Fengchao, SF, and others have tried new business. Are there any hidden dangers or disadvantages behind the "unmanned" application?

Express service providers have crossed the border and test new business.

Recently, smart express cabinet companies have launched a school ordering platform- "Near Neighboring Cloud Meal", and also plans to launch unmanned dining cars and courier cars. Not long ago, Fengchao also announced the launch of self -operated laundry services. Users can click "Fengchao Laundry" in Fengchao WeChat Mini Program or APP, that is, they can choose to put themselves in the courier cabinet. Internet services are similar.

What is the cause behind the development of the smart courier cabinet enterprise development? Is there any hidden danger or disadvantage behind the so -called "unmanned" application? In the future, what new possibilities will the development of smart express cabinets exist?

Courier service provider's fancy cross -border

On July 7, the "China Express Development Index Report in June 2022" released by the State Post Office showed that in June, the China Express Development Index was 289.4, an increase of 7.5%month -on -month. Among them, the development scale index was 386.5, an increase of 12.1%month -on -month; the development ability index was 221.6, an increase of 11.7%month -on -month. Specifically, the number of express delivery business in the first half of this year is expected to exceed 50 billion pieces, and business revenue is expected to reach 500 billion yuan. At present, the average daily business volume has resumed to more than 300 million pieces, which is superior to the same period last year.

Under the rapid development of the express delivery industry, the development of express service providers has also ushered in new changes. Recently, smart express cabinet companies have launched a "Near neighboring Cloud Meal" school ordering platform. According to Han Lichao, the person in charge of the neighboring Bao Smart Mealing Division, the platform is mainly developed to help college logistics dining and anti -epidemics. And reduce gathering.

Han Lichao also said: "In order to achieve no contact delivery, nearly neighboring plans to put 3-4 unmanned cars as distribution tools. At the same time, unmanned express vehicles that deliver integrated unmanned courier will also be launched in universities nearly adjacent to neighboring treasures." It is reported that it is reported that it is reported After the online ordering platform, the remote gear exposure and settlement efficiency of many colleges and universities have improved.

In fact, nearly neighboring is not the first courier service provider to play cross -border. A few days ago, the head player of the smart express cabinet traveled, Fengchao, launched the Fengchao self -operated laundry service nationwide. After choosing the "Washing Package" on Fengchao Smart Cabinet Program and APP Cabinet or choose SF to come to the door for free. After cleaning, the clothes will be delivered to the express cabinet.

It is reported that Fengchao mainly provides clothing and shoes cleaning services in the form of set meals. The price ranges from 70 yuan to 140 yuan. At this stage, the platforms that can be cleaned on the platform include down jackets, shirts, woolen coats, suits and shoe boots. The reporter logged in to the Fengchao Mini Program and opened the Fengchao laundry page. At present, Fengchao laundry is mainly charged according to three types of special packages: clothing, shoes, shoes, shoes and boots. They are 89 yuan, 109 yuan, 129 yuan (original price of 139 yuan, 159 yuan, and 179 yuan); 2, 3, and 4 pieces of shoes and boots are 79 yuan, 109 yuan, and 139 yuan (original price 129 is 129 (129 is 129 (129 is 129 (129 is 129 Yuan, 159 yuan and 179 yuan).

In fact, as early as April this year, Fengchao piloted laundry services in Shenzhen. At that time, there were media reports that Feng Chao said that the washing business was expected to cover more than 60 cities in the first half of the year and added 1-2 community life services in the second half of the year.

Behind cross -border: To solve the problem of profit and difficulty

Looking at the moment, corporate cross -border is no longer a new thing. Coupled with it, the smart express cabinet is not a new thing. The dispute between Fengchao and the rookie makes the courier cabinet know. Smart express cabinets are very meaningful to master the big data of express delivery, but the opposite of its layout is that the smart courier has been questioned with difficulty.

Nowadays, smart express cabinet companies have expanded their diversified business. What are the causes behind it?

"Express service providers, especially the cross -border of smart express cabinets, have two reasons." Hong Yong, an associate researcher at the E -commerce Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, said in an interview with the China City Newspaper reporter, "On the one hand, it is to alleviate operating pressure. The construction cost of the smart express cabinet is high and the income is small. The express service provider urgently needs to open up new profit points. By expanding the scope of user service, it can bring more value -added services to users; on the other hand, it can also get rid of the data of the e -commerce platform Restrictions, most express service providers serve the e -commerce platform. E -commerce platforms will conflict with express service providers in terms of user data. However, if the courier service provider can directly reach the C -end user by opening up new businesses. "

Commercial strategy expert Chao Chenglin also mentioned in an interview with China City Daily that the current utilization rate of express cabinets is greatly improved, and contact with customers is also very frequent. How to use the courier cabinet terminal customer contacts to develop more business value is momentum. It is also necessary, this is why more and more express service providers at the moment play cross -border business.

Public data shows that at present, Fengchao Express Cabinet covers more than 200 cities across the country, with a cabinet of more than 300,000 units. Although the number of cabinets is enough, according to the relevant data released by the State Post Office, the delivery rate of smart express boxes represented by Fengchao in 2021 reached only over 10%. This means that while the scale of express cabinets such as express cabinets has increased significantly, the usage rate is far from reaching a high level. If the courier fee and cabinet advertising income are estimated, the return is obviously far away.

As a result, the problem of difficulty in profitability is still criticized. The announcement of SF Holdings shows that Fengchao Cayman's net assets in 2019 were 3.649 billion yuan, revenue was 1.614 billion yuan, and net profit loss-781 million yuan. In the first quarter of 2020 (unaudited), revenue was 334 million yuan, and net profit was -245 million yuan. Under the losses, profit becomes the first problem that must be solved. As a result, Fengchao charged for retention expressions in May 2020, that is, the time for ordinary users to store the courier for free to 12 hours, the charging fee of 0.5 yuan/12 hours after the timeout, and 3 yuan cap. This caused an uproar at the time, and users across the country protested, and they initiated a suspension of protests or joint resistance. Since then, Fengchao has also explored business -in -business realization of community group purchases, e -commerce, post stations and other businesses, but has not improved much.

Rather than cross -border, it is better to cultivate no contact services

Although the smart express cabinet has innate advantages in other cross -border industries, it does not mean that it is a tank after cutting into the new track.

Chao Chenglin believes that there are still a lot of problems that the smart express cabinet intervene in ordering and laundry services needs to be solved. For example, the use habits of customers need to be cultivated, especially the food order scenario, the mealing scene is not high The ordering and express delivery service platform has been very mature, and it is not difficult to develop habits. In his opinion, compared to the ordering service, laundry services have not yet formed a monopoly market, and there are certain business opportunities. Obvious brands, products and service advantages, once a large mistake in any link, its risk is also huge.

"The biggest difficulty encountered by express service providers is how to ensure the quality of service." Hong Yong said, generally speaking, cross -border courier service providers adopt a light asset model, that is, cooperate with professional manufacturers to enter a new field Essence The most important thing is how to choose cooperative manufacturers, how to improve the service quality of manufacturers, and ensure the security of users.

Internet analyst Ding Daoshi believes that the laundry business launched by Fengchao may not be able to go in terms of business logic, because the laundry business is the demand catalysis in the era of consumption upgrade, not just a business that needs to be just high -frequency, and the number of consumer groups for consumer groups limited.

You know, the online ordering, on -door pick -up, and the last offline laundry are completed. O2O laundry from the laundry to the user dock is not a new product. As early Brands such as "Shanghai Thailand Laundry" have emerged and won the favor of capital. However, the good times are not long, and after the large subsidy stimulates consumers to place an order, they will end with closure. From the perspective of industry experts, light assets will be dragged down and down by the quality of uncontrollable services.

In fact, in the eyes of many people in the industry, express service providers' powerless services are the development direction that is most in line with its positioning. "Since the outbreak of the new coronary pneumonia, no contact services have been unanimously recognized by consumers, and the business volume has made rapid development." Hong Yong believes that in the future, smart express cabinets can exert the end distribution function and realize all things.

In addition to neighboring treasures, giants such as Fengchao, Cainiao, Jingdong, and SF have also argued in the unmanned car track. At the "618" shopping festival just past, Cainiao Station has invested more than 500 unmanned "small baron" in more than 200 universities across the country to achieve normalized operations; JD Express provides users with smart express vehicles and delivery There are many end distribution methods such as the door of the cargo and the non -contact community protection station; in May this year, the Department of Electronics Engineering of Fengchao Union issued an unmanned distribution robot in cooperation. Address delivery, unmanned vehicle receives the task instructions, and will go to Fengchao cabinet to receive express delivery.

■ China City News Reporter: Zhang Yaxin

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