Cities are growing and traffic flows are increasing
Globally, there is a growing trend of urbanisation. The world population is growing, and people are increasingly moving to (sub)urban areas. According to the UN and the World Bank Group, nearly 70 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2050, up from about 56 percent today. The forecast is that the Netherlands will have 18.9 million inhabitants by 2035, with nearly 70 percent of the national growth expected to occur in the largest municipalities.
An increase in urbanized areas will lead to:
Increased transportation movements: More residents mean increased transportation movements and pressure on existing infrastructures.
Pressure on access to public spaces: With more residents in (sub)urban areas, the pressure on public spaces increases.
Increased air pollution: More people mean more traffic, leading to more air pollution.
Urbanisation requires rethinking traffic flows
With a growing world population, a shortage of nearly one million homes in the Netherlands, and considering climate change and the Paris Agreement, we face the challenge of making urbanization sustainable and future-proof. Cities must find smart solutions to keep public spaces accessible and liveable for everyone. The pressure on existing infrastructures is increasing, while traffic congestion must be reduced, and air quality improved. Improving the liveability and quality of life for residents is also becoming increasingly important, not to mention the role climate change will play.
Sustainable urbanisation: Improving city logistics by rethinking parcel flows
The quality of life for residents and sustainability should be priorities in new real estate development projects and the redesign of existing spaces in densely populated areas. This includes not only the physical infrastructure but also social cohesion and accessibility to facilities.
As the number of residents in a neighbourhood grows, so does the number of parcel deliveries. An innovative solution that improves both mobility and sustainability is the placement of centrally located public parcel lockers. The public parcel point is gaining ground, but how does such a point contribute to improving city logistics?
The Public Parcel Point: Open vs. closed networks
There is a trend of placing public parcel points. Some parcel walls are in public spaces like supermarkets, and others, for example, outside a petrol station. These public parcel points can be roughly divided into two types:
Parcel points with a closed network
Parcel points with a (more) open network
1. Parcel points with a closed network
Closed network parcel lockers are linked to one provider, such as the DHL parcel locker or PostNL parcel locker. The advantage is that delivery can be more efficient. The provider can monitor the exact usage. The couriers have fewer stops, reducing transportation movements.
The downside is that the reduction in transportation movements is almost negligible because each provider continues to operate independently. Picking up parcels adds transportation movements compared to home delivery, especially since you must go to a different parcel locker for each provider. And, of course, we don't want ten parcel points from different providers next to each other.
2. Parcel Points with a (Partially) Open Network
Open network parcel points are accessible to various providers. Different courier services deliver their parcels to the same point, such as ViaTim or De Buren, where you can receive parcels from DHL, UPS, and DPD. The advantage is a significant reduction in transportation movements since multiple couriers can use the same parcel wall. This leads to fewer stops and more efficient delivery, reducing the pressure on neighbourhoods by having fewer home deliveries.
However, the downside of these open network parcel points is that they are only semi-open. Not all courier services can or will use the same pickup locations, so you must still deal with different locations as a consumer. Moreover, parcels are not consolidated, meaning that for an order from three different providers, you might use three lockers, while your bottle of shampoo, hairdryer, and new headphones could have easily fit into one locker. There is still room for efficiency improvement here. Although transportation movements are more directed to specific parcel lockers, different courier services continue to drive to these parcel points. This offers a better alternative but is still not a truly sustainable solution for the last mile of parcel delivery.
Advantages of combining Open and Closed Networks with MyPup
MyPup, My Pick Up Point, combines the advantages of an open and closed network. MyPup lockers are linked to one provider, but they offer the unique possibility to receive, return, and send parcels from all providers. This means that all parcels, regardless of the courier, are delivered to the same MyPup lockers, allowing you to pick up all your parcels from different providers at the same time and place. Parcels that fit into one locker are consolidated, and you receive only one notification that you can pick up your shampoo, hairdryer, and headphones from locker X. A kind of open network plus.
With our unique software, usage is optimally monitored, and the lockers are used efficiently. Only one trip per day to the parcel bank is needed, and this is done 100% emission-free. This drastically reduces the number of trips, leading to a significant reduction in traffic movements and emissions.
Since residents can also return or send parcels from the lockers, trips are also saved on that side as well. MyPup's statement is clear: to truly rethink transportation flows, flows must be consolidated, and parcels must be bundled.
MyPup's approach ensures that 9 out of 10 trips are saved, which is not only more efficient but also contributes to more sustainable urban logistics. This solution eliminates the need for multiple parcel lockers from different providers, reducing the pressure on existing infrastructures.
MyPup in the Dichterswijk in Utrecht
During the pilot in Utrecht, a public MyPup Pick Up Point was placed in the Dichterswijk. This is a pilot in collaboration with the Municipality of Utrecht, where the parcel wall is in an enclosed but accessible space for residents. Due to the central location of the parcel point, more than 95% of users come on foot or by bike, or by car on their way from work to home (or vice versa).
The fact that residents in the Dichterswijk started a petition on July 26 to keep the MyPup neighbourhood parcel point shows that there is a growing need for efficient, sustainable, and convenient parcel delivery solutions. Especially when it comes to reducing traffic congestion and improving the liveability of neighbourhoods and (sub)urban areas.
The Car-Free neighbourhood of the future
Looking at solutions for developing sustainable city logistics, good steps are being taken, but there is still room for improvement, especially in the last mile. MyPup's solution is an example of an integrated approach that improves both the efficiency and sustainability of parcel delivery in urban areas by first consolidating, or bundling, all parcels in a hub. With only one trip per day to the public parcel point 2.0, the neighbourhood is greatly relieved.
MyPup's innovative solution promotes sustainability, improves mobility, and can serve as an example for sustainable urbanization and improvement in city logistics in the liveable and preferably car-free neighbourhood of the future.
Curious about the MyPup solution in neighbourhoods? Read the customer case of the pilot in Utrecht, visit our website, or request our information pack!