Convenient collection lockers arrive in rural western Catalonia to boost local commerce

The Regional Council of Pallar Jussà, in the rural west of Catalonia, has installed new convenience collection lockers to boost local commerce. 

These lockers, located in Tremp, La Pobla de Segur, Torre de Cabdella, and Isona, each have 20 compartments, 15 without temperature control and five refrigerated spaces.

The user makes purchases through a platform and selects which collection point they want their item delivered to. Once the order arrives to the site, the user receives a QR code that can be used to open the locker.

This project received financing from the Ministry of Economy of around €448,000.

The smart collection points initiative has been well received by traders in the region. Nati Fayos, manager of the Torre de Cabdella store, selling fresh meats and other products, explained that with this service, residents will be able to place their order and collect it at a time that suits them best, without having to worry about opening hours and schedules.

Fayos said that tourists visiting the Vall Fosca will also be great beneficiaries of the project as they will no longer have to wait for business hours to collect their purchases, as collection will be available 24 hours a day.

The president of the Pallars Jussà Regional Council, Ramon Jordana, explained that the purchase of this equipment is one of the twelve actions that have been financed by the Ministry of Economy, from the 2023 call for sustainable rural trade grants.

Jordana said that the objective of the project is to promote competitiveness, innovation and modernization of distribution channels, especially in more depopulated areas, or with lower population density.