Dutch postal company is searching for new innovative green delivery services in order to support local retailer stores to improve their sales

The Dutch corporate organization consists of 21000 employees. They deliver 660 million mail items each year and distribute mainly via a self-built national network. The ambition of the Dutch company is to make deliveries from city centers as convenient as online deliveries. The trend of shopping online is emerging. Last year the Dutch e-commerce market grew again with double digits (13%). Within city centers there is a growing problem regarding the rising number of vacant properties. Besides the economic loss due the empty stores, vacant buildings give residents a sense of insecurity as well. That is the reason why many local Dutch retailers located in the city center, have a harder time and see (regular) customers leave. As a result, the Dutch inner cities suffer from empty stores. And in addition, the e-commerce causes more pollution due to the increase in transportation because of the larger distances in order to deliver. The Dutch corporate is looking for green delivery concepts that will expand, to reduce vacancy of commercial properties in the inner cities and unlock the stock of the stores in the inner city center. They want to meet smart green concepts that will help the Dutch corporate to deliver in 30 minutes, with for example customized green delivery. They are looking for SME’s and startups that have innovative ideas about using the green mobility assets (of the Dutch corporate) in a different way. They would like to get in contact with companies who have creative thoughts about reinforcing the position of the local retailer, making it more convenient to buy something from the city center than online. The main requirements for the new green delivery solution are: - To strengthen local retailers with new delivery concepts; - To prevent vacancy in inner cities; - Ensures less pollution; - The experience of the green delivery solution is fun, quick and it supports the local retailers; - The network and the green mobility assets of the Dutch corporate, are used in the new green delivery concept; - The Dutch corporate would like to get in contact with companies with whom they can set up experiments. Companies or service providers that require a fine network and regular contact in the field are urged to come forward with their proposals or business ideas to pitch their product or business concepts. The company is interested in a long-term strategic relation in a services agreement or commercial agreement with technical assistance. This technology request is an innovation challenge and is published on an open innovation platform until 25th of November 2018. If an organization does express interest in cooperation with this firm before that date, it will be guided towards this open innovation platform on which one can get in touch via a chat function with the company. Mind that posts on this platform are not confidential. Beside open discussions on the platform, sharing of confidential information will be made possible on demand. After that, the firm will select the SME's with whom they would like to cooperate in the development of a solution. Once the challenge is closed, EOI's for this technology request will be treated in the traditional way.