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InPost & The Automated Parcel Machine (APM) Industry

Co-Founder and Group CEO at alfred24

inpractise.com/articles/inpost-and-the-automated-parcel-machine-apm-industry

InPost

Why is this company interesting?

InPost owns and operates the largest network of APMs in Poland. APMs are autonomous parcel lockers that allow for the delivery and receipt of packages.

To build an APM network, securing both a dense network of attractive locations and a network of merchants is critical. There are strategic places that only allow for one APM and also places that are less dense and one APM is enough. Operating at high capacity utilization is also critical to achieve cost-efficiency.

InPost has 98% of total APMs in Poland, more than 40% of total Polish B2C parcel volumes, 7mn+ mobile app users and 40k+ merchants, which creates strong scale advantages and network effects.  However, half of their revenues come from one single merchant, Allegro, which is the leading ecommerce site in the country. Allegro has started building their own APM network, which is perceived by the market as a major risk. A key question is whether Allegro gain enough share to impact InPost’s competitive position.

Aside from Poland, InPost is also building APM networks in UK, France and Italy.

APMs are gaining share vs To-door delivery, a trend that is likely structural as a result of the following:

  • Cost-efficiency: last-mile delivery to APMs is 25% cheaper than to-door. One driver can deliver 800 parcels in an 8 hour shift vs 100 parcels for best in-class couriers, delivery can be done at night and there are no failed deliveries. If labour and logistic costs continue to increase, APMs cost advantage will only grow.
  • ESG tailwind: delivery to APMs is more environmentally friendly than traditional delivery services and governments, consumers and merchants are supporting alternatives to reduce emissions.
  • Consumer preferences: in markets where APM networks have achieved critical density consumers actually prefer APM delivery, even at the same cost, because of flexibility and convenience. In Europe, the most dense countries in terms of lockers per capita are the Nordics and Poland and consumers’ NPS scores are above regular courier services.
  • Growing C2X volumes: because of e-commerce returns and re-commerce trends (second hand). APM networks are better suited for these volumes.

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Published on December 3, 2021

Executive Bio

Christian Secci

Co-Founder and Group CEO at alfred24

This executive has been in the self-service delivery logistics & software business for 8+ years. He spent two years with InPost 2013-15 after which he moved on to set up a competitor business in Asia which has expanded internationally. He has skin in the game in understanding the market today, with direct experience in Asia (China + SEA), Australia, Europe and Brazil.Read more

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