The market speaks for itself: in 2025, eCommerce operators’ satisfaction with available services will not reach high levels in any area, and logistics will remain one of the weakest points. In fact, only 5% of online retailers say they are ‘completely satisfied’ with logistics and shipping services.
The new report ‘I partner delle aziende eCommerce 2025‘ (The partners of eCommerce companies 2025) by Casaleggio Associati thus marks a turning point: competitive advantage shifts to the ability to reduce last-mile costs and offer customers alternative options to home delivery, such as lockers and collection points.
In this scenario, GEL Proximity has been selected as a strategic partner for e-commerce companies in the “Logistics and Shipping Services” category, thanks to its platform that connects over 500,000 lockers and collection points across Europe.
Here we take a closer look at the most innovative trends highlighted in the report, with a specific focus on the opportunities that the Out Of Home model opens up for merchants, carriers and logistics operators.
Logistics as a strategic lever for e-commerce
For digital merchants, logistics is no longer just an operational issue. Delays, errors or inefficiently managed returns translate into high costs, customer loss and reputational damage. At the same time, a well-designed delivery system can become a driver of growth, strengthening customer loyalty and improving conversion rates.
The report “The partners of eCommerce companies 2025”, as we mentioned at the beginning, highlights how logistics services are perceived by operators as a weak point, but also as an area with ample investment opportunities. The data speaks for itself: in the next 12 months, 41% of eCommerce managers plan to allocate new resources to logistics and shipping. Specifically, 34% expect new investments, while 7% expect high investments.
However, modern logistics can no longer be considered merely as a cost to be optimised. It is an asset that directly affects the customer journey: from transparency in timing to real-time tracking and the ability to choose the most convenient delivery method. In this context, innovations such as collection points and lockers are radically changing market expectations.
Pick-up points and lockers: the future of the last mile
One of the most obvious trends emerging from the report “The partners of eCommerce companies 2025” is the rise of Pick-up Point and Locker networks. According to the data reported, in 2025 there will already be over 60,000 pick-up points in operation in Italy, while in Europe there will be hundreds of thousands.
The logic is simple but disruptive: instead of multiplying home delivery attempts, which are often unsuccessful, parcels are concentrated in nearby points that are accessible 24/7.
The advantage is twofold: for merchants, it means reducing last-mile costs and reducing returns due to failed deliveries; for end customers, it means maximum flexibility in managing pick-ups and the ability to return products easily, quickly and flexibly according to their needs.
From Home Delivery to Out-of-Home Delivery
The Out-of-Home delivery model is now considered the natural evolution of home delivery. Automated lockers and Pick-up/Drop-off Points (PUDOs) are no longer a niche, but a widespread infrastructure that responds to new consumer habits.
As also highlighted in the report ‘I partner delle aziende eCommerce 2025’ (The partners of e-commerce companies 2025), this change has also been accelerated by external factors, including the push towards sustainability by the younger generations, pressure on logistics costs and the entry into the sector of major global players such as Amazon Shipping.
As a result, companies that are able to integrate Out Of Home networks into their systems will have a competitive advantage in terms of both economics and customer satisfaction.
GEL Proximity: technology at the service of integration
In Casaleggio Associati’s 2025 report, GEL Proximity was selected as a strategic partner for logistics and shipping services, thanks to our role as a technology enabler in the Parcel Locker segment.
Today, our platform provides over 500,000 PUDOs and lockers in Italy and Europe, confirming its position as the most extensive proximity network for deliveries and returns. This infrastructure is not the result of the construction of a single proprietary network, but rather the intelligent aggregation of multiple operators: a single access point to quickly activate different and complementary networks.
Our real strength, however, is not just in numbers. It is in technology. Thanks to a set of scalable APIs, compatible with the main eCommerce platforms, the solution enables rapid onboarding and centralised management of logistics operations. In a fragmented market, where each new integration can translate into weeks of work and extra costs, the ‘universal connector’ function becomes an immediate competitive advantage.
Opportunities for eCommerce, carriers and logistics operators
For eCommerce, integrating Out Of Home services means responding to three key needs: cost reduction, customer loyalty and sustainability. A widespread network of Lockers and Collection Points allows seasonal peaks (such as Black Friday or the Christmas period) to be absorbed, reducing the risk of delays and improving the ability to scale quickly.
For carriers, on the other hand, Out Of Home represents an opportunity to differentiate their offering and provide premium services to merchants. Integrating lockers and collection points allows for better management of congested urban areas and offers sustainable alternatives to home delivery.
Finally, logistics operators find in GEL Proximity an ally to expand their services without having to enter into individual agreements with hundreds of networks. The platform functions as a technological hub that makes delivery and return models scalable, increasing the competitiveness of companies on the European market.
Out Of Home, the future of logistics
Casaleggio Associati’s report ‘I partner delle aziende eCommerce 2025’ (The partners of e-commerce companies 2025) therefore paints a picture of a sector undergoing radical transformation. Logistics and shipping, while still a critical issue for many operators, represent the most fertile ground for innovation and differentiation. It is in this context that Out Of Home delivery services are establishing themselves as the most concrete solution for combining efficiency, sustainability and customer experience.
GEL Proximity’s presence in the report is not only an important recognition, but also confirmation of our role as a technological enabler of a new logistics standard.
Would you like to integrate GEL Proximity’s network of over 500,000 collection points and lockers into your e-commerce business? Contact us now and find out how to grow your business.
