PostNL trials Sunday deliveries in Netherlands, expands services in Belgium
Dutch postal service PostNL has launched Sunday delivery trials in the Netherlands, and a network of parcel pickup points in Belgium. The new services are designed to improve the online shopping experience as PostNL seeks to become the “essential link between the physical and online world”.
The company said its Sunday delivery trial will be the first on the European continent, making it the first carrier in mainland Europe to deliver parcels to consumers seven days per week.
The move follows its introduction of evening delivery services and extended hours for collecting online purchases, as PostNL bids to further upgrade its services for the e-commerce sector.
The trial for Sunday delivery is being run with the e-commerce merchant Coolblue. Starting from 31st August, It will see deliveries made between noon and 6pm on Sundays.
PostNL said that Sunday delivery would be a good option for those who are not at home during the week to receive parcel deliveries.
From September, the trial will expand to provide Sunday deliveries for e-commerce sites MyCom, iCentre and Dixons, the company said. If all proves well, the service will become available to all e-commerce merchants from the start of 2015.
Belgium
In Belgium, PostNL Parcels is launching 300 new parcel pick-up locations, particularly around the Brussels area and in Flanders.
The pick-up locations are provided through a partnership with parcel pick-up network Kariboo!
The service will notify recipients by email when a parcel as arrived at the parcel pick-up location, and a reminder email after seven days.
For missed deliveries in the area, after two attempts parcels will be dropped off at the closest pick-up location, where customers will have 14 days to collect their items before they are returned.
PostNL said it is introducing the new feature from today to help with the rapid growth in parcel post in Belgium, driven by e-commerce.
The company said the first six months of 2014 saw a 25% growth in its Belgian parcel volumes compared to the same period last year.
