Omniva launches community parcel locker network expansion at Kullamaa
Today, 5 May, Omniva marked the launch of its parcel machine network expansion with an opening event in the village of Kullamaa in Lääne County. The initiative will bring parcel machine services to smaller villages and settlements across Estonia.
“People’s habits have changed, and postal services must evolve accordingly. While letters are now mostly sent during the holiday season, online shopping has become part of everyday life. Expanding parcel machines into smaller communities helps ensure that modern services are equally accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live,” said Hendrik Johannes Terras, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, at the opening event.
The parcel machines at the Kullamaa municipal building and at the nearby Martna municipal building are already open for use. The first service round will take place tomorrow, 6 May.
“I am very pleased that, for a change, we can speak about openings and the addition of services in rural areas,” said Sven Köster, Chairman of the Lääne-Nigula Municipal Council. “I encourage local residents to make use of the new lockers – if there is demand, services will continue to expand.”
Next, parcel lockers will be opened in Käru and Oisu in Järva County, with the first service round scheduled for 7 May.
While 43 new locations in Estonia already confirmed, more than 200 new parcel machines will be installed over the course of the year. “We are moving towards a future where every settlement has its own parcel machines, and in larger settlements, the nearest machine is within slippers distance of every home,” said Martti Kuldma, CEO of Omniva.
Omniva’s goal is to develop a dense network of conveniently located parcel infrastructure, making e-commerce—an increasingly preferred way of shopping—fast and accessible everywhere.
Receiving and sending parcels via keypad parcel machines
Using the new parcel machine is similar to the parcel machines already familiar to customers in Estonia. The main difference is that the new machines use a keypad instead of a touchscreen.
When a parcel arrives, the customer receives a notification with a pickup code. To collect the parcel, the customer presses START on the keypad, enters the code, presses OK, and the locker door opens.
To send a parcel, the shipment must be registered and paid for via the Omniva app or at minu.omniva.ee. There is no need to print or attach an address label, as this is done by the Omniva courier.
To place a parcel in the locker, the compartment door is opened using a smartphone. A handover function without a smartphone is currently in development. Instructions for using the locker are also displayed on the side of the machine.