The two companies said the alliance would mean online retailers on both sides of the Atlantic would be served “seamlessly”, with Kenco’s customers served in Germany through the Hermes Fulfillment centre in Haldensleben.

Hermes customers, meanwhile, will be able to make use of fulfillment of web orders through Kenco’s 100 distribution centres, with Hermes providing support, payment and other services.

“The quality and the spectrum of the services is made possible by close cooperation between the two companies,” said Max Miclas Bense, international business development manager at Hermes Fulfillment.

“With Kenco as our partner, we can provide our customers in the US with the high standards our customers expect from us.”

Supporting merchants

In particular, Hermes and Kenco see the partnership as helping online retailers to increase their sales presence cross-border. The services they offer include web store design that incorporates local knowledge of language, and payment facilities to target each foreign market.

One of the first companies benefiting from the new partnership was Austrian online clothing retailer Wolford, which is now selling to 13 European countries and the US, with further expansion plans for Europe.

“Supply chain service providers need to rise to the challenge by supporting these retailers in new markets,” Bense said.

“It’s not just a question of translating the contents of an online store into different languages. If you want to expand into foreign markets, you will need to understand the local markets and develop country-specific store solutions with an experienced services provider.”

Source: Post&Parcel/Hermes Logistics Group

Tags: B2C parcels, cross-border ecommerce, ecommerce, Hermes Germany