Polish e-commerce giant Allegro plans to expand its automatic parcel machine (APMs) network within Poland by adding 2,500 units in 2025.
The plan to add APMs follows a 118% year-on-year surge in the volume of parcels processed through Allegro One boxes in 2024, leading to a reduction in per-unit expenses.
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In November 2024, DHL and Allegro formed a strategic partnership to enhance delivery services in Poland.
Consumers will then have access to an expanded network of 16,000 APMs under the Allegro delivery umbrella, encompassing more than 4,500 Allegro One boxes.
The increase in parcel volume and machine use contributed to the decrease in unit costs for these boxes.
Following complete indexation in 2025, the use of boxes will present a more economical option compared to Allegro’s priciest logistics provider at the earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation expense level.
During a post-earnings interview, Allegro chief financial officer Jon Eastick told Reuters: “We’re really focused on increasing the share of parcels that go through what we call our managed delivery methods. Increasing that gives us more choice and control over (deliveries) and will reduce the average price as we increase.”
In 2024, Allegro experienced a 22.9% rise in delivery costs, which amounted to 2.84bn zlotys ($736m).
Allegro added 1,000 lockers in Poland in 2024, bringing the total count to more than 4,500, alongside 500 in the Czech Republic.
The company also introduced a comprehensive delivery programme that assumes complete responsibility for shipments from start to finish.
In fiscal 2024, Allegro’s consolidated gross merchandise value (GMV), which includes international operations, saw an increase of 9.6%.
Full-year GMV in Poland alone surged by 10.8% to reach 60.71bn zlotys.
Allegro also has a seven-year partnership agreement in place with InPost.
Eastick stated: “When it comes to InPost, the contract is clear. So in the early months of this year, we’re paying more than we were paying in 2024.
“But we have cheaper alternatives who also provide good quality and good convenience for consumers, which we […] want to leverage.”
