Evri trials robotic neighbourhood parcel hub in Bristol
Evri is to launch a trial of a robotic neighbourhood parcel hub in Paintworks, Bristol, in partnership with Bristol-based spinout Collective Robotics. The one-week trial will explore how robotic neighbourhood parcel hubs could support final mile delivery. It aims to give customers greater choice, convenience and control alongside Evri’s existing network of home delivery, ParcelShops and lockers.
Bringing parcels closer to customers
The trial forms part of Evri’s commitment to helping customers never miss a parcel. It will assess whether bringing parcels closer to where people live can offer greater flexibility over how and when deliveries are received. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, Evri is exploring new ways to enhance convenience, improve flexibility and support successful first-time deliveries.
Why Paintworks in Bristol?
Paintworks, a pedestrianised community in Bristol, was chosen because of the city’s long-standing commitment to becoming more sustainable, including its clean air zone. Bristol was also the city of choice for Evri’s previous e-cargo bike trials. Paintworks is representative of many modern residential developments, so the trial will show how delivery hubs can support successful first-time delivery in similar environments across the UK. Evri will work with couriers to create a more seamless and convenient experience for consumers.
How the robotic neighbourhood parcel hub works
The concept is designed to complement Evri’s existing network rather than replace it. It will integrate with current delivery options, including home delivery, ParcelShops, lockers, safe places and neighbour deliveries.
The hub differs from a traditional parcel locker or ParcelShop, where parcels are manually placed into storage locations. The advanced robotic hub can accept multiple parcels in a single drop, then use AI and robotics to identify, sort and store them automatically, without manual handling. By dynamically managing storage space and adapting to changing parcel volumes, it has the potential to bring more parcels closer to customers within local communities.
The storage system continually adapts to make the best use of available space. Its intelligent software learns and improves over time, helping to create a more efficient and responsive parcel handling process.
Innovation and customer experience
The trial supports Evri’s ambition to provide delivery options that fit around customers’ lives, not the other way around. It also forms part of the company’s continued investment in innovation, technology and customer experience. Evri has already invested significantly in expanding its network of ParcelShops and lockers, and the trial will help assess how advanced robotics could further strengthen its out-of-home offering and support future growth.
Adrian Berry, Innovation Delivery Manager at Evri Group, said: “Technology should make life easier for customers, and that’s exactly what we’re looking to explore through this trial. Neighbourhood parcel hubs have the potential to bring parcels closer to consumers, giving them even greater choice, convenience and control over how they receive their deliveries. We’re already investing significantly in innovation across our network, and this trial is another example of how we’re testing new ideas that could help customers fit parcel deliveries around their lives. We’re excited to work with Collective Robotics to understand how this technology could complement our existing delivery, ParcelShop and locker network, and help shape the future of parcel delivery.”
Testing technology with real deliveries
For Collective Robotics, the trial offers a chance to put its early prototype to work in a real-world setting. Prof. Sabine Hauert OBE, CEO and co-founder of Collective Robotics, said: “Our aim at Collective Robotics is to develop technology that works for local communities, not simply technology that is placed in them. Working with Evri allows us to test our early prototype with real deliveries and learn from both couriers and our neighbours about what works and what we need to improve.”
