If you have no time to pick up your parcels at the post office and cannot wait for delivery at home, you can already look forward to a new service, i.e. Czech Post's Automated Parcel Machines.

Automated parcel machines (APMs) are a new, modern and comfortable method of mail delivery which has already been used on several European postal markets. They have the big advantage of being available 24/7. APMs are easy and fast to use and even enable to collect money on delivery. Starting 3 August this week, our customers may test the method at the main post office in Jindřišská Street, every working day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

How does an APM work?

The system is very simple. The customer orders a consignment through, e.g. an online shop, and chooses an APM at a certain, most convenient place as the place of delivery. The delivery personnel will put the consignment into the APM and send a confirmation SMS to the addressee. The message will contain the PIN code and COD amount, if applicable. All the customer has to do is go to the APM, enter the PIN code and pay the COD amount, if applicable. The relevant box will then open and the customer will be able to pick up the parcel.

Czech Post announced a public tender for purchase, maintenance and servicing of APMs. The winner should be a single contractor which will be awarded a framework contract worth an estimated 490 million crowns. The procedure is currently in the stage of assessment and evaluation of the three bids received by Czech Post. The winner is expected to be known this autumn. The first ten machines are to be installed in early 2013. They will be located in cities such as Prague or České Budějovice. By late 2014, there are to be up to 150 APMs available all over the country. Most of the locations will be in highly populated areas in regional and district capitals. According to a survey commissioned by Czech Post, locations identified by customers as ideal include places within shopping malls, in front of post offices, or nearby railway stations.

Marta Selicharová
Spokeswoman
Czech Post
selicharova.marta@cpost.cz