The number of parcel terminals in the Moscow region will almost double

The total number of parcel terminals in Moscow and the Moscow region should almost double by 2030 – from 14 to 30 thousand, according to research Moscow Innovation Agency, held jointly with RBC Market Research. According to analysts, this will happen due to the growth of the e-commerce market in the B2C and C2C segments, as well as the development of post-Am networks based on the sharing model, such as Moscow Post Amat, when different marketplaces, online stores and logistics companies can use one device. .

Experts expect similar rates of development across the country: if today there are only 53,000 parcel terminals in Russia, then in seven years their number should increase to 117,000. Thus, the annual increase in the number of parcel terminals on average in the country and in Moscow will be 17-18% by 2025 and 10% in the period from 2026 to 2030.

According to analysts, this growth is dictated by objective reasons. For example, every year e-commerce is gaining momentum: according to forecasts, the e-commerce segment will grow by an average of 10% annually over the next five years. Another factor that contributes to the development of the domestic and global markets for parcel terminals is the increase in the volume of the market for C2C shipments by individuals through ad platforms, such as Avito or Yula. In 2021, turnover in this segment increased by 25% and amounted to 1.32 trillion rubles.

Despite the fact that e-commerce will grow significantly in the coming years, analysts also highlight the barriers that prevent the popularization of the ATM network in Russia. The authors of the study cited inconvenient location and hours of operation, as well as an incomprehensible interface for the user and a payment method, as key disadvantages of such devices. As a result, the share of parcel terminals among all delivery methods for online orders remains insignificant. For example, in 2021 in Russia it was only 2.1%, in Moscow and the Moscow region – 2.4%. To remove the main barriers, a project was launched in the capital “Moscow Postamat”, within which by 2025 a network of 10,000 shared devices will be created in the city. Residents will be able to receive goods even at the entrances of their houses at any convenient time.

As for the main players in the Russian market of parcel lockers, the leading positions are occupied by logistics operators – they account for about 70% of the market. The remaining 30% of ATMs installed in Russia belong to marketplaces. The absolute leader in the number of such delivery devices in the country is SberLogistics, which has over 10,000 parcel terminals across the Russian Federation. This is almost 22.8% of the entire market. In second place is Cainiao, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, which delivers orders from the AliExpress platform. Its market share is 13.7% (more than 6 thousand parcel terminals in the Russian Federation). The top three was closed by 5Post – 12.8%, or more than 5,600 parcel machines.

Noting the trends that are already being actively implemented or will soon dictate the rules of the game in the ATM market, the authors of the study identified several of them. Firstly, this is the expansion of the boundaries of the use of parcel terminals – not only for orders from the Internet, but also for other purposes. For example, since the fall of 2022, Alfa-Bank has been delivering its bank cards to 5Post ATMs, from where the client can pick them up. In turn, the PIK developer, back in 2021, completely transferred the transfer of keys from apartments to owners through parcel lockers located on the first floor of the building. Obviously, the number of household and other services that will be provided to Russians through post-amates will only grow. Secondly, this is the placement of parcel lockers in the entrances of residential buildings, as well as the possibility of not only receiving, but also sending goods by the Russians themselves, for example, to an atelier or a laundry. As noted earlier, the Moscow Postamat project is designed to solve a similar problem in the capital. Thirdly, new types of devices are increasingly appearing on the market, designed for different types of cargo, in particular furniture or food products, including ready meals. One of the pioneers in this area in the domestic segment is Engy. It develops food dispensers capable of maintaining optimal temperatures and storing even perishable goods.

As for the world market of parcel lockers, it, like the Russian one, will also grow in the next 7-10 years by 12% annually and will reach $2 billion by 2030. At the same time, in Europe and North America, in addition to the growth of online commerce and C2C shipments, another driver for the development of the parcel locker market is the environmental or “green” agenda. According to the authors of the study, switching from door-to-door delivery of goods in favor of parcel lockers would significantly reduce CO2 emissions into the environment.

VCs and business angels also have faith in the development of the global parcel locker market: in 2021, 44% of the total investment in logistics companies was attracted by start-ups in the “last mile” sector.