At a time when online trade and shopping are spreading in Azerbaijan at a quick pace, new ideas and business methods are emerging in this field. A start-up company called "Smartpost" has been established specifically for this reason, guaranteeing the hassle-free and contactless collecting of cargo and online orders from automated mailboxes. For the manufacturing and operation of "Smart" mailboxes, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA) issued a "Startup" certificate to "Smartpost" LLC, which provides tax benefits to business owners. Speaking to AZERTAG about the operations of the company, Samir Ismayilov, head of the startup, pointed out that the new project aims to partially replace the deliveries made by couriers that are delivered straight to houses.
- Orders are not delivered to straight to houses, but to "Kargomat" with special mailboxes
- The concept of the project is to install automated cargo mailboxes around Baku, as well as other cities and districts across the country. These boxes function similarly to a terminal or automatic mailbox. "Kargomat" is an automated mailbox. Any person's orders are delivered to these machines, and the owner of the order can pick it up from this box. Cargo companies and online stores that sign up for the service give their orders to the company managing "Kargomat" after the technical work is completed, and place the order in whichever "Kargomat" the customer selects.
Generally speaking, the customer can send orders from his/her personal office to any "Kargomat" terminal, using the services of any cargo company or online store. An SMS with a six-digit password is sent to the customer following their order placement on the "Kargomat" terminal. After approaching the machine and entering the password, the relevant door immediately opens, allowing the customer to proceed with picking up the order.
- The mentioned project has been under execution for a year and has a large number of users
- The concept that developed before the pandemic outbreak was executed in 2023. Prior to the pandemic, in fact, the concept of "Kargomat" emerged. Yet these works were postponed by the pandemic. The aim of this project is to offer a new generation of delivery to the public. The key point is that with this option, customers can pick up their orders from the closest "Kargomats" and couriers are not obliged to visit people's houses. In addition, customers do not need to go to some offices, cargo companies or stores, they can pick up their products from the nearest "Kargomats". The project currently includes two different kinds of partners: small and medium-sized e-commerce entrepreneurs and cargo companies, as well as online stores. The most intriguing use of "Kargomat" is the delivery of goods from the "Sadarak" shopping center. Contracts are now being signed with business owners of the shopping center, and "Kargomat" is the source of those orders. In the past month, 50 stores in the "Sadarak" shopping center have signed cooperation agreements, and deliveries with "Kargomat" have already begun.
- What are the prices at "Kargomat"?
- Delivery costs in Baku range from 0.68 to 0.90 AZN for cargo companies, and from 1.69 to 2.94 AZN for online stores. After an order is placed, delivery time varies between 30 minutes and 4 hours. All orders are placed on the terminals in no more than four hours. There is no queue here. Unlike cargo firms, customers do not have to wait in a queue. Most terminals operate around the clock. Supermarkets, business centres, train stations, and other places where people spend most of their time have terminals placed. Startups operating on this principle have been implemented in many countries of the world (in Europe and Americas). KOBİA received great support in carrying out the project.
Powered by Froala Editor
