Post Office has partnered with DHL Express so parcels can be delivered directly to its branches for consumers to collect.
The click & collect service will be trialled at Post Offices in Northern Ireland before rolling out to more than 1,000 branches across the UK from the start of next year.
Customers making a purchase online will have the option to choose their local Post Office as the collection point, whereby DHL will deliver parcels directly to the Post Office and the postmaster will process customer collections at the counter.
The Post Office said its partnership with DHL would be better for the environment than vans having to make multiple stops to drop off parcels. It would also encourage people to return to their local high street on foot.
“DHL is a household name with global reach,” said Post Office CEO Nick Read. “They recognise the value our postmasters bring to their customers with their expert knowledge of the parcel market and the long hours their branches are open giving people a convenient and secure location to pick up their packages.
“We are delighted to be partnering with them to expand our click & collect services across the country.”
DHL Express UK CEO Ian Wilson said: ”Post Office with its reputation as a trusted institution as well as its nationwide footprint make it an ideal partner to extend our delivery options in a way that will give recipients even more convenient choices and total confidence that their parcels are in good hands.
“In addition, by expanding our service point network, we’re able to further consolidate deliveries, helping to reduce road miles and drive down carbon emissions, which is an essential part of our sustainability strategy.”
Since opening its network to external carriers last year for the first time in its 360-year history, Post Office has grown the number of branches offering click & collect from zero to almost 5,000.
Last year, the Post Office teamed up with parcel delivery company DPD.
The service was initially available at 250 post offices, before it was rolled out to 1,500 branches across the UK ahead of the peak Christmas period.
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