They all look alike—the forest of parcel lockers we Danes use to collect parcels 24/7, year-round. But SwipBox, the company behind the Nærboks concept, has developed a comprehensive technological solution that has given them significant market success.
"We operate in a market with a lot of competitors, so initially, we didn't place much emphasis on IP rights because we thought there was limited scope for patenting anything. But we've grown wiser," says Marcus Kaczmarek, IP Coordinator at SwipBox.
Use patents strategically
When SwipBox began analysing their concept more closely, they shifted their focus from just the physical parcel locker with a lid and lock to other aspects that could be protected—ranging from digital communication to practical elements like installation and mounting of the lockers.
"Our initial purpose in exploring IP rights was twofold: firstly, to prevent too many competitors from copying us, and secondly, to secure freedom to operate, in other words ensuring that we could act freely within well-defined boundaries. But the dialogue we had with Patrade quickly turned into a collaboration where they understood our product so deeply that we could develop patent ideas together," explains Marcus Kaczmarek.
This has motivated SwipBox to use patents strategically and find new market solutions, which has ultimately given the company a unique market position.
"Our defence against competitors is to file patents on everything we can because this ensures us the agility needed to stay one step ahead. Moreover, to avoid constantly manoeuvring around other companies’ patents, our dialogue with Patrade motivated us to develop an entirely new solution, which has become a major success," says Marcus Kaczmarek.
Start with IP
A unique aspect of SwipBox's concept is that the lockers are internet-free. They run on batteries and can therefore be placed easily in locations with no access to the power grid. The parcel locker is opened via an app on the customer’s smartphone, which communicates with the locker through Bluetooth. Without the need for internet coverage, this increases the number of possible locations, in turn making it easier to place the lockersm closer to customers.
The technology aggregates all transactions, ensuring the system does not depend on each individual customer having an internet connection at the locker. When the customer regains internet connectivity—or when the next user connects to the locker—the previous transaction (e.g., a parcel pickup) is transmitted to the server via the user’s phone, and so on.
"This creates an extremely secure system that guarantees all pickups are recorded. In fact, we have 46,000 lockers across Europe and have never lost a single transaction," says Marcus Kaczmarek, who firmly believes in the value of managing IP rights.
"My recommendation is that all companies—big or small—start with IP. You might have the best idea in the world, but the world is vast, and if your idea is blocked by someone else’s patents, you’ll quickly hit a wall. You’ll need to adapt your idea slightly to move forward."
For SwipBox, such obstacles have led to even better ideas and innovations, ultimately driving the company to create superior products.
"So, start with IP. It’s easy to overlook in the beginning when your focus is on products, customers, and pricing. But IP remains the most important starting point for any company. Only by starting there can you ensure your freedom to operate. And if you don’t have it, that insight can open your mind to tweak your idea and identify the unique aspect of your product that makes it strong in both the market and as an IP right," says Marcus Kaczmarek.
