Retail technology innovation of the week: parcel delivery firm DPD starts deploying locker robots in UK

Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series brought to you by RTIH, and sponsored by 3D Cloud, highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.

Every week, we will showcase forward thinking tech plays that have impressed our Editor and the Retail Technology Innovations Report judging panel, alongside the publication of the 2024 report.

So far, we’ve flagged up sterling work being done by Ocado Retail, Decathlon, Lacoste, Downtown Spirits, TalkShopLive, Huck’s, Rovertown, Wing, Nobody’s Child, IKI, Pixevia, A.L.C., Archive, Therabody, Outform, Kingfisher, PMC, Boots UK, Ocula Technologies, Grace O'Malley Irish Whiskey, Metacask, Ikea, Carrefour Belgium, Matalan, and McDonald’s.

And this week we’re focusing on DPD, which has become the first UK parcel delivery company to deploy Ottonomy's multi-compartment, fully autonomous ‘locker' robot, Ottobot.  

Larger than DPD's existing autonomous delivery robots, this has a maximum payload of 70kg, eight separate compartments that can carry parcel of varying sizes and can also facilitate collections.  

The robot features four-wheel powered swerve drive with independent steering and suspension, while multiple sensors including light detection and ranging ‘lidars' and cameras, and software enable it to navigate the most complex environments autonomously. 

DPD's first locker robot will be deployed in Milton Keynes, where the company has been operating autonomous robot deliveries since July 2022, which have also since been rolled out in Raunds, Bristol and Lincoln. 

The Ottobot will be based at the firm’s Milton Keynes depot in Knowlhill and will navigate the city's traffic free Redway network to access nearby residential neighbourhoods. The additional compartments not only enable up to eight separate deliveries each time it leaves the depot, but can also accommodate larger parcels in two 38lt compartments. 

Once the locker robots have completed the mapping process, they operate fully autonomously. DPD parcel recipients will receive an SMS when the robot is outside their property and can then use a secure one-time pin code to open it and access their parcel. 

The battery lasts up to six hours with the ability to keep swapping it for a new fully charged one at the depot.

Tim Jones, Director of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability DPDgroup UK, comments: "We are absolutely delighted to be deploying locker robots in the UK. This is the next chapter for us in terms of autonomous deliveries after a very successful roll-out across a number of different locations.”

“It's well over two years now since we began autonomous robot deliveries and the customer feedback continues to be incredibly positive.  We've also learned a lot in terms of how best to deploy the technology and how to maximise the effectiveness of the robots day to day.”

"Ottobot potentially gives us a massive uplift in terms of productivity, with the ability to deliver up to eight parcels at a time before the robot needs to return to the depot to be reloaded. As always when we invest in new innovation, we want to learn fast and try new things, so we will be looking at how Ottobot could double-up as an additional, mobile parcel drop-off point for customers." 

Ritukar Vijay, Founder and CEO, Ottonomy, says: "It is fantastic to see Ottobot deployed in the UK parcel delivery market. DPD is already well ahead of its competitors with its robot fleet and is well placed to maximise the full potential of Ottobot.”

“Our autonomous robot technology is designed to help brands meet customers' ever changing demands in new ways and provide the scalability to be a truly effective solution."   

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Autonomous deliveries are a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which are now closed for entries.

The awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.