Irish domestic parcel delivery company Nightline has announced a €5m investment in a new Parcel Motel service, which offers round-the-clock delivery for online shoppers. The investment will increase the number of units in Dublin as well as creating about 50 jobs.
Parcel Motels are self-service terminals located at petrol station forecourts, convenience store car parks and other areas. Each unit consists of 80 storage lockers, which online shoppers can have their purchases delivered to by setting up an account online.
Once the delivery has been made, a unique code is sent to the customer’s mobile phone, providing access to the locker containing their items. Deliveries made to Parcel Motels are stored for up to two days and can be collected at any time.
Nightline already has 20 Parcel Motel units in Dublin, but with this investment that number will expand to 100 by the end of the year, with a further 100 added in 2013 and 200 in 2014.
Over the course of the rollout, about 50 jobs will be created, 10 of which have already been recruited at Nightline’s Dublin headquarters.
Servicing the growing online shopping market
“(The year) 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of Nightline and as an indigenous Irish company we are proud to bring such an exciting innovation to Irish consumers,” said Nightline CEO John Tuohy. “With the ever-increasing growth of the e-commerce market in Ireland, estimated to be worth €3.5bn, we know that Nightline Parcel Motel will become a recognisable and important part of online shopping for communities around the country.”
Nightline currently has seven Irish depots and recently expanded three of these. In 2011, the company invested €5.5m in its Dublin headquarters and moved its Belfast operation to the new facility.
Parcel image via Shutterstock
