Spring 2009

Drop & Collect, the high street-based returns handling network trailed by Home Delivery Network late last year, is likely to emerge by the middle of this year as a fully-fledged national home delivery drop-off and pickup network, handling outbound consignments as well as returns. It is also likely to serve as a self-contained despatch and delivery network for users such as eBay sellers.

These are among details that emerged as HDNL announced the formation of a multi-million pound joint venture with PayPoint to run the system. PayPoint has a network of 21,000 high street outlets where consumers can pay utility and similar bills, and Drop & Collect will use over 1,000 selected locations for its new service.

Both companies say they will invest up to £4 million in the project, which suggests the creation of a substantial pick-up point system on a scale not seen before in the UK – except, perhaps, in the form of Royal Mail's Local Collect service. Outlets will be open seven days a week and will stay open until late, immediately giving them two advantages over the present Local Collect service.

Many PayPoint outlets are in ideal locations, in the middle of busy high streets already visited regularly by online shoppers. The system will take advantage of barcode scanning and similar technologies to provide proactive consignment tracking and alerting.

 

Initially the only customer is HDNL's sister-company Shop Direct, but following a May launch, the system is expected to be opened to all retailers. Client companies will be required to use HDNL as the carrier for the service.

The managing director is Walter Blackwood, well known in home delivery circles as the former head of HDNL itself. He told F&E: 'The aim is to put the network at the core of the community, within easy reach of users.'