International technology and logistics group Omniva has opened its first MicroHUB in Tallinn, a pilot intended to reduce van journeys in the Estonian capital while helping parcels reach customers faster.
The hub is a specially adapted container equipped with security systems and placed inside a courier's delivery area. Rather than making a lengthy round trip back to a sorting centre, couriers can pick up additional parcels at the container during their rounds.
Omniva says the arrangement allows it to use more cargo bikes instead of vans for parcel deliveries, and expects couriers to save time as a result. The company presents the pilot as a contribution to greener urban logistics.
Hannes Falten, head of delivery innovation at Omniva, said initial estimates suggest a MicroHUB could save each courier up to three hours a day and allow them to serve around 20 additional customers. He described it as an opportunity to handle growing parcel volumes without putting more vans on city streets.
First results are expected within a month and will help determine the next steps. In the next phase, Omniva plans to test parcel collection from the MicroHUB with Crowd Delivery couriers.
If the pilot is successful, the group plans to introduce more MicroHUBs in Tallinn and a similar solution in Riga, Vilnius and Kaunas. The exterior of the first Tallinn container was painted by street artist S-Boy's team, which Omniva says brings more colour and character to the neighbourhood.