SK Energy, Naver agree to develop gas stations into logistics hubs

SK Energy and Naver Corp. are joining hands to transform gas stations into urban logistics hubs where advanced technologies will be employed.

SK Energy and Naver said on Friday that they had signed an agreement for jointly developing urban logistics services and future tech cooperation.

According to the terms of the agreement, the two companies will develop future logistics technology and build infrastructure to relieve the logistics burden of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

SK Energy plans to use the gas station as a logistics base for Naver's e-commerce service while Naver plans to advance artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technology.

From early next year, the companies will operate "The Really Good Courier" service, which picks up packages collectively so that small-sized merchants setting up shop in Naver Smart Store can handle their logistics more conveniently. After a pilot operation in select areas of Seoul, the target service areas will be increased in stages.

SK Energy and Naver plan to build an urban fulfillment center on the site of SK gas stations in the long run.

The two companies expected that if the ideally located fulfillment centers can expand further, small-sized merchants' items can be delivered after being stored in a short-distance distribution center.

"We are paying keen attention to the new role of gas stations in consumers' daily lives to strengthen eco-friendly urban logistics services," said Oh Jong-hoon, head of SK Energy P&M CIC.

"We will work with SK Energy to reduce the logistics burden of SMEs and to create new commerce business opportunities," said Lee Yoon-sook, head of Naver Forest CIC.

Write to Seo-Woo Jang at suwu@hankyung.com