Innovation Award
Hungary
SMART by MPL
The Hungarian fulfilment market is a dynamically developing, unsaturated market, where forecast growth in the coming years is nearly 30%. Magyar Posta Zrt. has been investigating options for entering the fulfilment market, typically through a joint venture or strategic agreements, for a number of years. In 2023 Magyar Posta Zrt. completed a warehouse logistics development, creating an automated, robotised warehouse. SMART by MPL is a model whereby the entire e-commerce fulfilment process is managed by Magyar Posta at its own centre. Warehouse processes are administered and controlled externally through the Fulfilment software, with products stored and managed in a centrally located warehouse.
SMART by MPL is a dynamic portfolio which ensures uniform integrated handling for parcels with shorter lead times in a cost-effective way. Thanks to using robots, human errors can be avoided and integrated operations can be achieved around the clock. Magyar Posta Zrt. completed the warehouse logistics development as part of its investments to enhance capacity and the parcel logistics process from placing an order to arrival at the delivery address in 2023. This involved the creation of an automated/robotic parcel logistics site.
The investment carried out in the Company’s centre in Fót, Hungary, created an 800 m2 automated storage facility and an adjoining 1,200 m2 outdoor storage area. The robots operate 24 hours a day between 3,000 automated crate places and 240 pallet places, which together can accommodate 240 tonnes of products. From the outset, the Centre was able to handle up to 1,000 business parcels a day.
The combination of the fulfilment service and the related parcel logistics service is currently unprecedented in the domestic CEP market, and Magyar Posta is the first major player which has a significant share of the market as well as national coverage and its own fleet to offer this service.
Automation will also accelerate the receipt, checking, storage, labelling and keeping inventories of goods. This will mean shorter lead times, as outsourced warehousing and delivery will be concentrated in the same hands. Accordingly, more advantageous prices can be set for packaged services and the digital platform provides transparent tracking of shipments throughout the process. Pick-up points are available across the country, and now returns can be handled even through parcel lockers. Moreover, SMART by MPL offers the possibility of foreign cash on delivery, clearing customs and even handling large parcels or parcels with unusual shapes.