There are probably only a few Estonians who have not knowingly or unknowingly used Cleveron parcel lockers. The company, which develops the world’s most innovative last-mile solutions for the delivery of goods, is not only known in its country of origin, but has also earned recognition of the US Secretary of Commerce.

Cleveron has taken part in two high-level visits to the United States: the first with former prime minister Taavi Rõivas; and the second with current president Kersti Kaljulaid. Cleveron considers both visits to have been successful.

According to Indrek Oolup, one of the founders of Cleveron, the visits proved successful in a number of respects. “They allowed us to broaden our network of connections,” he said, “and that’s important on the business scene in the USA, which to a large extent is based on personal relationships. It’s also proof of the company’s credibility, assuring existing and potential clients that we’re reliable.”

For instance, Cleveron and the delegation paid a visit to Bell and Howell, the company’s sales and maintenance partner in the USA, during which the robotic parcel terminal Cleveron 401 was officially launched on the American market. The media attention this attracted boosted the product’s entry to the US market.

Cleveron 401 is the same robot used by the world’s largest retail company, Walmart. In 2016, five such robots (which Walmart calls ‘pick-up towers’) were installed for testing in five stores in America. Customers quickly embraced the towers, and by the end of 2018 Cleveron 401 could be found in 700 stores all over the country.

Cleveron’s partnership with a US law office, whose help they’ve already enlisted on a number of occasions, was also cemented during this visit.

On the second visit, Cleveron was part of the business delegation accompanying President Kaljulaid, who took part in the US-Baltic Business Forum. “Quite a few members of the delegation were mentioned in the speeches at the forum,” Oolup recalls. “In his opening address, former US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross highlighted Cleveron as a good example. Around 500 US business people heard that speech, and a lot of our target clients were among them.”

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