RIVR teams up with Evri for robot deliveries

(CONNECT) The Zurich-based start-up RIVR has entered into a strategic partnership with the British parcel service provider Evri. The wheeled robot from RIVR is intended to automate parcel delivery over the last hundred meters and make the work of delivery staff easier, according to a press release.

The aim is to deliver up to 800 million parcels a year. Previously, parcel carriers delivered the goods on foot and spent a large part of their working time doing so. The wheeled robot, which is supported by artificial intelligence, is intended to transfer this delivery and free up the deliverer to work on other tasks. The robot from RIVR can autonomously navigate to its destination, climb stairs and carry loads of up to 60 kilograms. A pilot project is being launched in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England.

"In view of the exponential growth of e-commerce, optimizing logistics on the last mile is more important than ever," Marko Bjelonic, CEO of RIVR, is quoted as saying in the press release. "Our partnership with Evri is an important step towards redesigning parcel delivery with the help of robots and enabling faster, more cost-effective and driver-friendly solutions." ce/ww