One IoT-enabled use case for the last mile creates optimized
collection from mail boxes. Sensors placed inside the box detect
whether it is empty and, if so, transmits a signal that is then
processed in real time. The delivery person can then skip that box
for collection, thereby optimizing daily collection routes. Start-ups
such as Postybell42 have created proximity sensors that detect when
mail has been placed in a private mailbox and can also monitor the
wetness inside the mailbox. A delivery then triggers an alert to the
recipient’s phone via GSM. They can, for example, be reminded to
check their mailbox or keep track of it while they are on holiday.
The same principle could be applied to the DHL Paketkasten or
Parcelbox, which are solutions to accommodate the e-commerce
boom – users can install a personal parcel locker at their front
door. This is currently being launched in Germany. But as letter
volumes decrease and parcel volumes increase, we can imagine a
future in which temperature-controlled smart lockers eventually
replace traditional mailboxes and ensure first-time every-time delivery
of parcels, groceries, and other environmentally sensitive goods.