A self-service solution from idea to production readiness

An organisation wanted to introduce a new self-service solution across its branch network. The strategic direction was clear: customers should be able to drop off parcels themselves — reliably and outside counter processes. What was missing was a usable product.

The task was not only technical. The solution had to work for customers, fit into existing branch spaces, meet operational requirements and be manufacturable at scale. Several product variants had to be tested before anything could be fixed. That required coordination across IT, enclosure construction, engineering, electronics, material selection and suppliers.

I led product development from early concept to production readiness. Several prototypes were built and tested, assessed for operational fitness, and the most viable variant was carried into a final product design.

The work combined several disciplines: software logic, customer interaction, enclosure design, supplier coordination, structural constraints and manufacturing readiness. I worked with specialists from woodworking, metalwork, electronics and software engineering.

The operational rollout was not my mandate. My contribution was to test, specify and stabilise the product to the point where it could go into production and later be rolled out.

A self-service parcel drop-off solution was developed from prototype to production readiness. Several variants were tested and refined. Hardware and software components were specified and formed the basis for deployment at over two hundred locations.