Automated parcel management: combat parcel chaos to avoid frustrations – and costs

Retailers are faced with a gigantic challenge. The number of visitors to physical shops is dwindling considerably. In the US Amazon has already taken action in order to guide online shoppers to their shops by installing lockers in which customers can have their parcels delivered. This meant visitor numbers increased by 4% compared to shops without lockers. 50 to 60% of these online shoppers actually make an extra purchase. These three new services will prove to be the ideal traffic generators.

With more than 1,500 customers and over 300,000 users spread over 5 countries, technology company Bringme is involved in a wide range of small and large businesses. According to Bringme, there is clearly a small revolution going on in the workplace: organisations are realising that several evolutions are permanent, which forces them to make structural changes. Below you can read overview of the most striking trends and the resulting opportunities. CEO Jo Vandebergh shares his insights.

Now that far fewer employees work in the office and far fewer customers are visiting, more and more companies are working with a virtual reception. And that’s understandable; it’s the easiest way to welcome visitors, customers, and suppliers and to implement the corona measures automatically. But did you also know that such a virtual reception solution gives your company a lot more than just a safe, properly functioning reception area? You can also save a lot of money with it.

Seven out of ten companies have discovered that they will need less office space in the future, according to recent studies. In other words, the demand for office space decreases, and the supply increases. We’re seeing companies with business models centring around the rental of offices and coworking spaces taking extra steps in terms of security and digitalisation. Many of them have opted for a virtual receptionist in recent months. What added value does this have for them? Why are business centres such as Business Park Ypres and Park Office, as well as major players, rolling out virtual reception systems in their own reception space?

The 9/11 attacks permanently changed our way of travelling. Strict security measures have been introduced in all airports. Similarly, company receptions will no longer be the same as before the coronavirus. For example: How should a receptionist receive and sign for a parcel and still respect social distancing? Where will he or she find the time to register every visitor or supplier and inform them about the prevailing preventative measures? How can he or she ensure that every one that arrives is screened for the virus and fever? How does he or she make visitors, customers, and staff disinfect their hands without someone escaping their attention? The answer is simple… it’s just not possible. Even though you, as a company, do not want to expose your staff and visitors to such risks, no receptionist – no matter how capable – can implement such measures. And certainly not at 2 metres. So, how do you tackle this conundrum?

Once we can all return to the workplace, our business world will look very different as well. COVID-19 is here to stay. And that also means that tomorrow’s company will have to handle receiving parcels and deliveries very differently. Contactless delivery will become the new normal in companies. But how do you best handle that as a company? How can you integrate this new normal? How do you keep it completely safe for everyone involved?

The COVID-19 figures are slowly but surely moving in the right direction. And vaccination (however slow) is also beginning to bear fruit. Although, this doesn’t mean that we are completely rid of it or that we will soon be able to go back to work without any worries. COVID-19 is here to stay and that means that we will have to adapt our behaviour permanently. We will have to build these five things into our work routine:

Bringme obtained the ISO 27001 information security certificate after the DQS audit in January 2020. Our products are used by customers to protect their ideas, expertise, and data. That starts at the front door of the company with the Bringme Bell, welcoming visitors with our Desk, to internal logistics with track & trace via the Bringme Box Exchange. With the ISO 27001 certificate and the 27701 privacy compliance, we confirm to our customers that we invest heavily in IT security and the secure management of personal data. We’ll explain below why the step to ISO certification wasn’t such a big one for our company.

Some time ago, the WHO has announced a state of emergency concerning the coronavirus which causes the illness COVID-19, and asked companies to take the required precautionary measures in order to protect both employees and the company. But what exactly are these recommendations and how can they be put into practice?