Evri launches Bristol trial of next-generation neighbourhood parcel hub
- New robotic neighbourhood hub concept can automatically sort, store and manage parcels behind the scenes, bringing parcels closer to home
- Combines robotics and AI with convenient local parcel collection
- Designed to give customers more choice, convenience and control
14th September: Evri is set to launch a trial of a robotic neighbourhood parcel hub in Paintworks, Bristol in partnership with Bristol-based spinout Collective Robotics.
The one-week trial will explore how neighbourhood parcel hubs could support final mile delivery and provide customers with even greater choice, convenience and control alongside Evri's existing network of home delivery, ParcelShops and lockers.
As part of Evri's commitment to helping customers never miss a parcel, the trial will assess whether bringing parcels closer to where people live can provide greater flexibility over how and when deliveries are received.
Paintworks, a pedestrianised community in Bristol, has been chosen for the trial because of long-lasting commitments to become a more sustainable city, with a clean air zone and the city of choice for previous e-cargo bike trials by Evri. Paintworks itself is representative of many modern residential developments and through the trial, Evri will assess how delivery hubs can support successful first-time delivery, working with couriers to provide a more seamless and convenient experience for consumers in similar environments across the UK.
By integrating with existing delivery options, including home delivery, ParcelShops, lockers, safe places and neighbour deliveries, the concept is designed to complement Evri's existing network rather than replace it. Unlike a traditional parcel locker or ParcelShop, where parcels are manually placed into storage locations, the advanced robotic neighbourhood hub can accept multiple parcels in a single drop before using AI and robotics to automatically identify, sort and store them without manual handling. By dynamically managing storage space and adapting to changing parcel volumes, the hub has the potential to bring more parcels closer to customers within local communities. The innovative storage system continually adapts to make the best use of available space, while intelligent software learns and improves over time, helping to create a more efficient and responsive parcel handling process.
This supports Evri's ambition to provide delivery options that fit around customers' lives, not the other way around. The initiative forms part of Evri's continued investment in innovation, technology and customer experience. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, Evri is exploring new ways to enhance convenience, improve flexibility and support successful first-time deliveries. The business has already invested significantly in expanding its network of ParcelShops and lockers, and this trial will help assess how advanced robotics could further strengthen its out-of-home offering and support future growth.
Technology should make life easier for customers, and that's exactly what we're looking to explore through this trial. Neighbourhood parcel hubs have the potential to bring parcels closer to consumers, giving them even greater choice, convenience and control over how they receive their deliveries. We're already investing significantly in innovation across our network, and this trial is another example of how we're testing new ideas that could help customers fit parcel deliveries around their lives. We're excited to work with Collective Robotics to understand how this technology could complement our existing delivery, ParcelShop and locker network, and help shape the future of parcel delivery.
Adrian Berry, Innovation Delivery Manager at Evri Group
Our aim at Collective Robotics is to develop technology that works for local communities, not simply technology that is placed in them. Working with Evri allows us to test our early prototype with real deliveries and learn from both couriers and our neighbours about what works and what we need to improve.”
Prof. Sabine Hauert OBE, CEO and co-founder of Collective Robotics
About Evri
Evri Group brings together Evri, DHL eCommerce UK – which in 2026 will be rebranded Evri Premium, a network of DHL - customs clearance and logistics specialist Coll-8 and business letters leader UK Mail, to create the UK’s premier parcel delivery company. The combined Evri Group will deliver more than 1 billion parcels and a further 1 billion business letters annually.
Evri, the core operating brand, currently delivers around 900 million parcels a year, and is on a mission to be the most convenient way to send, receive and return parcels, without costing the earth.
Working with everyone from Europe’s top retailers, marketplaces and pre-loved sites to gift-givers, the roots of Evri can be traced back to Yorkshire in 1974. The business has grown over the last five decades and now has a team of 12,000+ employees and 30,000+ couriers, as well as a growing network of more than 10,000+ ParcelShops and Lockers and 500+ state-of-the-art hubs and depots. Following its acquisition of Coll-8, an Irish independent customs clearance and logistics specialist, and merger with DHL eCommerce UK, Evri Group continues to enhance its international capability and enable world trade.
Evri has over 4 million independent 5-star Trustpilot reviews, an average courier rating of 4.6/5, reflecting a strong commitment to customer experience.
For more info: www.evri.com/news-and-corporate
Media enquiries
For any enquiries relating to Evri Group or its companies; Evri, DHL eCommerce UK, UK Mail and Coll-8, please contact: prteam@evri.com