COLUMAT NEWS

The article explains how leading retail companies are automating end-to-end operations within their distribution centers through technologies such as Columat's Smart Lockers. The solution enables automated management, return, and traceability of handheld devices, tools, PPE, and other operational assets, reducing downtime, preventing equipment losses, eliminating manual processes, and improving efficiency across the entire logistics value chain.

The article reports on the implementation of a Smart Locker system at Inca Regional Hospital, enabling outpatients to collect hospital-dispensed medication 24 hours a day. Integrated into the hospital's telepharmacy model, the solution includes 39 smart compartments (25 ambient and 14 refrigerated), ensures full medication traceability and proper storage conditions, and improves patient convenience by reducing waiting times and allowing medication pickup outside pharmacy opening hours.

The article announces the strategic partnership between Logista Strator and Columat to integrate Columat's Smart Lockers into Logista Strator's technology portfolio. The collaboration combines Logista Strator's commercial network of more than 8,000 points of sale across the Iberian market with Columat's Smart Locker technology to automate deliveries, collections, returns, and equipment exchanges for retail, corporate, and industrial environments, improving operational efficiency, traceability, and 24/7 availability.

The article explains how companies such ID Logistics, Renfe, and Calsina Carré use Columat's Smart Locker technology to automate the delivery, return, and management of operational assets including PDAs, scanners, tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The solution improves end-to-end traceability, reduces asset losses, eliminates manual handover processes between shifts, and lowers operational costs associated with managing physical equipment across logistics and industrial facilities.

The article explains how collective catering providers can profitably serve companies with 50–400 employees by combining centralized cold-chain meal production, app-based pre-ordering, and Columat's refrigerated Smart Lockers. The solution removes the need for an on-site cafeteria, reduces food waste, ensures full traceability, and extends catering services to logistics hubs, industrial facilities, and medium-sized workplaces.

The article explains how collective catering operators can profitably serve workplaces with fewer than 200 employees by using refrigerated Smart Lockers and automated food distribution. Columat's solution reduces operating costs, minimizes food waste, and provides a flexible meal service without the need for a traditional cafeteria.

The article describes the launch of an automated smart locker system by Manacor Hospital for dispensing medication to outpatients. The main goal is to improve access to hospital pharmacy services by reducing waiting times and avoiding unnecessary in-person visits. The system includes 39 automated compartments, 14 of which are refrigerated to ensure proper storage conditions for certain medicines. Patients can collect their prescriptions independently using a code, health card, or QR system, ensuring fast, secure, and traceable access.

The article explores the rapid expansion of parcel pickup points as a key element of modern urban logistics. Driven by the growth of e-commerce, the “out of home” delivery model is increasingly replacing traditional home delivery, with parcels being collected at local shops, gyms, hardware stores, and smart lockers. The report highlights how even unconventional spaces such as fitness centers are becoming pickup locations, allowing them to attract new customers and generate additional income. It also emphasizes the role of smart lockers as a more flexible and efficient alternative, enabling 24/7 parcel collection while helping reduce urban traffic and environmental impact from last-mile deliveries.

In this opinion article, Albert Bladas argues that smart lockers should no longer be viewed as just another delivery option, but as critical urban logistics infrastructure. The article explains that the future winners of last-mile delivery will be the companies that secure the most strategic locker locations today, as high-convenience urban spaces are limited and increasingly competitive. Drawing on the development of locker networks in Poland, the United Kingdom, and France, the author suggests that Spain is approaching a major Out-of-Home (OOH) delivery expansion phase, and that operators with dense, well-positioned locker networks will be best placed to dominate last-mile logistics by 2030.

The article announces the public release of the first comprehensive study of the collective catering sector in Catalonia, developed by Restauración Colectiva and consulting firm Univer. The report examines nearly 3,000 facilities, more than 300,000 users, and an estimated economic volume of €650 million, providing an in-depth overview of the market structure, management models, and future challenges facing the industry. The study aims to serve as a key reference tool for businesses, public institutions, and industry professionals, highlighting the sector's significant social and economic impact.

The article highlights the rapid expansion of the European smart locker market, fueled by the rise of Out-of-Home (OOH) delivery solutions and the need to improve last-mile logistics efficiency. Within this context, Columat is presented as a leading Spanish company providing a complete ecosystem of smart lockers, management software, and operational services for retailers and logistics operators. Headquartered in Barcelona, the company currently operates across several European countries and aims to capitalize on a market projected to surpass $7 billion in the coming years, driven by e-commerce growth, lower failed delivery rates, and increasing urban sustainability requirements.

Experts gathered at an event organized by the Spanish Logistics Centre (CEL) in Valencia discussed urban microhubs as a last-mile solution for e-commerce. The main conclusion is that these logistics hubs increase costs by 30% when operated individually, meaning profitability is only achievable through collaborative models. Small and medium-sized businesses, with their limited infrastructure, face particular difficulty in absorbing these costs.

The Pharmacy Department of the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital in Majadahonda has launched a smart locker system to allow chronic patients to collect their medication autonomously, without the need to go through a service counter.

Spanish company Columat showcased at the HIP 2026 trade fair a smart locker system with temperature control and proprietary software, designed to automate food delivery in an autonomous, traceable, and round-the-clock manner. The solution aims to address key foodservice challenges: staff shortages, operational rigidity, and growing demands for efficiency and sustainability.

The article examines how collective catering is transitioning toward a flexible, continuous delivery model through the use of temperature-controlled smart lockers. This system eliminates queues and rigid distribution schedules, improves traceability, and adapts to environments such as offices, hospitals, and universities — enhancing the user experience and overall operational efficiency.

The company Columat showcased at the HIP trade fair its temperature-controlled smart lockers with proprietary software, a solution that enables autonomous food and beverage delivery 24 hours a day without the need for staff, applicable to corporate, healthcare, hotel, and food retail environments.

Last-mile logistics operator Paack has signed a strategic agreement with Columat, a technology company specializing in smart lockers, to roll out a network of intelligent parcel lockers across Spain and Portugal. Columat contributes its connected and automated locker ecosystem, while Paack integrates this solution to offer users greater flexibility when collecting their packages.

The piece describes how digitalizing the corporate mailroom —bringing traceability, automation and centralized control of documents and parcels— turns a traditional inefficient process into an agile, traceable and strategic internal logistics service.

On the final day of HIP 2026 in Madrid, the Horeca Professional Expo brought together thousands of industry professionals and featured interviews with business leaders including Columat’s Carmen Velasco.

The piece argues that rigid door-to-door delivery is no longer efficient or sustainable, and urban logistics is shifting toward smart lockers and intelligent delivery hubs that cut emissions, costs and operational friction.

The provincial and city councils sign a four-year agreement to boost digitalization and marketing of León products —including Columat Smart Locker networks, robotized logistics, market exhibition space and promotional activities.

The city council and provincial government sign a four-year agreement to boost logistics, smart locker networks and exhibition space at Mercado del Conde Luna, strengthening promotion and distribution of local food products.

IFMA Spain expands its network with Loxone, Nilfisk and Columat, welcoming Columat as a collaborating company to bring its connected smart locker solutions into the facility management knowledge and events ecosystem.

The article outlines how digitizing the management of critical tools and equipment (e.g., PDAs, scanners and smart lockers) reduces operational friction and boosts warehouse productivity.