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The high cost of manual parcel processing
Courier and postal organisations are challenged by the rising volume of parcel drop-offs and returns. Traditional counters, which depend on manual processes and staff involvement for every transaction, often lead to long queues during busy periods, driving up labour costs and diminishing customer experience. Furthermore, expecting customers to print their own labels at home creates an inconvenient barrier, which can result in failed or abandoned returns and lost revenue.
These inefficiencies create significant operational bottlenecks. The reliance on manual data entry and label handling increases the risk of errors, slows down parcel intake, and delays the entire logistics chain. For courier businesses, this translates to higher operational costs, reduced throughput, and difficulty scaling to meet fluctuating demand, ultimately impacting customer satisfaction and profitability.
The self-service parcel drop-off and returns solution
Zebra's solution offers a turnkey, self-service system that automates parcel label printing and drop-off. This integrated approach combines rugged hardware and seamless connectivity to reduce counter queues, lower labour costs, and accelerate the flow of parcels into your network, all while improving customer convenience and satisfaction.
Potential benefits
By shifting from manual, staff-dependent counters to a streamlined, automated self-service model, courier and postal organisations can achieve tangible improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and customer experience.
Reduced queues
leading to a faster, more convenient customer experience
Lower labour costs
by automating the label printing and initial intake process
Accelerated parcel flow
getting shipments into your network faster
Consolidated courier pickup stops
creating more efficient routes
How the solution works
Scan a QR code to begin
The process begins when a customer, having initiated a return or shipment on their mobile device, scans their QR code in-store. This action is powered by the Zebra ET401 enterprise tablet, which serves as the user-friendly interface for the self-service system, delivering a fast and intuitive experience.
Instantly print a label
Upon scanning the QR code, the system instantly prints a linerless shipping label. Using linerless labels eliminates backing paper waste. This step is driven by the Zebra ZD621 or Zebra ZD421 desktop printer. Whether you choose the ZD621 for its fast, industrial-quality printing and strong security, or the ZD421 for its intuitive interface and advanced media handling, both printers provide reliable, high-quality output so every parcel is properly labelled and ready for intake without staff assistance.
Lower costs, better experience
Zebra's solution enables courier organisations to lower operational costs while improving the customer experience through a “just works” approach—offering a ready-to-go, certified, and scalable alternative to manual counters.
Note:
Use case figures, savings estimates and images are illustrative only and may be derived from customer data, projections, or controlled testing. They do not represent guaranteed results, and actual outcomes will vary by application; customers should consult a Zebra sales representative to evaluate their specific environment.
