Day: 7 October 2025

Bloq.it, the company providing end-to-end services for out-of-home delivery and e-commerce businesses, today announces the launch of ‘drop’, a purpose-built, compact standalone drop-off solution designed to make returns faster, smarter and more sustainable. Focusing on the fast-growing reverse logistics market which is predicted to surpass USD 1.4 trillion by 2030, drop cuts courier costs and emissions while giving shoppers the convenience of returning parcels in just 10 seconds, any time of day.

Besides being the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday is also notorious for driving a surge in returns – with up to 30% of items returned. For retailers and couriers, this creates enormous pressure on reverse logistics. ‘Drop’ can help ease that burden, providing much-needed relief from the fast-approaching seasonal spike. No matter the time of year, the standard process for making returns is cumbersome for both shoppers and couriers.

Today to return a parcel, consumers either schedule a home pick-up – adding stops to courier routes and disrupting daily schedules – or process their returns through neighbourhood PUDO (pickup, drop-off) points during limited store hours. The result is a fragmented and environmentally inefficient process.

In-store returns add another layer of complexity. Processing a return at a staffed counter can take several minutes creating queues and delays for other customers. drop makes this process autonomous, reducing it to seconds. Dedicated in-store drop-off points even attract additional revenue, with up to 40% of shoppers saying they will make an additional purchase when picking up or returning an online order in store.

‘drop’ essentially reverse-engineers Bloq.it’s OOH delivery lockers already used by millions. The drop solution accepts parcels 24/7. Rather than using individual lockers, the compact drop-off device features a single slot for handovers. It has a built-in label printer, a QR and barcode reader, and a 10-inch color touchscreen to guide users smoothly through the process via Bloq.OS – connect software platform. On average, the drop-off process takes just ten seconds.

Using the single-slot design, dozens of individual items are funneled into a single bag. When full, the software triggers a notification through the system for a pickup. Couriers then open the drop door, collect the single bag, replace it with a new empty bag stored in the service door in the device, and continue on their way. This bulk collection system makes it possible for couriers to pick up multiple parcels in under a minute, eliminating unnecessary stops and failed collections .

Miha Jagodic, CEO and Co-Founder of Bloq.it, said, “Returns are among the most frustrating challenges in global e-commerce. They cost retailers billions in lost margin and slow down operations. With drop, we’re turning a pain point into an advantage: faster daily routines, quicker refunds for customers, lower costs for retailers, and leaner operations for couriers.”

João Lopes, COO & CRO and Co-Founder of Bloq.it, added, “Across Europe, lockers and pickup points are already the most popular way to return parcels, preferred by nearly 8 in 10 shoppers. What’s been missing is dedicated infrastructure designed specifically for returns – and that’s where drop comes in. It makes returns effortless for consumers and far more efficient for couriers. Just as our NEXT lockers set a new standard for deliveries, drop will do the same for reverse logistics. We’re already seeing strong interest from leading logistics firms keen to integrate it into their networks.”

The ‘drop’ solution is designed to function as a standalone unit or as a modular extension to Bloq.it’s NEXT lockers. Its compact form and easy installation mean it can be deployed quickly across a wide range of locations, bringing drop-off points closer to where customers live, work and shop. Every drop unit contains anti-tampering safeguards and integrated sensors.

Backed by a commitment to consumer convenience and courier efficiency, drop builds on Bloq.it’s growing footprint in European out-of-home parcel infrastructure. Early rollout of drop will begin in November 2025, with wider availability expected from 2026. With the roll-out of 24.000 NEXT lockers in the upcoming years and tens of thousands of drop units planned, Bloq.it is creating a more connected, sustainable, and efficient returns ecosystem for the future of e-commerce.