On October 19, 2020, Kansai Electric Power Transmission & Distribution (Headquarters: Osaka Prefecture) announced that it would launch a pilot project for a parcel delivery locker service in Seika Town, Kyoto. The pilot project was launched in partnership with Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO, Headquarters: Osaka Prefecture); Nihon Network Support (Headquarters: Osaka Prefecture), a KEPCO subsidiary that produces power generation equipment; Kyoto Prefecture; Seika Town; and Toyota Industries (Headquarters: Aichi Prefecture) as well as some major Japanese logistics companies.
The growth of e-commerce in Japan in recent years has led to an increase in parcel delivery volumes, and labor shortages in the logistics sector. The COVID-19 outbreak further accelerated these issues and increased the demand for contactless parcel delivery. KEPCO Transmission & Distribution partnered with other companies to address these challenges through a contactless parcel delivery locker service.
KEPCO Transmission & Distribution installed parcel delivery lockers alongside its electric poles in residential areas in Seika town. Community members who missed a delivery at home can request for their parcels to be stored at the lockers to pick them up later. KEPCO Transmission & Distribution aims to use this system to lessen the burden on logistic operators by reducing the need for re-delivery and hopes that the service will contribute to sustainability though improving operational efficiency.
The parcel delivery locker services are managed and operated by KEPCO Transmission & Distribution. The lockers were provided and maintained by Toyota Industries. Nihon Network Support assisted in developing the equipment to install the lockers. The delivery services will be operated by Yamato Transport (Headquarters: Tokyo), Japan Post Service (Headquarters: Tokyo), and Seino Transportation (Headquarters: Gifu Prefecture[1]).
The pilot project is being conducted as part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Smart Keihanna Project”, an initiative to promote smart city projects in the “Keihanna” region on the border between Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara Prefectures. The pilot project started on October 19, 2020 and will run until January 31, 2021.[2] [3]
[1] https://www.seino.co.jp/seino/company/overall-condition/
[2] https://www.kepco.co.jp/corporate/pr/2020/pdf/1019_1j_01.pdf