Australia Post and 7-Eleven Australia are partnering to offer customers access to free all-hours parcel lockers at 7-Eleven stores across the country.

The 24/7 service launches across more than 200 7-Eleven stores where the convenience chain’s ParcelMate lockers are already installed. Another 300 7-Eleven stores will receive Australia Post deliveries by the end of 2021. This is in addition to more than 500 existing Australia Post parcel locker locations in the network.

The initiative will double the number of Australia Post parcel locker locations to more than 1000 giving customers more options for receiving their online shopping and parcels.

The boost to locker locations comes as Australia Post’s latest Inside Australian Online Shopping eCommerce report reveals the volume of parcels increased almost 32 per cent over the 2020-21 financial year.

More than 9 million households shop online, the postal service reports.

Australia Post’s Nicole Sheffield, executive general manager community and consumer, said the partnership was timely.

“Australia Post is delivering more parcels than ever before, with Australians showing us over the past year just how much they’ve embraced shopping online,” she said.

“This partnership with 7-Eleven gives our customers greater choice on the most convenient way to collect what they’ve bought, at the times and places that suit them, which is why expanding our locker network into 7-Eleven stores just makes sense.”

7-Eleven Australia general manager – product, Matt Keogh, said that providing consumers with choice and convenience continues to be a focus for the convenience chain.

“Being able to offer Australia Post customers the choice to collect their parcels in one of our stores, when and where it suits them, is convenience we are proud to partner with Australia Post to provide.”

Customers can sign up via Australia Post and select their preferred 7-Eleven parcel locker location for their delivery.

This story originally appeared on Inside Franchise Business Executive.