GS25 Expands Refrigerated Parcel Lockers 'BOX25' to Over 1,000 Units

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] GS Retail's convenience store GS25 and logistics specialist GS Networks announced on the 25th that their 24-hour contactless refrigerated parcel locker BOX25 (hereafter Box25) has expanded to over 1,000 units.

Box25 initially launched its service at about 50 locations in Gangnam-gu and Songpa-gu, Seoul, at the end of March this year, and within eight months, the service coverage has significantly expanded to over 1,000 stores in the metropolitan area. The number of partners has also increased, starting with salad delivery company Freshcode, followed by global logistics company DHL, and the online grocery shopping mall GS Fresh Mall.

Box25 is the industry's first refrigerated and ambient temperature locker system, consisting of four refrigerated compartments and nine ambient compartments as a basic configuration. When customers select a GS25 store equipped with Box25 as the delivery destination during product ordering, they can pick up their items at that store. Once the ordered product arrives, the box number and QR code where the product is stored are sent to the customer, who can then easily retrieve the item by simply scanning the QR code.

Box25 is a new-concept service platform that maintains refrigerated conditions throughout the entire distribution process?from delivery, storage, to customer pickup?regardless of external factors such as weather and time, ensuring fresh products. Additionally, it offers a contactless self-service experience without interaction with delivery personnel or convenience store staff, providing peace of mind. Another advantage is that parcels are securely stored without exposure to the outside.

In fact, GS25 analyzed Box25 usage data for November (11/1~11/23) and found that the number of uses increased approximately 15 times compared to the same period right after launch (4/1~4/23). Furthermore, about 20% of users utilized Box25 more than twice a day, using a GS25 near their workplace during the day and another Box25 near their home in the evening. The GS Fresh Mall order pickup service, launched on the 23rd, attracted a surge of users on its first day, leading to some regions running out of refrigerated locker capacity in Box25.

GS Retail and GS Networks plan to significantly expand partnerships by not only extending Box25 nationwide but also exploring collaborations with GS Postbox parcel service, which serves 2 million users monthly, and GS Retail partners in various ways.

Cha Jeonghyun, MD of GS Retail Service Planning Team, said, “Box25, jointly developed and launched with GS Networks in March this year, is rapidly growing as a new form of completely contactless service, gaining attention amid the spread of COVID-19. Going forward, GS Retail will continue to plan various service products that can serve as a total lifestyle platform by leveraging its offline platform of over 15,000 stores nationwide, logistics infrastructure, and systems.”