23.08.2016

Swiss Post joins Starship Technologies’ Robotic Delivery Testing Programme in Switzerland

Starship robot rolling on a street with people

Testing of Starship Technologies’ delivery robots in Switzerland will begin in September

LONDON | AUGUST 23, 2016

Starship Technologies, the company behind the local delivery robot, is today announcing that Swiss Post, the national postal service in Switzerland, will join its global testing programme. Swiss Post will start using Starship Technologies’ delivery robots on the pavements of several Swiss cities in cooperation with various partners in the food and healthcare industries.

The partnership will allow Swiss Post to test potential uses within its delivery portfolio, starting in September, with the aim of rolling the solution out to other areas of its business if successful. Swiss Post understands the robotic delivery as a potential additional service which could in future be used selectively to complement parcel delivery.

“The addition of Swiss Post to our testing programme is an exciting development for Starship Technologies,” said Allan Martinson, COO, Starship Technologies. “Not only do we extend robotic delivery to Switzerland, but for the first time anywhere in the world, patients will be able to get medicines delivered to their homes using our on-demand robots. The convenience, and quick nature of robotic delivery will prove invaluable to people in need, who may not be physically able to travel to the pharmacy.”

The partnership with Swiss Post follows the launch of commercial tests in the UK and Germany last month, with partners Just Eat, Pronto, Hermes and Metro Group, offering robotic delivery for the food, grocery and parcel industries. Partners in the US will be announced shortly.

Starship Technologies’ delivery robots have now covered over 10,000km around the world in 12 countries and 42 cities, coming into contact with over 1 million people on their travels without incident.

Robots developed by Starship Technologies are designed for delivering packages, groceries and food to consumers within a 5 km radius. The robots can drive 99% autonomously, while being monitored by human operators in control centres. When placing an order online with a participating company, consumers simply choose Starship Technologies’ robotic delivery. When the order is ready, consumers are notified through their mobile phone. The power is then in the hands of the consumer. They can call the robot to their house at a time convenient to them, at any time of the day.

ABOUT STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES:

Starship Technologies is building a fleet of autonomous robots designed to deliver goods locally in 15-30 minutes within a 2-3 mile radius. The robots drive autonomously but are monitored by humans who can take over control at any time. Launched by two Skype co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship Technologies’ aim is to fundamentally reshape how goods are shipped and delivered, and make local delivery, almost free. Starship is a European company with Business headquarters in London and R&D headquarters in Estonia. The company employs 55 people. Former Skype co-founder Ahti Heinla serves as the company’s CEO and CTO and serial tech entrepreneur Allan Martinson is Chief Operating Officer.

Website: www.starship.xyz
Facebook: @Starshiptech
Twitter: @Starshiprobots
Instagram: @Starshiprobots

ABOUT SWISS POST:

As a diversified company, Swiss Post operates in the communication, logistics, retail financial and passenger transport markets. Within the communication market, its services include delivery of letters and newspapers, direct marketing, and information and document solutions. In logistics, it operates in Switzerland and internationally as a parcels, courier and express service provider, and provides tailored and comprehensive logistics solutions. In retail finance its subsidiary PostFinance Ltd offers extensive services for payment transactions, savings, investments, retirement planning and financing solutions, and has had a banking licence since 2013. In the public passenger transport market its subsidiary PostBus Switzerland Ltd operates regional, municipal and urban bus services, and also develops value-added system and mobility management services. Swiss Post operates in approximately 25 countries. The company employs more than 62,000 members of staff worldwide and generated turnover of over CHF 8.2 billion in 2015.