MERRYMART Consumer Corp. installed its first smart locker at its MerryMart Grocery branch in DoubleDragon Plaza in Pasay City on Thursday, kicking off its goal of rolling out 5,000 smart lockers by 2030.
“We believe that MBOX will improve Filipinos’ online purchase experience and give buyers, couriers, and sellers a more convenient, efficient, and secure alternative for delivering and receiving packages,” said Edgar “Injap” J. Sia II, chairman of Merrymart and MBOX.
MBOX Smart Lockers are self-service lockers, which can be used as a location for pickup and drop-offs of delivery items.
Packages may be placed inside the lockers by couriers at any time and they can also deliver multiple parcels at one MBOX location.
Meanwhile, recipients will be notified via a text message with their pickup code once their packages arrive at the smart locker. Packages may be picked up at the MBOX Smart Locker at their convenience.
“CCTV cameras capture and record package arrival and retrieval to ensure the safety and accountability of every package,” said Fernando de Guzman II, head of technology of MBOX Smart Lockers Corp.
MBOX Smart Lockers is the first unit under MerryMart subsidiary MM Consumer Technologies Corp. MerryMart said it would initially roll out 100 MBox Smart Lockers in Metro Manila and key provincial areas.
It also plans to set up “MBOX Community Hubs” in provincial town centers, which will have an MBOX Smart Locker and an ATM at one location. Its first set of community hubs will be launched next month in Iloilo, Roxas, Kalibo, Bacolod, and Dumaguete.
“With MBOX Community Hub, we aim to bridge the distance gap by consolidating delivery in key locations,” MBOX Chief Executive Officer and President Ginger Co See said.
“The cost and time saving will enable couriers to offer more competitive delivery prices, thus making online shopping more accessible to the community.”
On Thursday, shares of MerryMart at the stock exchange declined by 2.62% or 10 centavos to close at P3.71 apiece. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte
