Hive Box [3], China’s largest self-service parcel locker operator owned by China’s leading logistics and express delivery firm SF Express [4], recently announced via its WeChat official account that it had launched a new business model called “Hive Box Service Station” (丰巢服务站) and is seeking partners to cooperate with throughout the country.

According to the company, this newly formed business, which integrates self-service parcel lockers with courier stations, will function as a smart community service center. In addition to satisfying basic needs involving parcel delivery and pickup, the new business will also enable community group-buying services [5], through which consumers will have access to a wide variety of fresh agricultural products sourced directly from their places of origin.

SF Express had previously set foot in the community group-buying space even prior to the launch of the new business with a pilot project called “Chao Xian Chu” (巢鲜厨) that was rolled out in Shenzhen. This project, featuring presale, next-day delivery and self-pickup services, sells a wide range of agricultural products including fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, eggs, seafood, meat, poultry and frozen foods, giving Shenzhen’s consumers ready access to these goods at their own convenience.

Image: Hive Box

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article [6].