It's the end of an era for Mondial Relay. The parcel delivery giant has undertaken a major restructuring. The goal: to improve its network of Relay points, while reducing the number of its partner merchants. While the idea may seem counterproductive, it actually aims to intensify the deployment of its automated lockers. For the general public, the initiative is presented as an adaptation to new consumer behaviors. However, it raises serious concerns among small retailers, particularly in rural areas, who lose both a source of additional income and a means of attracting new customers.
A logical optimization
For several weeks, many partner retailers have been receiving a standard letter, soberly signed by the "Mondial Relay network management," informing them of the unilateral end of their collaboration. The logistics company justifies this choice by its desire to "streamline" and "optimize" its network of delivery points. This restructuring could affect up to 3,500 relay points, according to some rumors, although the company has not released official figures. Mondial Relay's business model now seems to clearly favor automated lockers, accessible 24/7, to the detriment of partnerships with local businesses.
According to an Opinion Way study carried out in January 2024, 52% of French people prefer out-of-home delivery, with an almost balanced split between those who use relay points (27%) and those who use automated lockers (25%). It is therefore logical that the operator has already deployed nearly 7,000 lockers across France and plans to increase these installations in the coming months.
A hard blow for partner retailers
For the retailers concerned, this break in partnership represents a double economic penalty. Managing a relay point generally brought them between 300 and 1,000 euros per month depending on the volume of parcels processed (for a unit price of around 40 cents per parcel). Beyond this direct remuneration, the activity relay generated a regular flow of visitors, potentially convertible into customers for their main activity.
Mondial Relay's strategy, while responding to certain changes in purchasing behavior, raises questions about territorial equity in access to services. By favoring lockers, which are generally more profitable in densely populated areas, the company risks reinforcing inequalities between urban and rural areas. For the time being, the company has not communicated on possible support measures, in certain areas where the closure of traditional relay points will not be compensated by the installation of automated lockers.
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