Parliament: 1,000 parcel locker stations in Singapore by end-2022
SINGAPORE — A parcel locker station around five minutes walk from every HDB block: that is the goal of the government’s plans to build a nationwide network of 1,000 such stations by the end of 2022.
Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Sim Ann, told Parliament on Tuesday (3 March) that the lockers will be located in HDB estates, MRT stations and community centers. They will complement existing commercial locker stations and doorstep deliveries.
“Users can collect parcels on their way to work or on their way home, any time of the day. Merchants and logistics service providers will also enjoy greater delivery efficiency. This may result in more competitive delivery prices for consumers,” said Sim, who was speaking during her ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.
The 44-year-old noted that while the popularity of e-commerce has led to a steady increase in parcel deliveries, Singapore's urban context and consumers' busy lifestyles mean that doorstep deliveries often lead to missed deliveries.
“Our postal infrastructure must evolve to offer practical alternatives to doorstep deliveries, so that all logistics service providers and not just SingPost, can overcome this costly challenge,” said Sim.
She told the House that the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) has received “strong support” for the plan from major e-commerce marketplaces like Qoo10 and Shopee, and logistics service providers like Qxpress. IMDA will also partner with SingPost to leverage its extensive postal service experience.
The nationwide deployment follows the success of the Locker Alliance pilot, which provides an open access delivery network of parcel lockers and collection points in Bukit Panjang and Punggol, as well as eight MRT stations.
Sim also gave an update on SingPost’s efforts to improve service delivery, following service lapses in 2018 and early 2019. This includes extended delivery hours for peak periods, improved staff remuneration and hiring more postmen.
As a result, consumer complaints fell by about 40 per cent in December 2019, compared with 2018.
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