DPD offers flexible delivery windows for parcels in Germany

Parcel and express delivery firm DPD has extended its ‘FlexDelivery’ service from the UK into Germany. The service sees the company sending out a text message or email alert to the recipient of a package the day before it is due to arrive, allowing them to choose one of three different working days on which to have the item delivered.

Delivery will be provided within a 2-6 hour window on the selected day.

DPD Germany says it has a success rate for its delivery windows of about 95%. The company is working towards being able to offer a more precise two-hour delivery window.

For online retailers and mail order companies, the flexibility of delivery means a “significant” reduction in the number of items that are returned as undelivered, and a cut in customer complaints, DPD said.

Arnold Schroven, CEO at DPD, said: “In an era when speed and efficiency are decisive factors, the precise delivery of parcels at the predicted time is a major factor in ensuring consignee satisfaction. This is why many online and mail order retailers are using our FlexDelivery service for the purpose of increasing the satisfaction and loyalty of their customers.”

DPD has been running the FlexDelivery in the UK since early 2010, and said the flexibility of delivery has helped the company win a large number of new customers, including mobile telecoms provider Three and electronics retail giant DSGi.

The UK service, dubbed Predict, offers a one-hour delivery window.