Last-mile logistics represents one of the most complex and costly challenges for eCommerce, logistics operators and carriers. Changing consumer habits, coupled with the increase in online shopping, require the search for alternatives to the ‘to-door’ delivery model, i.e. home delivery. It is in this context that Locker and Pick-up Points are emerging as key tools to improve logistics efficiency, reduce operational costs and offer a more flexible and sustainable delivery experience.
According to the report ‘Out of Home Delivery Handbook 2025’ published by Last Mile Experts, Out of Home solutions represent not only a technological opportunity, but a real strategic breakthrough for eCommerce logistics, especially in high-density markets such as Italy.
In this article you will find a practical and comprehensive guide to optimising deliveries and scaling your eCommerce business. Let’s get started!
Lockers and Pick-up Points: what they are and why they are increasingly popular
Definition and differences
Lockers are automated lockers generally installed in public places, accessible 24/7, where customers can collect (or return) their orders independently, using a code received via SMS or app.
Pick-up Points, on the other hand, are in fact a service offered by existing businesses, such as bars, tobacconists, supermarkets or petrol stations, which enable the delivery and collection of parcels during opening hours.
These solutions are already spreading rapidly throughout Europe: suffice it to say that in Poland, the InPost Paczkomaty service is used by 81% of online shoppers, far surpassing home delivery. In general, in Northern Europe, the usage rate of OOH solutions exceeds 80% for B2C shipments.
And in Italy? The number of deliveries via Locker and Pick-up Points is lower, but growing steadily and rapidly. Currently, the number of deliveries via Locker and Pick-up Points is 22.5 per cent.
Why Lockers and Pick-up Points are an Effective Response to New Needs
As eShoppers’ expectations in terms of speed, flexibility and sustainability increase, Locker and Pick-up Points allow you to offer your customers a delivery experience more in line with their daily lives and habits.
Thanks to Out Of Home deliveries, in fact, your customers can choose where and when to pick up their online orders, according to their needs and without the limitation of having to be at home at the time of delivery or collection. These solutions are ideal for those who work outside the home all day, or simply prefer to avoid waiting for couriers.
Benefits for merchants and logistics operators
Reducing last mile costs
The last mile is the most expensive – and polluting – part of the entire delivery process, accounting for over 50% of the total cost of a shipment.
Here is how Out Of Home delivery solutions can concretely help you reduce your shipping costs.
OOH solutions make it possible to centralise deliveries, reducing the number of stops and kilometres travelled by couriers. In other words, the courier can deliver all parcels at a single Locker or Pick-up Point, without having to travel to dozens of different addresses, often with the risk of not finding the recipient of the parcel at home and, therefore, a non-delivery. Deliveries at Locker and Pick-up Points can be up to 1,300 parcels per day per courier, compared to the 150-200 parcels that can be delivered daily by home delivery.
In this way, costs for last-mile delivery are greatly reduced, and the entire process made more efficient.
Improved customer experience and loyalty
Out-of-home delivery solutions, precisely because of their flexibility and convenience, are increasingly appreciated by consumers.
Offering alternative delivery options to traditional home delivery means reducing delays and minimising failed delivery attempts, all of which have a positive impact on customer satisfaction and help you retain your customers.
In short, offering this type of solution today is no longer just an option, but an essential service for consumers.
Positive environmental impact
Finally, we cannot fail to mention the issue of environmental sustainability.
In fact, OOH solutions contribute to more sustainable logistics, an essential ingredient of a service capable of satisfying increasingly sustainability-conscious customers.
By reducing the number of stops and optimising routes, CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced. According to a study conducted in 2024 by Kantar for InPost, 82% of consumers consider – and not wrongly – Lockers to be the most eco-friendly mode of delivery. A figure that highlights the importance of a green positioning for merchants and retailers.
How to integrate Locker and PUDO into your logistics network
After having analysed what they are, how they work and what the benefits of Locker and Pick-up Points are, it only remains for us to understand how to easily integrate them into our own online store. Read on because there is good news.
Infrastructure and technology
In order to adopt an effective OOH network, a smooth integration between the merchant’s or courier’s logistics management system and the network of Pick-up Points is first of all essential.
This is done via APIs, real-time tracking systems and Interactive Delivery Management (IDM) software.
GEL Proximity, in this sense, offers tools and expertise for efficient and scalable integration. Want to know more? Visit our integration page.
Choice of locations and network model
A network of Lockers and Pick-up Points must be widespread and accessible. It matters where they are located, not just how many there are. We have also here discussed this in more detail .
According to The Ultimate Out-of-Home Delivery Handbook by Last Mile Experts, the minimum recommended density is one point per 10,000 inhabitants, but to ensure an optimal customer experience it is preferable to increase the density in urban centres and transit hubs.
The combination of Locker and Collection Points is, of course, the one that allows the greatest flexibility and scalability.
With GEL Proximity you can immediately integrate your online store with over 300,000 Pick-up Points and Lockers already active throughout Europe. Find out more about our network.
Strategic Collaborations
Entering into partnerships with large retailers, distribution chains or petrol stations is a key lever for accelerating the spread of Pick-up Points and Lockers. These partnerships make it possible to optimise territorial coverage, contain logistics costs and guarantee a minimum flow of traffic to the delivery points, a crucial element for the sustainability of the entire system.
For merchants and logistics operators, this is a real opportunity to expand rapidly without having to make large upfront investments in infrastructure.
GEL Proximity aggregates and centrally manages a large network of Pick-up Points and Lockers, facilitating integration between merchants, couriers and proximity points. Find out more here.
Critical issues and solutions
As we have seen, Out Of Home deliveries are increasingly appreciated and demanded by consumers. However, in some markets their adoption still has great potential for growth.
In order for Out of Home deliveries to reach their maximum efficiency potential, it is therefore good to be aware of certain critical issues, and to know how to solve them.
Consumer acceptance
In some markets, the habit of home delivery is still prevalent.
The key to increased adoption of Out-of-Home solutions therefore lies in communication: highlighting the advantages in terms of price, sustainability and flexibility can incentivise the user’s choice of OOH.
In this, merchants play a key role, don’t forget that!
Safety and maintenance
Locker security is often a concern for consumers, but data indicate that theft and vandalism are rare.
Regular maintenance and the use of durable materials, combined with surveillance and alarm systems, make the Lockers safe and reliable even in the most hazardous areas.
Integration with existing systems
The full integration of Lockers and Pick-up Points into the supply chain requires planning and IT skills.
Technology partners such as GEL Proximity can support merchants and logistics operators in implementing scalable and customised solutions, avoiding costly mistakes in the setup phase. This is why it is important to rely on the right partners to get started on the right foot!
With a strategic approach, data in hand and competent partners, it is possible to successfully integrate these solutions and generate value along the entire logistics chain.
What are you waiting for? Integrate over 300,000 Lockers and Pick-up Points now!
