Utilizing Gas Station Logistics Hubs... Transforming into Future-Oriented Gas Stations
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] GS Caltex is launching a pickup service utilizing gas stations as intermediate hubs for the first time in Korea in collaboration with IKEA.
On the 5th, GS Caltex announced that it will start Korea's first IKEA "Gas Station Pickup Service" at the Samsung-ro Gas Station located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in partnership with home furnishing retail company IKEA Korea.
The pickup service is a new delivery method targeting the growing online purchase demand due to COVID-19. When IKEA customers select a nearby GS Caltex gas station as the delivery destination, IKEA delivers the products to the designated gas station, and customers can visit the gas station to pick up their items directly.
Due to the large volume and weight characteristics of furniture products, customers who had to pay high delivery fees can now receive eligible pickup service items at a lower price of 19,000 KRW compared to the existing delivery fees, which is expected to increase usage among customers who prefer contactless furniture delivery.
Starting with the Samsung-ro Gas Station pickup service, the two companies plan to expand operations to six gas stations nationwide by the end of the year, including locations in Pyeongtaek, Cheonan, Daejeon, Daegu, and Changwon. Considering customer response and business feasibility, they plan to gradually expand the service to more gas stations from next year.
Additionally, GS Caltex plans to introduce a shared warehouse concept pickup point service by collaborating not only with IKEA but also with multiple companies requiring small urban logistics spaces, either leasing logistics spaces or partially managing logistics processes. Through this, gas stations will serve as logistics hubs for last mile delivery, the final stage of product delivery to customers for collaborating companies.
A GS Caltex official stated, "Gas stations have advantages in logistics vehicle access and loading space and are distributed nationwide, making them suitable as logistics hubs," adding, "To build future-oriented gas stations, we will continue to discover various businesses based on gas stations, including logistics hub projects."
Furthermore, to commemorate the official launch of the service, GS Caltex will give a 30,000 KRW GS Caltex fuel coupon to the first 100 customers who use the pickup service at Samsung-ro Gas Station. Customers can receive the fuel coupon by applying for the event through the GS&POINT app and then using the pickup service via the IKEA website.
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