The State of the Industry: Reflections from the Parcel and Post Expo 2024

After attending Parcel+Post Expo – formerly known as Post Expo – countless times, I can confidently say this event mirrors what’s happening in the industry. This annual event gathers international organizations, key hardware and software suppliers, industry experts, and veterans in a dynamic exchange. New technologies are unveiled, best practices are observed, and familiar faces meet once again. The event's popularity is somewhat cyclical, reflecting broader industry trends: some years are bustling, with massive attendance and exhibitors, while others are quieter and more subdued. Technology often comes in waves, which directly impacts the event’s draw. We’ve seen the rise of parcel lockers, and later, waves of sorting robots.

2024: A Low Point in the Cycle

This year’s event felt like the bottom of a cycle. Unlike past years, there were very few noteworthy product launches, both from long-time exhibitors and newcomers. Stands were generally modest, with most sortation equipment providers opting for simple setups with a few tables and coffee instead of large, elaborate displays. From observing the event, several key takeaways became clear:

1. Consolidation in the Parcel Locker Market The parcel locker sector is consolidating. Instead of a variety of niche players with exotic solutions, the field now features a few well-established names with larger, richer booths compared to past years. This trend reflects the rising interest and demand for Out-of-Home (OOH) delivery solutions, signalling that this segment of the market is very much on an upward trajectory.
2. Sorting Robots Have All but Disappeared Sorting robots, which were prominently featured at previous events, have nearly vanished this year. Although this technology should be maturing and ready for mass implementation, interest seems to have waned. Why that’s the case is a topic for another article. However, I believe we’ll see a resurgence in these solutions when the technology matures beyond its "infancy" phase and can compete on par with traditional methods.
3. A Simpler Approach by Sortation Manufacturers Sortation manufacturers chose to take a more minimalistic approach this year. Perhaps they’re aware that budgets are tight, or perhaps they’re cutting costs due to a lack of orders. That said, some interesting innovations are emerging from smaller manufacturers focused on low-capacity sorting centres or space-constrained environments.
4. An Industry Stuck in the 2010s? What struck me most was that, from the floor of Parcel and Post Expo, it felt like the world has moved forward while we’re still in 2010-2019. At various trade shows I’ve attended in recent months, one theme has been universal: "AI." Any company not integrating AI into their offerings is noticeably absent from trade events. AI-powered solutions – whether in customer communication, decision support, forecasting, or beyond – are everywhere. But not in our industry. Are we at risk of missing something crucial? The one exception was the Universal Postal Union conference led by Jose Anson , whose conference lineup thoughtfully addressed AI and cybersecurity – important, timely topics that should be front and centre for our industry.

As I mentioned, the popularity of this event ebbs and flows, and future editions, perhaps in a different economic climate, will likely attract greater interest from both exhibitors and attendees. In the meantime, based on conversations in the hallways and my reflections, I have a few suggestions for improving the event’s relevance and value.

Suggestions for Future Parcel and Post Expo Events

1. Bring in Key Tech and Cloud Providers We need more exhibitors from companies serving our industry with innovative solutions and fresh perspectives. Companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) , Microsoft Azure , Google Cloud , and other software providers, particularly those offering cloud-based AI tools, are just as crucial to our sector as sortation equipment manufacturers – perhaps even more so. Our industry needs to learn how to utilize the latest technology effectively. We’ve mastered sortation systems and parcel lockers; now it’s time to engage with cloud solutions and, for example, electric vehicle fleet providers, to tackle pressing challenges.
2. Restore the Conference’s Status A few years back, the conference grew too large, and the decision to almost eliminate it or reduce it to mere product presentations hindered the exchange of ideas and stunted industry growth. A robust conference program is essential to fostering new ideas and moving the industry forward.
3. Consider Returning to Rotating Locations On the floor, I heard a bit of grumbling about the event returning to Amsterdam yet again. Rotating locations was a good practice, keeping things fresh and encouraging different perspectives.

I’d love to know if your reflections are similar or if you have anything to add or critique. Please feel free to join the discussion!