular in cities. This is further exacerbated by the rising number of urban dwellers who aren’t home at all times to get deliveries from home.
Some of the most notable instances for PUDO network within the UK include Collect+, which has more than a thousand locations, primarily in convenience stores and Asda’s To You service, and Doddle that offers pickup and drop-off counters in Morrisons all over the world.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PUDO?
Pickup and dropoff points provide benefits to customers who make use of them, the companies that established them, and the companies they are situated within.
For consumers, PUDOs networks offer a safe, local and convenient method of obtaining an order without having to be waiting at home. This added security is especially important during the holiday time, when items are likely be gifts and carry added emotional significance for consumers. At Doddle we have seen our collection volume increase in proportion to the amount of orders, which indicates that consumers prefer to opt for the click-and-collect or PUDO choices when buying crucial things.
Shoppers also gain from being able to fit on their collections or get back into their regular routines when they’re shopping for their weekly purchases or on their commute.
Things to Consider PUDO
The companies that host PUDO cabinets or counters gain from the rise in customers coming to pick up and return their parcels. Many of these customers are then able to make purchases in the store, with 70 percent of them doing often. Making the estate of the store is a key target for retailers at a moment where they are in a time when the High Street is under pressure and they are facing stiff competition to draw in customers. Most of the time, these hosts don’t require any cost or licensing, and the price of the additional customers could be as low as the the space needed for lockers or employees’ time spent scanning parcels.
Postal services and carriers who establish PUDO places typically do this in order to take the additional sales of retailers, provide more convenient services to customers, cut costs by consolidating and becoming more viable.
Home delivery is not as efficient when compared to delivery to an PUDO address. Delivery is more efficient to PUDOs because they are more reliable and accessible as well as hundreds of packages can be delivered in one go. Contrary to this home deliveries take more travel time, and every package must be taken to a separate location. This costs more in the cost of fuel and time spent by drivers in addition to an increase in traffic congestion, noise pollution emissions from the atmosphere and greenhouse emissions.
Ending
With all the advantages for retailers and consumers that we discussed above having a large PUDOs networks makes the provider an attractive choice in negotiations. With retailers customers who wish to provide an excellent customer experience. And ease of use without sacrificing the environment or cost. PUDO helps carriers achieve the lofty standards.
