At the China Life Building in Guiyang, a 24-hour self-service postal station operated by Guizhou Postal Service allows residents to conveniently pick up packages. On the night of November 12, Li Yuan, a nurse at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, was pleasantly surprised to find the unmanned postal station still lit up after her late shift. Within two minutes, she retrieved a jar of chili sauce sent by her mother—thanks to the station’s seamless QR code access and automated parcel lockers.
The unmanned postal stations, introduced to address industry pain points like high labor costs and limited service hours, mark a significant step in smart logistics. In June, Guizhou Postal Service launched its first four pilot unmanned stations, equipped with smart shelves, touchscreen parcel retrieval systems, and high-resolution scanners. These stations operate via mobile apps or mini-programs, backed by 5G and wired networks for real-time monitoring and security alerts. Notably, they are open to all courier brands, enhancing efficiency and industry collaboration.
The pilot stations include locations at Guizhou Postal Building, China Life Building, Guiyang Mail Processing Center, and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. Over six months, these stations have served as round-the-clock hubs for night-shift workers, hospital staff, and residents, earning praise for convenience.
Jiang Yu, operations manager at Honghuagang District Postal Branch in Zunyi, highlighted the station’s role in serving medical staff and patients, with over 20,000 users served in half a year. Similarly, the Guizhou Postal Building station handles 200 daily pickups, peaking at 300 during the "Double 11" shopping festival. Courier Mo Yaxiong noted the stations’ efficiency boost, eliminating repeated delivery attempts.
Meanwhile, Guiyang Mail Processing Center has deployed four autonomous delivery vehicles (ADVs) for mail transport between facilities. Each ADV, with a 500kg capacity and 200km range, operates on fixed routes, reducing reliance on human drivers. Manager Wu Xiaodong revealed plans to expand ADV fleets and introduce robotic arms for parcel sorting.
Guizhou Postal Service aims to scale unmanned solutions, targeting 100+ new stations in 2024 and rolling out 45+ ADVs by year-end. These efforts align with China Post Group’s strategy to harness automation for high-quality growth, blending technology with real-world logistics needs.
Comments