Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) with over 1200 will provide the missing link between e-commerce platforms in the country and consumers, if properly harnessed, a study has shown.
A new report by Apex Insight, called European Parcel Shop and Locker Networks Market Insight Report 2015, revealed that parcel shops and locker networks are ‘rapidly becoming an essential component of the logistics operations involved in getting internet purchases into the hands of consumers while also remaining a key element of spare parts logistics operations.’
Konga.com had in May this year signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIPOST for the delivery of purchased items within University of Lagos community.
Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek on the revolutionary parcel shop opened by NIPOST on the Campus, Dr. Asuquo Abianga, area postal manager, Lagos Mainland Territory (LMT), Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), said the Service parcel shops are credible platforms for e-commerce operators to leverage.
Part of preparations to boost the operations, LMT recently received four vehicles and twenty motorcycles too delivered from the headquarters.
“At the moment, Konga.com has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIPOST and as at May 2015, we delivered over 700 items to their clients within the shortest time after the launch. Konga sends the items to us and we deliver within the University environment. The gesture shall be replicated in all the tertiary institutions in the country in segment and will lead to even more people buying items through the e-commerce channels,” he said.
European Parcel Shop and Locker Networks Market Insight Report 2015 As for the ‘competitive landscape,’ many of the leading European parcel carriers, in particular those with a focus on consumer deliveries, are now involved in building up their own networks.
In Nigeria, Abianga said, “Currently, e-commerce delivery by NIPOST is happening in Lagos State University (LASU) and University of Lagos (UniLag). From there, we will move to Ogun, Oyo, Osun for commissioning. In July the VC of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi inquired when such platform shall be established on their campus. He read on the pages newspapers about the trend; now both management and students want it. So, we have commenced e-commerce delivery and there is profitability in it. At the moment, Jumia is negotiating with NIPOST, likewise four others. But we have to take it gradually, sign the necessary documents to avoid abuse in the system.
“NIPOST’s platform can accommodate so many business ventures with different ideas. The public will soon realize NIPOST was not meant to deliver just letters”.