Parcel+Post Expo 2024 opens next month (October 22, 23 & 24), taking place once again at the RAI Amsterdam in the Netherlands. With more than 250 international exhibitors showcasing the latest, most innovative technologies ranging from sortation systems and robotics to planning software and last-mile delivery vehicles, this year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.
This year sees the launch of The Hub – Logistics for E-Commerce Summit, which will unite all major industry stakeholders on an international stage to explore the wealth of opportunities available in e-commerce. Taking place during Parcel+Post Expo, The Hub will offer valuable insights through a series of thought-provoking discussions, cutting-edge presentations, networking meetings and much more!
Tried-and-tested features will once again be a highlight of Parcel+Post Expo, including the PIP Startup Innovation Award Competition and the Parcel and Postal Technology International Awards, both taking place on Day 1.
UPU will once again host its World Leaders Forum on Days 1 and 2, with the theme of ‘Smart and collaborative solutions to enhance customer trust’. UPU will also be celebrating its 150th anniversary with a special reception on Day 1 recognizing 150 years of enabling communication and empowering people across nations.
Also available to visitors will be the Parcel+Post Expo Innovation Forum, which will feature presentations from leading technology providers and innovators showcasing the latest technologies and solutions within the industry, and the connect2posts (c2p) event, taking place on Day 3.
If you haven’t already, register here for your free entry pass.
See the latest innovations from more than 250 exhibitors
Visitors to the expo – which will feature over 250 exhibitors – will be able to meet with the major technology suppliers to the parcel delivery industry, as well as some of the most exciting new startups, disruptors and young innovators, to discover the latest in robotics and automation, e-commerce fulfillment and intralogistics, plus autonomous and electric vehicle last-mile solutions. With more than 40 first-time exhibitors, new supply chain partners and business solutions await. Read the latest exhibitor news here.
Bloq.it will showcasing its next-gen autonomous locker NEXT, which the company hopes will transform the last-mile delivery landscape. It combines the advanced features of traditional electric lockers with the versatility of a battery-powered system. The locker’s integrated concrete base enables installation in under 15 minutes, reducing outdoor deployment time and costs by up to 88%. Designed to meet evolving consumer needs, the new locker features an intuitive 10in color touchscreen, additional features on demand, full modular flexibility and a sleek halo.
Cainiao’s breakthrough autonomous delivery vehicle will also be on show throughout the three-day event. It features a fully self-developed software and hardware stack and, equipped with L4 autonomous driving capabilities, navigates effortlessly between locations and operates 24/7 in various traffic and environmental conditions. The standard model comes with a 5m3 container capable of holding 1,500 parcels, with larger containers available for customization based on client needs.
Elsewhere, Alstef Group will be demonstrating its robotic induction and picking solutions that enhance precision, efficiency and productivity in logistics operations. Alstef Group’s robotic picking systems leverage AI and custom-designed grippers to optimize the pickup process. The company’s AI algorithms ensure that each item is handled with the utmost care and precision, and specially engineered grippers can manage a wide variety of parcel sizes and shapes, making them highly adaptable to different operational needs. This combination of AI and innovative hardware leads to faster order fulfillment, reduced labor costs and a more streamlined logistics process.
Meanwhile, AfterShip will present its suite of post-purchase software, helping the world’s largest retailers and logistics companies keep track of every parcel. Its software also helps customers obtain actionable analytics that outperform internal BI project results, and enhance their customers’ experience through engagements such as shipment notifications, branded tracking and returns, and loyalty. Using AI, AfterShip is now helping the logistics industry predict estimated delivery dates (EDD) more accurately than was previously possible.
Conferences at a glance
UPU World Leaders Forum
The theme for the 2024 UPU World Leaders Forum 2024 is ‘Smart and collaborative solutions to enhance customer trust’. This premier event is designed to address the pressing challenges and opportunities in the postal sector, from digital transformation to evolving market expectations in the era of artificial intelligence and next-gen technologies.
The World Leaders Forum provides unique opportunity to dialogue with decision-makers from posts, logistics companies, technology providers and more, offering a dynamic platform to explore strategic collaborations and witness cutting-edge solutions that can transform your business.
Event highlights include:
- Inspiring keynotes: Each day begins with a keynote from an influential speaker who will ignite thought-provoking discussions on broader technology trends, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Engage in panel discussions featuring UPU leaders and top companies, exploring how these trends can be harnessed within the postal sector.
- Solutions in the spotlight: Experience live pitches and demos from leading companies and the UPU, showcasing tangible solutions that address industry challenges. Discover how these innovations can enhance your operational efficiency and customer trust.
- Harnessing partnership potential: Hear from postal operators and technology providers on how their partnerships helped drive business outcomes. During breaks, participate in matchmaking clinics and info sessions at the UPU booth (10.419), designed to build strong partnerships between postal operators and tech companies.
By attending the UPU World Leaders Forum 2024, you will gain exclusive insights into the latest trends, forge valuable partnerships and position your company at the forefront of postal technology innovation. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the future of global communication and commerce!
Innovation Forum
Taking place alongside the UPU World Leaders Forum is the free-to-attend Parcel+Post Expo Innovation Forum, which will enable visitors to hear from leading technology providers and innovators showcasing the latest technologies and solutions within the industry. One of these presentations will be made by Jan Van Roey, head of international at Poste Italiane, who will discuss smooth customs clearance.
connect2posts
On Day 3 of Parcel+Post Expo, connect2posts will organize its annual startup innovation showcase and networking event. Connect2posts connects startups to the postal and logistics ecosystem. It allows them to present their solutions to the industry, to better understand the industry’s needs and to ideally enter into cooperations, conclude contracts or secure investments. The connect2posts day, taking place on October 24, will bring together innovation, strategy and operations executives from postal, parcel and logistics companies, consultancies, investors, industry partners and startups to network, share best practice and identify the latest technologies and innovations.
PIP Startup Innovation Award Competition
The annual PIP and c2p Startup Innovation Award competition will take place on Day 1 and will bring together innovation and strategy leaders from parcel, postal and logistics companies who will choose the winning startups in the three categories:
- First and last mile
- Processes, digital and data
- E-commerce, retail and cross-border
From the three winners, the judges will then select one startup as the most outstanding solution or technology – the winner of the PIP Startup Innovation Award 2024. In the evening, the winners will be announced during the Parcel and Postal Technology International Awards ceremony, one of the highlights of Parcel+Post Expo!
In addition to the stage, on which panel discussions will take place and the latest solutions will be showcased, the adjacent networking zone will facilitate one-to-one meetings and matchmaking.
The Hub – Logistics for E-commerce Summit
This innovative and immersive three-day event will provide valuable insights into the evolving world of everything that goes on behind the scenes, from the moment an order is made online, to delivering it to your doorstep. The summit will address this through keynote sessions, panel discussions, case studies and technology workshops.
Key themes of the events include sustainability as a business imperative in e-commerce logistics; AI and its impact on the delivery ecosystem; the impact of automation and robotics on the delivery economy; predictive analysis – the next frontier; blockchain ensuring transparency and trust; overcoming cross-border logistics challenges; return logistics as a competitive advantage; mitigating supply chain risks; and hyper-personalizing the delivery journey.
Parcel and Postal Technology International Awards 2024
The Parcel and Postal Technology International Awards, now in their 16th year, recognize and reward the latest achievements and developments in the postal sector. The awards cover various areas of the industry, with categories including Service Provider of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Business Diversification of the Year, Last-Mile Delivery Innovation of the Year, Transport Innovation of the Year, Environmental Achievement of the Year, and Packaging Innovation of the Year. And new for 2024 – E-Commerce Fulfillment Technology of the Year.
Award winners will be announced at Parcel+Post Expo 2024 on October 22. Full coverage of the awards will be included in the December 2024 issue of Parcel and Postal Technology International magazine.